Fleamail is something that used to occur every blue moon. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist will email the band's official website every now and then with unedited ramblings. Fleamail was so rare that people on the official board would go ballistic for a few hours, commenting on every sentence, picking it apart. Now, Fleamail is a bit more frequent, but it's still the same old ramblings fans have come to know and love. A couple of weeks ago, he was pissed with an interviewer. This week, he's pissed with you.
By 'you' I mean two people. The first one is the person who put the Red Hot Chili Peppers long awaited Stadium Arcadium online, days before it is due to be released. The second person is you — the person who downloads the album.
"For people to just steal a poor sound quality version of it for free because some asshole stole it and put it on the internet is sad to me," Flea writes in his email to the site, following confirmation of the news.
Their record company, Warner Bros distributes promotional copies to the media for previewing. Each CD is shrink wrapped and it is a condition that after the wrap is removed, whatever the owner does with the CD is their responsibility. Also, each CD is individually watermarked so that leaks can easily be traced. This technique has also been used with upcoming movie and DVD releases.
As many of you know, not only is it illegal to download copyrighted music from the Internet, it is also illegal to release it before its official release date and to download it before its official release date.
Leaked albums are nothing new. A few weeks ago, news dropped that Tool's 10,000 Days was leaked weeks before its official release. The band was known to be angered by this news and singer Maynard James Keenan told his Coachella crowd:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Guppusmaximus
Great Article Jessa.... My biggest gripe is for the band. I can understand Flea being upset about the theft of RHCP's material because it's their bread & butter but he portrays it in the sense of "Sound Quality". I mean, come on... If The Chili's cared so much about sound quality then the new album would've been egineered for either SACD or DVD Audio, which it wasn't. So, to say that the people who are downloading(stealing) their work aren't going to hear every little nuance is bunch of BULLSH!T!!
Flea, I agree with you about downloading being lame, to an extent. I do feel most of the people who download it and like it, will actually buy this cd when it's officially released but give us a break with this lame ass audiophile approach...
Let's just hope this cd is better than their last:)
2 - fornus
I Broke John Frusciante's Heart!
I just downloaded the Pepper's latest release and I'm happy to report that Flea's fears are unwarranted -- the sound quality is great! John Frusciante need not cry himself to sleep tonight because I believe I have heard the songs the way they were intended to be heard. By the way, Stadium Arcadium freakin' rocks! I had really low expectations after the last turd they released, but this might be their best record yet.
Flea should stop worrying about things he can't control and enjoy making music in one of the best bands ever. I'm sure this release will add to his already considerable riches. Also Flea's whining makes him sound like a bit of a hypocrite. Consider that in the 4/27/2006 edition of Fleamail Flea wrote:
"i still love william blake alot
i have been looking at all his art it is so great
you can find lots of it on the internet
i wonder if it is possible for anyone to be so pure and great and
powerful in this modern world..."
I wonder if William Blake, an artist who was not widely known during his life, is rolling over in his grave because Flea has been looking at low quality jpegs of his engravings for free on the Internet? If Flea wants to be great and pure like Blake maybe he should re-examine his motives. Does he want to make great music or does he want to make boatloads of cash? The saddest aspect of capitalism is that it creates an inauthentic society. Our motives are always impure. Nothing is done purely for the sake of doing. A doctor doesn't treat patients simply to make them healthy, an athlete doesn't compete simply for the love of his sport, and it seems that Flea doesn't create music simply to create great music. In the end every one of our actions must first be justified financially.
Flea, I love your band's new record. I live on a tight budget, but hopefully I will be able to justify purchasing Stadium Arcadium next week. After all I would hate to piss all over your band's hard work by simply enjoying it.
3 - Guppusmaximus
Fornus.... I agree whole heartedly. I have yet to see the internet, as a downloading tool, bankrupt any of these artists. I could see this argument coming from a no-name musician down the street who is trying to get by, but most of those people are usually the first to post their material.
