Scar Tissue is different. It came out in 1999 as the first single from the album Californication and became one of the band’s most loved songs. It won a Grammy for Best Rock Song.
Born from a hard time
Scar Tissue came out of a tough period for the band. Anthony Kiedis was struggling with addiction and recovery, and guitarist John Frusciante had just returned after his own fight with drugs. The lyrics are autobiographical and raw. They’re about the scars we all carry, and how they shape us. About acceptance, and about the beauty in what’s broken.
Musical beauty
Scar Tissue is all about restraint. John Frusciante’s intro is simple and unforgettable, and his solo moves you without overdoing it. Flea’s bass line is melodic and supportive. Chad Smith knows exactly when to hold back and when to push. Rick Rubin’s production gives the song room to breathe.
The music video
The video, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, shows the battered band members driving a convertible through the desert. No complicated story, only the band, the road and the music. The endless desert fits the song’s themes: loneliness, searching and finally finding peace.
Recording emotion
You can’t play Scar Tissue on autopilot; you have to feel it. At SoundQuest in Veghel we took our time to get the mood right. The studio’s living-room atmosphere helped us to be vulnerable. The guitar tone, the vocals, the small dynamics: everything had to be right.
Our interpretation
As a tribute band we feel a big responsibility with Scar Tissue. The song deserves respect and space. In our recording we tried to capture the vulnerability and the hope. We hope that when you listen, you feel what we felt while recording it.