By the Way

The writing and formation of By the Way began immediately following the culmination of Californication's world tour, in the spring of 2001. As with Californication, much of the creation took place in the band members' homes and other practice locations, such as a recording studio stage.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 456 Kiedis recalled of the situation: "We started finding some magic and some music and some riffs and some rhythms and some jams and some grooves, and we added to it and subtracted from it and pushed it around and put melodies to it." Frusciante and Kiedis would collaborate for days straight, discussing guitar progressions and sharing lyrics.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 458 For Kiedis, "writing By the Way{{nbsp}}... was a whole different experience from Californication. John was back to himself and brimming with confidence." Prior to recording By the Way, the Red Hot Chili Peppers decided that they would again have Rick Rubin produce the album.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 420 Rubin had, in the past, granted the band creative freedom on their recording material; this was something they thought essential for the album to be unique, and could only occur with his return.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 230–232, 320–321, 344, 424

According to the 2010 book, An Oral/Visual History by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frusciante had originally intended for the album to be very different from how it was eventually completed. He wanted an album of two different types of songs: songs that were more "English-sounding" and melodic, and songs that were more influenced by punk rock. Frusciante's punk inspiration came from listening to music by The Damned and Discharge, among others.RHCP, Mullen 2010. p. 210 Rick Rubin was not familiar with the latter bands and sound and thought that the melodic songs were original and more exciting, causing the band to focus mostly on the melodic material. However, one punk rock-influenced song was recorded during these sessions, "Body of Water", but did not make the final cut and was instead included on "The Zephyr Song" single. Many of the more melodic inspired songs came from Frusciante listening to The Beach Boys and The Beatles, along with doo-wop groups and their harmonies. He listened to Emerson, Lake & Palmer every day during the recording of By the Way. Frusciante also drew inspiration from synth-pop artists, using his guitar to emulate the melodies of Kraftwerk, the Human League, Gary Numan, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Depeche Mode. He explained to LA Weekly, "I was finding that people who were programming synthesizers in this early electronic music were playing in a very minimal way, where every single note means something new and every note builds on what the last notes were doing."{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/sons-of-the-city/|title=Sons of the City|last=Albert|first=John|date=December 4, 2002|website=LA Weekly|access-date=April 1, 2025}}

These new styles as well as Frusciante being especially prolific during this era came to alienate bassist Flea, who had wanted the band to return to its earlier funk-influenced sound. Frusciante felt the band had already thoroughly explored funk and was more interested in creating something new for the band. According to Kiedis, Flea felt his voice wasn't being heard, and there was a point where he considered leaving the band. While speaking to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Frusciante mentioned that he listened to guitarists such as John McGeoch for his work on the Magazine's and Siouxsie and the Banshees' albums including Juju, Adrian Fisher of Sparks for Kimono My House, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, Vini Reilly of the Durutti Column and Keith Levene of Public Image Limited.{{cite web|first=Tore S.|last=Borjesson |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article10360246.ab |title=Red Hots verkliga frontman John Frusciante |publisher=Aftonbladet |date=April 24, 2003 |access-date=July 2, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703193605/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article10360246.ab |archive-date=July 3, 2016 }} He also credits XTC singer/guitarist Andy Partridge in the 2002 issue of Total Guitar for being an influence on his guitar work for the album.

The album's guitar and bass ensemble was primarily dictated by Frusciante, rather than a collaborative effort between him and Flea.Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante – By the Way promotional Interview; Amsterdam Therefore, the record took a different direction than any previous Chili Peppers' album. Frusciante sought to create an emotional and poignant soundscape throughout the recording. Drawing influences from musicians such as Reilly and McGeoch, Frusciante made use of textured and multilayered guitar progressions on By the Way, using tools such as the mellotron and various effects pedals throughout. In 2006, while promoting the band's subsequent studio album, Stadium Arcadium, Flea reflected on the composition of By the Way, stating: "John went to this whole level of artistry. But he made me feel like I had nothing to offer, like I knew shit."Q, May 2006, issue 238, p. 85.

{{Listen|filename=Cantstop.ogg|title="Can't Stop"|description=Sample of "Can't Stop", the third single from the album, which combined rapidly sung verses and textured, multi-layered guitar riffs. Frusciante sings backing vocals throughout.|format=Ogg}} {{Listen|filename= |title="By the Way" | description=Sample of "By the Way", the first single from the album, which was far more fast paced and contained heavier guitar riffs than most of the songs on By the Way. Frusciante sings backing vocals throughout the chorus and bridge.|format=Ogg}}

Kiedis was lyrically influenced by love, his girlfriend, and the emotions expressed when one fell in love.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 456–465 Songs written for the album such as "By the Way", "I Could Die for You", "Dosed", "Warm Tape" and non-album tracks "Someone" and "Body of Water" all digressed into the many sides of love.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 454–456, 458, 463–469 Drugs also played an integral part in Kiedis' writings, as he'd only been sober since December 2000.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 433 Tracks like "This Is the Place" and "Don't Forget Me" expressed his intense relationship with narcotics, the harmful physical and emotional effects they caused him, and the ever-present danger of relapse (as Kiedis has suffered chronic relapse into drug addiction). He referenced the late Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died of a heroin overdose in 1988, in "This Is the Place", and describes how he was so intoxicated at the time that he missed Slovak's funeral: "On the day my best friend died/I could not get my copper clean." "Venice Queen" was written as an ode to Kiedis' drug rehabilitation therapist, Gloria Scott, who died shortly after he purchased her a home on California's Venice Beach. It mourned her death as a painful loss: "We all want to tell her/Tell her that we love her/Venice gets a queen/Best I've ever seen."

By the Way diverged from the band's previous styles, containing a few funk-driven songs. "Can't Stop" and the title track were the only songs that revisited their once trademark style of short, rapped verses.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/r/redhotchilipeppers-bytheway.shtml|title=By the Way Review|first=Kimberly|last=Mack|date=October 23, 2002|access-date=June 2, 2007|website=Pop Matters|archive-date=September 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930235114/http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/r/redhotchilipeppers-bytheway.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.shazam.com/music/portal/sp/s/media-type/html/user/anon/page/album/productid/10006758/Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers/By+The+Way.html|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – By the Way|access-date=June 3, 2007|publisher=Shazam|archive-date=September 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929042544/http://www.shazam.com/music/portal/sp/s/media-type/html/user/anon/page/album/productid/10006758/Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers/By+The+Way.html|url-status=live}} "Throw Away Your Television", while not having any rapidly sung lyrics, also contained a funk-oriented bass line, though hinted at experimental rock due to the heavy use of distortion throughout the verse and chorus. Other "experimental" tracks include the melodica-based "On Mercury". "Cabron", the only track to be played entirely acoustic, has distinctive Latin influences. Frusciante has stated that the guitar parts for Cabron were influenced by Martin Barre's playing on Jethro Tull's album Aqualung, with Anthony and Chad's parts contributing to the Latin, or Mexican, influence.{{cite web |last1=Rosen |first1=Steve |title=John Frusciante: The Lost Interview With Steve Rosen |url=https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/john-frusciante-red-hot-chili-peppers-archival-interview-guitar-technique/ |website=Rock Cellar Magazine |date=2004 |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226043937/https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/john-frusciante-red-hot-chili-peppers-archival-interview-guitar-technique/ |url-status=live }} "Tear" and "Warm Tape" were keyboard based more so than guitar or bass, the latter being completely written on the instrument. Technically, By the Way saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers employing several devices to distort and alter guitar and vocal sequences. "Don't Forget Me" utilizes a mellotron, wah pedal, and echoing techniques to convey an emotive atmosphere, while Frusciante uses a Big Muff for the solos on "Minor Thing".

Many outtakes from the album have been released or exist. "Time" and a cover version of Dion and the Belmonts' "Teenager in Love" were released on the single "By the Way". "Body of Water", "Out of Range", "Someone" and "Rivers of Avalon" were all released on the single "The Zephyr Song". "Slowly Deeply", which was featured on the single "Universally Speaking", is an outtake from the Californication sessions. The single for "Can't Stop" also features an alternate mix of the song with higher harmonies and a clearer bass line. A cover version of the Ramones' "Havana Affair" was also recorded and later released in 2003 on We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones. In 2003, the band re-entered the studio to work on their Greatest Hits album. "Fortune Faded", a song first performed live in 2001, was originally recorded and intended for By the Way however this version of the song was never officially released. The song was re-recorded with a different chorus and was released as a single to promote the Greatest Hits album and featured the B-side, "Eskimo", another By the Way outtake. The Greatest Hits sessions also produced enough songs for a new album, many of which have gone unreleased though some of the rough mixes have leaked to the internet. "Bicycle Song" and "Runaway" were officially released from those sessions in 2006 as bonus tracks on the iTunes release of By the Way even though neither song was originally recorded for the album.