I remember when I was younger,my friends and I used to trade tapes of the bands we loved. My point?? I still wanted the real thing...ya know? I wanted the art work... I wanted the lyrics,etc. Nowadays, I can see alot of these artists' ulterior motives. You are definately correct... It's the cash. Forget the integrity of the art.....
4 - matt
Ok.. Of course I downloaded the album because i'm a huge RHCP fan. I got every song at 192 kbps so the quality sounds great. My roommate is buying the album so I'm not, but Stadium Arcadium should sell great. It's the best album i've heard in a hell of a while.
5 - Joey
Flea ain't never happy.
6 - outsider
I'm not guilty of downloading this album yet, but the past three albums I have downloaded before release date I also was first in line to buy. Tool being one of them... though I did go on to kill my eyes with the stereoscopic glasses.
7 - zooper
whats the big deal
artits make millions anyway, why can't they be happy with waht they got?
I downloaded the album, its crap, so I wont be buying it, il still keep it thought for a few tunes, and I dont care that Im not paying for it. You guys are rich anyway
8 - Tom
I understand the issue, but its not like they wont make a lot of money through concerts etc. But then, as with most albums i download, if i like it i actually buy it, and this one i'll definately still buy.
9 - superftp
flea i hope you die..........
10 - ZeroMP
-- Okay three things --
First: Red Hot Chili Peppers BLOW on ICE.
Just my personal opinion of course, but they do.
Second: Bands shouldn't blame the fans for downloading music BEFORE the release date - how about blaming the studio that leaked it? The people who downloaded it two days before the release date constitute the more devoted Chili fans - those that are more likely to rush out on the release date and buy the CD! Everyone who downloads it AFTER the date it drops are less likely to have ever paid for it.
Third: Red Hot Chili Peppers blow.
Additionally, Guppusmaximus said: "...most of the people who download it and like it, will actually buy this cd when it's officially released..."
....ya.. or they'll at least BURN it! Hahahaha!
Although I do agree with you that the audiophile shit is a bunch of crap. Flea is just being a little cry-baby like Lars Ulrich and the rest of those posers. Get over it.
11 - Namesbond
I downloaded and purchased 10,000 Days. No rush for Stadium Arcadium because I'm still disecting 10,000 Days.
12 - ulysses-31
Most people who downloads music buy cds anyway. if you love the band then you will wanna get there new albums as quick as possable if that meens downloading itthen so be it. I have done it will loads of band, but if its a good album i will buy it. Its a sort of try before you by. As soon as the music companys realise that the better off we all will be.
13 - Scott Tavvy
Ban the internet thats what i say.. That would put a stop to people downloading....Whats the internet done for us anyway.......Errrr
14 - bucketbake
no seriously the album is tired, the more u mature the less ur work sparkles......i'm glad i donwloaded it cause i've saved money on an album i'll listen to once with nothing on it to warrant coming back to it and it'll take seconds to delete it from my itunes.
As for the whole downloading thing.....ur the music business, we're the internet, find a better business model and practice don't be so naive as to think we won't grab whats freely available - do better and stop whining, u r actually responsible.
15 - ry
i like the red hot chilli peppers but internet downloading is not a crime, it makes it more accessible for people to really get into the band, since downloading started independent bands have been given a rise in the music scene and a chance to get very well known, Underoath's album leaked this way too but in a way i think its a postive thing because i heard it and it is absolutely amazing!!, just makes me want to buy the full length in all its glory when it comes out even more!!, i can imagine the same with the chilli peppers, music is universal.
16 - Downloader
Isn't it stealing from the fans when you promote an album and hype it up as great, only to dissapoint the fan with complete junk? When Flea starts worrying about how he's gonna pay his bills then maybe he'll have a valid point. Hey Flea I got an idea..... why not put all of that energy into making a good release? And to everyone LYING saying they download and then buy..... you're not fooling anyone. I download and do not buy. I haven't purchased a CD since 1997 and I never will purchase one again.
17 - stinkyface
...or tell the world about the leak, and inform more people to download your record.
18 - Guppusmaximus
I find it hysterical that most of the bands who whine about this crap are the ones who couldn't put a decent album together to save their lives!! Lars started bitching after Metallica released the worst attempt in Metal history,"Load".RHCP haven't put out a solid cd since BSSM, now Flea's cryin.
F*ck man, these guys should take a lesson from Iron Maiden,Opeth,Dream Theater and alot of other bands who have been putting forth excellent material for 10-20+ years... Stop producing sh!t and people will buy your albums instead of D/l'ing it,listening to it and then trashing it!!
ZeroMP: I wouldn't waste my blank media to burn this 192/VBR garbage, but I hear what you are sayin...
19 - Guppusmaximus
"And to everyone LYING saying they download and then buy..... you're not fooling anyone."
Yeah, Maybe if you listen to the garbage in the mainstream,but if it's an album from a kick ass band I will usually buy the CD. The Bands that I know I will enjoy their work because 95% of the D/L's are usually 128-192Kbps or VBR and I can't stand it most of the time...
20 - Firebug
Cry more n00b(Flea). I'm gonna throw a tantrum cause I'm rich and I can. But I agree with ZeroMP. I wouldn't waste my bandwidth to DL this crap.
21 - vercetti
oooh pooor millionaire rock group, fucking dick heads, your still gunna make a ton of cash, quit crying and get a real job
22 - LeakeyJeeUnit
Yeah, he's actually changed his mind now:
"after the other morning when i found out our record had leaked
i freaked
it leaked i freaked
after calming down a little bit
and finding out more about what actually happens
it has been bought to my attention by some intelligent people
that most of the people who down load the record before it comes out
are people who really love our music and believe in what we do
and they go out and get the real thing anyway
but of course they can not wait to hear it
and are willing to hear a substandard version first
because they are excited to hear it
and of course i understand and i would do the same thing
it just really scared me that people would be hearing something
without the depth of sound that we strive for"
23 - You
Okay, RHCP is good and all, and I love their music, but they have turned into a corporate whore so I don't give a crap as to what they have to say financially because I am sure that they have whored themselves to iTunes and the concert ticket codes that you can only get if you pre-order the album thru iTunes. All these big bands are just sell outs anyways, I think these bands need to start listening to Nirvana and be more like Kurt, and tackle real problems.
24 - You
PS on top of which their website has this little thing where you have to pay to be in a fan club I mean what the hell is that sh!t, come on, I don't have to pay to be a fan, you corporate sell outs!!!!!!!!!!!!
25 - djhoward
As an alternative approach .... look at what Neil Young has done with his new cd. You can go to his website and "listen" to the whole thing, but not download it.
I like this approach because Neil has decided the message of the songs is more important, and he gives a full preview for free before you decide whether you want to buy it, which is only fair.
It's only fair because cd's and dvd's are two retail commodities that are not returnable. Once you rip that cellophane off the case, there is no returning it whether it sucks or not. Hell, even movie theatres where I live will give refunds in the first 15 minutes of a movie if you don't like it, but no such accommodation when it comes to cd's or dvd's.
Maybe it's time for other artists to embrace this "try before you buy" philosophy.
RHCP created the demand for leaked copies themselves by being so secretive about their new release. Stadium Arcadium is a double album of 28 songs (yeah, I'm old, I still call them albums) and yet they have bombarded our ears with the same ONE released single (Dani California) for a couple months till I'm ready to beat flea over the head with the radio.
Then there is the whole double album thing as well. How many double albums over the years have been full of shit filler (like stadium arcadium) and could have easily been whittled down to a single album of the better material? How much respect are you showing your fans by doubling their cost for a bunch of extra shit they don't really want ? RHCP original plan was to release 3 single albums 6 months apart, but they opted for a double instead. At least their original plan would have given fans more choice in what to buy.