Hold the Peppers

I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers one time, in May 1984 [“Scorched, Scarred, Soaring,” June 18]. They were the warm-up band for the Gang of Four at the “Smellywood Palace” (also known as the Avalon). They really weren’t very good -- just a bunch of “wanna-be black” funksters with the occasional horrible off-key ballad thrown in. They haven’t advanced much in the intervening years. They truly are a one-trick pony. At the end of their set they told the audience just how much of an influence the Gang of Four was to them.

I saw the Gang of Four reunion tour a couple of times last year, and once again, they showed the world how it’s done properly.

ROBERT STEPHENS

Fullerton