In August 2014, unreleased tracks from the album's recording sessions were leaked to the Internet. Many of the album's released songs and outtakes are in their earliest forms and feature improvised lyrics by Kiedis. The leak included three songs never heard before, including "Goldmine", "Fall Water" and "Rock & Roll", along with the original version of "Fortune Faded". Many of the songs on By the Way also had different working titles (which prior to release were also mentioned in various interviews): Soul Train ("By the Way"), Coltraine ("The Zephyr Song"), Choppy Funk ("Can't Stop"), I Would Die, The Most Beautiful Chords Ever ("I Could Die For You"), Wolverine, Drone ("This is the Place"), A Minor One ("Minor Thing") Television, Trash Your Television and Throw Away ("Throw Away Your Television"), Don't Forget ("Don't Forget Me"), Lemon Trees on Mercury ("On Mercury"), The Loop Song ("Dosed"), Epic, Gloria's Epic ("Venice Queen") and New Wave ("Rivers Of Avalon"). To date, "Strumming in D{{nbsp}}on J", a song assumed to be an instrumental jam and that Frusciante mentioned during pre-album release interviews, has never been released. "Upseen", another instrumental jam which was said to be 10 minutes long, has also never been released however it is speculated that this song could also have been another title for "Strumming in D{{nbsp}}on J".{{cite web|url=http://thechilisource.com/guitarist-2003-page-1/|title=Guitarist, Issue 237|first=Phil|last=Ascott|date=June 2003|website=thechilisource.com|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-date=June 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610005744/http://thechilisource.com/guitarist-2003-page-1/|url-status=live}}

All paintings, photography and art direction is credited to Julian Schnabel and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The woman featured on the cover of By the Way is Stella Schnabel, Julian Schnabel's daughter and Frusciante's then-girlfriend.By the Way booklet, and liner notes Regarding the artwork, Frusciante noted: "My girlfriend's father offered to do the album art, so we sent him rough mixes of eight songs, and he just got the vibe of the album from that. He said that he wouldn't be offended if we didn't like it, but we loved what he did. He's also given us great covers for all the singles. He's a true artist."Kerrang! Yearbook (2002), p. 24.

Several pages of the album's booklet, and single for "By the Way" contain paintings of a goat head. A somewhat blurry, black and white photograph of the band in a desolate field, and each band member individually, is also present.

The majority of the booklet's artwork are various scenes of replica grass and plants, stars and indistinguishable objects, which appears to be a miniature pole, placed in dirt. Single covers for "The Zephyr Song" and "Can't Stop" both feature this same background, although angled slightly differently. The lyrics for By the Way are placed on top of the landscape, hand written by Kiedis in pink lettering.

Feeling extremely confident in the album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers issued the statement, "Greetings from the dimensions of invisible shapes and colors. The music on this record has expanded our space and made us bigger. Thank you for listening and being exactly where and who you are."Apter, 2004. p. 343 Drummer Chad Smith commented that By the Way is "very honest, raw, emotional music. It's a very dynamic, rich and lush album. Probably the best collection of Chili Peppers songs we've ever put out."Apter, 2004. p. 346 Warner Bros. Records promoted the album heavily in the months prior to the record's 2002 release, especially targeting the online market in order to steer customers away from illegal downloads. The record label implemented a campaign they colloquially titled "A Song a Day". This program, initiated on June 21, was aimed at leaking one song per day until the album was released. Over 150 radio stations participated in broadcasting the band's new daily material, along with MTV, VH1, and digital music retailers like iTunes, as well as cell phone companies. AOL featured the Chili Peppers as their "Artist of the Month" in June, streaming interviews and live performances of the band free of charge; they also sold an MP3 of "By the Way", the record's first single, for ninety-nine cents and raffled off tickets that gave fans a chance to see the band in Japan in November.

By the Way was released on CD and LP on July 9, 2002, under the Warner Bros. label, selling 281,948 copies in the United States in its first week and 1.8 million worldwide.Apter, 2004. p. 347 It was certified gold just a few months later on October 26, 2002.{{cite web|title=Gold and Platinum: Diamond Awards |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) |date=n.d. |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblDiamond |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725044833/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblDiamond |archive-date=July 25, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Gold and Platinum: Searchable Database |publisher=RIAA |date=n.d. |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |access-date=June 24, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007}} Five singles were released from the album; of these, the title track was the most successful, peaking at No.{{nbsp}}2 on the UK charts and No.{{nbsp}}1 on the Billboard rock charts. Although the album sold fewer copies than Californication, By the Way managed to peak at No.{{nbsp}}2 on the Billboard 200,{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=red hot chili peppers|chart=all}}|title=Artist Chart History – Red Hot Chili Peppers|access-date=June 2, 2007|magazine=Billboard| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060506115624/http://billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=5507&aid=538664| archive-date = May 6, 2006}}{{cite web|author=Harris, Chris|date=May 17, 2006|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1531925/20060517/red_hot_chili_peppers.jhtml|title=MTV Red Hot Chili Peppers news|access-date=June 2, 2007|publisher=MTV|archive-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012143920/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1531925/20060517/red_hot_chili_peppers.jhtml|url-status=dead}} one spot higher than Californication. Around the world, the album debuted at number one in the UK,{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com |title=By the Way UK Charting |access-date=June 2, 2007 |publisher=Every Hit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717022953/http://www.everyhit.com/ |archive-date=July 17, 2007}} Switzerland, New Zealand, Austria, and Sweden;{{cite web|url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers&titel=Californication&cat=a|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Europe Charting|access-date=June 2, 2007|publisher=Charts.org|archive-date=October 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015075151/http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers&titel=Californication&cat=a|url-status=live}} and number two in France. In March 2006, all Red Hot Chili Peppers' albums were made available for download from the iTunes Music Store and other online retailers. The iTunes release contained two bonus tracks that didn't appear on the original album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59021/billboard-bits-coachella-red-hot-chili-peppers-zakk-wylde|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers' catalog is now available digitally for the first time|access-date=April 20, 2007|magazine=Billboard|first=Jonathan|last=Cohen|archive-date=September 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919230704/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59021/billboard-bits-coachella-red-hot-chili-peppers-zakk-wylde|url-status=live}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 70/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/by-the-way/red-hot-chili-peppers|title=Reviews for By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=January 11, 2016|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201052538/http://www.metacritic.com/music/by-the-way/red-hot-chili-peppers|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=546|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: By the Way|magazine=Blender|issue=9|date=September 2002|access-date=January 9, 2016|last=Collis|first=Clark|page=142|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050211151030/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=546|archive-date=February 11, 2005|url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = B{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2002/07/12/way|title=By the Way|date=July 12, 2002|access-date=January 11, 2016|last=Browne|first=David|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |author-link=David Browne (journalist)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223230019/http://ew.com/article/2002/07/12/way-2/|archive-date=December 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jul/12/popandrock.artsfeatures3|title=The Red Hot Chili Peppers, By the Way|work=The Guardian|date=July 12, 2002|access-date=January 11, 2016|last=Poole|first=Steven|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305041307/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jul/12/popandrock.artsfeatures3|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-07-ca-rack7-story.html|title=Chili Peppers Grapple With Some Old Demons|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 7, 2002|access-date=January 11, 2016|last=Cromelin|first=Richard|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307045259/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jul/07/entertainment/ca-rack7|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers/6547|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers : By The Way|magazine=NME|date=July 13, 2002|access-date=June 13, 2009|last=Robinson|first=John|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208131815/http://www.nme.com/reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers/6547|archive-date=February 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: By the Way|magazine=Q|issue=193|date=August 2002|page=118}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev9 = USA Today

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers, By the Way|work=USA Today|date=July 16, 2002|last=Gundersen|first=Edna|author-link=Edna Gundersen}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10Score = B−{{cite news|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/04/22/not-hop-stomp/|title=Not Hop, Stomp|work=The Village Voice|location=New York|date=April 22, 2003|access-date=February 9, 2013|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220082856/http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-04-22/music/not-hop-stomp/full/|archive-date=December 20, 2013|url-status=live}}

}}

The album received a positive reaction from critics, who praised By the Way for its melodic, multilayer and textured styles. AllMusic's Zac Johnson said that the album was "sophisticated{{nbsp}}... the Peppers have not sacrificed any of their trademark energy or passions for life, universal love, and (of course) lust". Rolling Stone called the album "insanely melodic" and a "near-perfect balance of gutter grime and high-art aspiration", comparing it to other works, such as the Beach Boys' album Pet Sounds. Mojo applauded the recording, and considered it to be "the strongest Chili's album since 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik".Mojo Magazine; 8/02 – Page 118. Giving the album 5{{nbsp}}stars out of 5, Q called By the Way "A fantastic record; full of wonder."Q Magazine August 2002, p.118" Kimberly Mack of PopMatters commented on how the album "...{{nbsp}}showcases a more sophisticated, lush sound that only today's Peppers could have conceived", and that "Anthony Kiedis' lyrics are more personal than ever." Frusciante was, in his eyes, "a musical talent to be reckoned with and is the undeniable X factor in the Red Hot Chili Peppers' sound."

However, the praise was balanced by certain critics. Blender considered By the Way to be an indistinguishable sequel to Californication, calling it "Californication 2". It further criticized the Chili Peppers for not varying their style and remaining extremely similar in sound. Jaime Lowe of The Village Voice panned Kiedis' lyrics as "absolutely baffling" and commented that "it's as if he picked up a rhyming dictionary and arbitrarily strung some phrases together."{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/mild-salsa-6412861|title=Mild Salsa|work=The Village Voice|date=August 20, 2002|access-date=July 24, 2007|last=Lowe|first=Jaime|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095745/http://www.villagevoice.com/music/mild-salsa-6412861|url-status=live}} The newspaper's Robert Christgau was also critical of Kiedis' songwriting, writing that "it's not enough for Anthony Kiedis to get all mature—he's supposed to say something interesting about maturity." Entertainment Weekly praised By the Way for being well refined and a superb collaboration, but criticized the Chili Peppers for playing it safe and keeping the album's energy mild; for being "more fascinating for what it symbolizes than what it is."

AllMusic considered the song "By the Way" to combine "fiery Hollywood funk, gentle harmonies, a little bit of singing about girls, [and] a little bit of hanging out in the streets in the summertime."{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r595243|pure_url=yes}}|title=By the Way Review|first=Zac|last=Johnson|access-date=June 2, 2007|work=AllMusic}} Rolling Stone commented on "how close this band has come to conjuring pure California sunshine" in "The Zephyr Song". "Midnight" was highly regarded by several sources. It was chosen as one of By the Way{{'}}s "Allmusic Track Picks". Kimberly Mack of PopMatters considered it to have "hippie-friendly lyrics" and to "evoke images of tie-dyed T-shirts and AM radio." Mack also regarded "Venice Queen" as "a masterpiece{{nbsp}}... Frusciante's backing vocals are hauntingly beautiful." In 2005, By the Way was ranked number 375 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time. It has been cited as one of the band's best works.{{cite book|magazine=Rock Hard|first1=Michael |last1=Rensen|first2=Götz|last2=Kühnemund|title=Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten|year=2005|isbn=3-89880-517-4|page=58|language=de}}

{{Main|By the Way Tour}}

File:Slane Concert.JPG

Flea decided that he would finish the album and then quit the band. He was still upset over disputes with Frusciante, who he thought was trying to take over the band.RHCP, Mullen 2010. p. 211 According to Smith, Flea and Frusciante eventually had a sit-down meeting with each other to air out their differences. Frusciante had no idea how Flea was feeling and had no intentions of taking over. Flea also credited practicing Vipassanā meditation along with Frusciante for helping the two repair their musical relationship. With their problems worked out, the band launched their promo tour to support the album on New York City's Ellis Island. Sponsored by the rock radio station K-Rock, the event was titled the "Pep Rally". The band performed eight songs from By the Way, as well as tracks from Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Magik in front of 900 contest winners. The New York Post declared the show "one of the top concerts of the year." The location was chosen in order to reinvigorate lower Manhattan after the September 11 attacks and all proceeds were donated to pertinent charity organizations. Immediately following this, the Red Hot Chili Peppers embarked on a world tour to support the album. Beginning in Europe, they also played at events such as the Fuji Rock Festival and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in between. The band eventually culminated their Europe leg of the tour in February 2003, and commenced the United States leg on May 1.{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Zahlaway |date=February 11, 2003 |url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/4623.html |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers plot first U.S. dates behind By the Way |access-date=July 21, 2007 |website=LiveDaily |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185030/http://www.livedaily.com/news/4623.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }} The Red Hot Chili Peppers played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 20, 2003, to a sold-out crowd and an enthusiastic response from critics. Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times reported that "on Tuesday night, the [Red Hot Chili Peppers] came to Madison Square Garden for an extraordinary two-hour performance{{nbsp}}... On 'Don't Forget Me', [Flea] strummed chords, while Mr. Frusciante contributed a gorgeous guitar line that bubbled and hissed like some sort of chemical reaction."{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D91E3EF931A15756C0A9659C8B63|title=The Red Mellowed Out Chili Peppers|author=Sanneh, Kelefa|date=June 5, 2003|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 19, 2008}} The US leg ended on June 21; the band took a small hiatus before performing at Slane Castle in Ireland on August 23, to a crowd of over 80,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/140015/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers-Live-At-Slane-Castle/Product.html |title=Live At Slane Castle |access-date=July 21, 2007 |publisher=Play.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709085147/http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/140015/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers-Live-At-Slane-Castle/Product.html |archive-date=July 9, 2007 }} Live at Slane Castle, the result of the concert, would become the Chili Peppers' second live DVD, after Off the Map.

Following several Japanese and Australian performances, the Red Hot Chili Peppers planned three nights at London's Hyde Park. Over 240,000 tickets were sold within hours, with roughly 80,000 people attending each show on June 19, 20, and 25, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://rhcpnews.com/2004/07/red-hot-chili-peppers-set-world-record-at-london-hyde-park |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Set World Record at London Hyde Park |date=July 14, 2004 |access-date=July 21, 2007 |publisher=RHCPnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715180748/http://rhcpnews.com/2004/07/red-hot-chili-peppers-set-world-record-at-london-hyde-park/ |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }} It became the highest-grossing concert at a single venue in history, accumulating an estimated $17 million gross revenue. Due to the success of the three shows, the band released their first live album, Red Hot Chili Peppers Live in Hyde Park, in Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, excluding the United States. Later that year, the band played for the 2004 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web|url=http://rhcpnews.com/2004/07/chili-peppers-spice-up-convention |title=Chili Peppers Spice Up Convention |date=July 30, 2004 |access-date=July 21, 2007 |website=RHCPnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715180759/http://rhcpnews.com/2004/07/chili-peppers-spice-up-convention/ |archive-date=July 15, 2011}}

In 2006, Flea revealed that he once again considered leaving the band while touring in support of the album, stating that "throughout the By the Way tour I would play a show and then go and sit on the end of my bed staring into space." He planned to teach full-time at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, but ultimately decided to remain with the band. Flea later stated that "the most painful part of quitting, and the thing that stopped me, was the idea of telling Anthony."{{cite web|url=http://www.invisible-movement.net/articles/2006-press/0601-rollingstone/3 |title=Tattooed Love Boys | John Frusciante unofficial website – Invisible Movement |website=Invisible-movement.net |date=January 16, 2010 |access-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806193159/http://invisible-movement.net/articles/2006-press/0601-rollingstone/3 |archive-date=August 6, 2011 }}

{{track listing

| headline = By the Way track listing

| all_writing = Red Hot Chili Peppers

| title1 = By the Way

| length1 = 3:37

| title2 = Universally Speaking

| length2 = 4:18

| title3 = This Is the Place

| length3 = 4:16

| title4 = Dosed

| length4 = 5:11

| title5 = Don't Forget Me

| length5 = 4:36

| title6 = The Zephyr Song

| length6 = 3:52

| title7 = Can't Stop

| length7 = 4:28

| title8 = I Could Die for You

| length8 = 3:13

| title9 = Midnight

| length9 = 4:54

| title10 = Throw Away Your Television

| length10 = 3:43

| title11 = Cabron

| length11 = 3:37

| title12 = Tear

| length12 = 5:16

| title13 = On Mercury

| length13 = 3:28

| title14 = Minor Thing

| length14 = 3:37

| title15 = Warm Tape

| length15 = 4:15

| title16 = Venice Queen

| length16 = 6:06

| total_length = 68:27

}}

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline = Japanese CD bonus track

| title17 = Time

| length17 = 3:47

| total_length = 72:14

}}

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline = 2006 iTunes bonus tracks

| title17 = Runaway

| length17 = 4:40

| title18 = Bicycle Song

| length18 = 3:23

| total_length = 76:30

}}

Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/by-the-way-mw0000218945/credits|title=By the Way – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 6, 2021|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215035028/https://www.allmusic.com/album/by-the-way-mw0000218945/credits|url-status=live}}

Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
• John Frusciante – guitar, backing vocals, piano, keyboards, modular synthesizer, Mellotron, melodica on "On Mercury", additional bass on "Don't Forget Me"{{cite web|last1=Sturman|first1=Sally|title=Bass Player August 2002 Flea|url=http://thechilisource.com/bass-play-august-2002-flea/|website=Red Hot Chili Peppers fansite, news and forum - thechilisource.com|access-date=September 17, 2017|date=February 24, 2011|archive-date=October 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003084352/http://thechilisource.com/bass-play-august-2002-flea/|url-status=live}}
• Flea – bass, guitar on "Dosed",{{Cite web |url=https://pp.userapi.com/c836239/v836239833/372c5/69o8hzyPP-8.jpg |title=Warner Bros. Records Inc. |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916183036/https://pp.userapi.com/c836239/v836239833/372c5/69o8hzyPP-8.jpg |url-status=live }} trumpet on "Tear"
• Chad Smith – drums, percussion, tambourine

Production

• Lindsay Chase – production coordination
• David Campbell – string arrangement
• Suzie Katayama – contractor and cello
• Joel Derouin – concertmaster
• Evan Wilson – viola
• Larry Corbett – cello
• Charlie Bisharat, Gerry Hilera, Peter Kent – violins
• Matt Funes – viola
• Ryan Hewitt – engineer
• Marc Mann – arranger
• Ethan Mates – recording engineer
• Vlado Meller – mastering
• Rick Rubin – production and engineering
• Jim Scott – mix engineer, recording engineer
• Jason Wormer – recording engineer

Design

• Julian Schnabel – art direction
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – art direction

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for By the Way}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=2002|relyear=2002|certref={{Cite web|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070927004408/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?AnoFiltro=2002&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP&ACCION=+Buscar+ |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?AnoFiltro=2002&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP&ACCION=+Buscar+ |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |language=es |access-date=June 12, 2012 |title=Discos de Oro y Platino – 2002 |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|relmonth=7}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chilli Pepers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2002|certyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|certmonth=12}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|id=44|source=chart|relmonth=7|access-date=May 9, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|salesamount=30,000}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=2003|relyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Gold|number=3|relyear=2002|certyear=2004|access-date=January 22, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Greece|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|id=20030205090308|relyear=2002|relmonth=7}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|relyear=2002|relmonth=7|certyear=2001|region=Hungary|access-date=December 5, 2018|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2020|note=sales since 2009|access-date=November 4, 2020|id=1705}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|certmonth=8|access-date=June 10, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|id=2003-03-21|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|number=2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|title=By The Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|nocert=true|salesamount=49,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/i/mPO8p/guttas-aar|title=Guttas år|publisher=Aftenposten|language=no|first=Veronica|last=Karlsen|date=December 13, 2002|access-date=July 20, 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|certmonth=8|relmonth=7|date=August 28, 2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|nocert=true|salesamount=12,868|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.miak.or.kr:80/stat/pop_200207.htm|title=2002.07월 - POP 음반 판매량|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Korea|language=ko|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616204454/http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/pop_200207.htm|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=By the Way|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|certref={{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |page=964 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129151111/http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |url-status=live }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=2003|relyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=7|certyear=2019|relyear=2002|id=1141-982-2|access-date=January 25, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=By the Way|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | last = Apter | first = Jeff | title = Fornication: The Red Hot Chili Peppers Story | date = November 23, 2004 | publisher = Omnibus Press | isbn = 1-84449-381-4}}
• {{cite book | last = