Interview with Jack Morris Sherman

The legendary third Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar player told about his life and the early days of the band, February 2018

In February 2018 I was preparing a big lecture to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The lecture was dedicated to the first 2 years of the band's existence. And I decided to interview one of the most important early members of the band, thanks to whom the group finished and recorded its debut album, conducted its debut tour in the United States and wrote most of the songs for the second album.

The Interview

Max Elfimov: Hello, Jack! I will make a lecture to celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and will make an event about band's first 2 years - from February 1983 to February 1985. And I want to tell more facts about the debut album, it will be the highlight of the event. Can you answer some questions about it a bit later (in the next 2 weeks)? It will be a great pleasure for me to tell more details and truth about this outstanding lp. If no - that's ok. If yes - it will be very important 🙂

Jack Sherman: I will do my best to remember things.
Please, ask specific questions. The more focused, the easier to answer.

Max Elfimov: Oh, thank you so much! I'll do my list of questions, not very huge. It's a great pleasure that You are ready to help me! 🙂

Jack Sherman: With you, it will be fun, 🙂

Max Elfimov: So now let’s walk down the memory lane and remember something about the debut album and your 1,5 years in the band.

What are your first memories about The Red Hot Chili Peppers? Do you remember the day when you met them? They wrote that you were the best among other guitar players and they chose you right after you played. Can you tell some more?

Jack Sherman: I got a call from my older sister, Gail. She said a couple of guys she knew in Hollywood needed a guitar player and, I believe, gave me Flea's number and suggested I call him. I did. It was a pleasant conversation and we arranged a time for me to come by and audition. I remember seeing this guy pull up in a large, old car, and thought that his head looked small inside the vehicle. That was Flea. I cannot remember Anthony being there that day. It was at a place where Hillel lived in the front room. A place, that I believe belonged to his girlfriend, Addie.

Max Elfimov: Did you know Ciff Martinez personally before The Chili Peppers?

Jack Sherman: I recognized Cliff, because I had met him a couple of years ago, when he was rehearsing with Captain Beefheart at Amigo Studios. And, once later, of a small party where the video "Ice Cream for Crow" was being shown for The Magic Band and their friends.

Max Elfimov: What was the first song that you started rehearsing while you came to play in Chili Peppers? Ore one of the first songs?

Jack Sherman: I remember, we just jammed in the key of E. And, that Flea was super intense, and that Cliff, who I remembered also from a band he was in called The Resistors had a unique way of playing the drums. Maybe, we played a rough version of True Men. This, is all at the first audition. The second audition we jammed some more and Flea came up to me during a pause and said something like: "It's going to be hard keeping up with you". Their manager, Lindy, said something like: "Wow, you're really an amazing guitar player". When I got home, there was a message on my answering machine. The three of them sang in cascading harmony: "You got the gig, you got the gig, you got the gig." Each time, adding another voice. Kind of like the beginning to Twist and Shout or The Three Stooges, ha ha.

Max Elfimov: Can you tell some stories about composing “True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes”? (I will tell the story on every song from the album during the lecture)

Jack Sherman: I remember, AFTER I was out of the band, Flea called me from Detroit where they were making the 2nd album and asked me to explain to him, what I was playing on True Men, so that he could help Hillel learn the song. Otherwise, just being creative, working out the arrangement all together.

Max Elfimov: Can you tell some stories about composing and/or recording of “Buckle Down”?

Jack Sherman: Flea came over to my apartment to work on Buckle Down. I remember that, because, we were sitting in chairs facing each other and I remember coming up with the rhythm part to go with the B section of the song.

Max Elfimov: Can you tell some stories about composing “Mommy Where’s Daddy”? Did you try to record the song before Gwen Dickie came?

Jack Sherman: Mommy Where's is the best experience, writing, recording, etc. Flea and I and Cliff were in rehearsal and Flea started the bass line. Cliff found that nice beat and I decided to use the Dm6 chord. I was thinking about Brick House by the Commodores, ha ha. The break, where the band plays strong 1/4 notes all together was my idea and so was the B7 chord. I remember thinking about that 6th note in the main chord. It's a B note. And, something in my head just said, 'start with the B note, and I randomly chose a B7 chord, which is NOT in the key we were in, I think. But, it works. It always bothers me, that that section rushes a little at the end on the studio recording.
Anyway, the intro/outro solo was played in rehearsal when Andy was there and it came out of nowhere and he said: "Can you do that again?" He was very excited, and somehow, I just was able to play it again. This was very 'mystical'. To me, even today, it's a mystery.
Gwen, was added in an overdub as we were finishing the song. On stage, of course, Flea does that part, and it's usually VERY funny. I don't know whose idea it was to put a 'real' singer on there. Probably, Andy's.

Max Elfimov: What are your memories about first ever concert with The Chili Peppers? It was soon after you joined the band or you had some more time to rehearse and compose?

Jack Sherman: I don't remember the first concert. But, a bad memory, is coming back to me about an early show with them in town, in LA. This place where lots of people played called The Music Machine. I had my new girlfriend, Anne, who I would later marry with me, and my friend Micki was there from The Bangles. Lots of people.
At that time in my life, I did not eat dairy products, and, as with all things in my life, I'm usually talking about it all the time. Anyway, we were on stage, and all of a sudden, Flea and Anthony threw a bunch of stuff like cottage cheese or yogurt all over me and my guitar. I couldn't play the guitar, it was ruined. I was extremely humiliated. I thought, it was a horribly cruel thing to do to a new band member. And, that kind of torture continued the whole time.

Max Elfimov: What are your memories about first MTV interview? Where it was filmed?

Jack Sherman: CUTTING EDGE, was filmed at a place we were rehearsing that I believe belonged to the band WAR. On Sunset Boulevard across the street for the original Guitar Center.
When, I see the footage, I think, that I was maybe, a little too serious. I guess, I was very serious back then.

Max Elfimov: What was the nicest episode during the recording of the first album? The one which makes you smile? A lot of bad things were written about recording this album, but I can’t believe there were no nice moments at all.

Jack Sherman: There WERE lots of nice moments. And, they happened when Flea and Anthony were NOT there. I would try and find out when they were not around, so I could work with Andy Gill and Dave Jerden, in peace and make my parts as great as I could. I remember, working out the idea to record the solo for Buckle Down. I said, because, I knew that Dave had been involved in Remain In Light that Eno had recorded multiple takes of Adrian Belew, and then, would use the recordings in a random manner. Play, the recording console, so to speak. So, I purposely did a low range part, a medium range part, and some high stuff. Three passes. Dave, per my instructions, then recorded, in one, random pass, onto another track, a little of each solo. And, that's what you hear on the record.
I enjoyed recording Grandpappy. Cliff and I got to be very creative and create all those effects. Andy, was very helpful.
continued ...

I remember wanting to put an acoustic guitar on True Men and Why Don't You Love Me. I did not own one then, and they rented me a nice Guild. I love recording, I love being creative in the studio.Green Heaven was pretty much live in the studio. So, that was a good moment. My solo, was live on the track. So, I am very proud of that.
By the way, Max, though you asked for positive memories, and I hope these are helpful, I want to mention, that I HATE "you better be burnin' Sherman". I can hear the hatred in Anthony's voice. But, I do like the little poem he wrote for me in Out In L.A. That shows a better side of him. I forgot to number the above. Number 9. Number 9... Number 9... Number 9 (Joke about legendary The Beatles "Revolution 9")

Max Elfimov: What was the best concert you played with The Chili Peppers? When the audience was friendly, the atmosphere in the band was ok, the sound was good?

Jack Sherman: Unfortunately, I don't remember the shows very well. Maybe, I'll say, for your question, that we played at First Avenue. The famous club in Minneapolis, where Prince played all the time. Purple Rain had just come out, and I was a big fan. So, playing at "Prince's" club was a big thrill. And, I think it was a good, friendly show! Also, my very good friend, Phil Solem had moved back home to MLPS from LA, and he came to the show, too! Good times!

Max Elfimov: Do you remember anything about the song “Human Satellite”?

Jack Sherman: Human Satellite was probably just a 'working title'. It did not feel right. It seemed forced. I can barely remember it.

Max Elfimov: The last question – which of the songs you composed with The Chili Peppers makes you feel proud? Doesn’t matter if this is the song from the debut or from “Freaky Styley”.

Hope the questions were no offensive.

Jack Sherman: That's easy, and I always say, too, that it's my favorite song... Mommy, Where's Daddy?

Max Elfimov: Oh, thank you so much. Those stories are really great (except for throwing things, it's a crazy shit. but they did the same with Chad and John when they just joined the band - that was their normal crazy joke)!

Jack Sherman: Thanks! Good questions, well formed. I enjoyed it!

Thank you for reading!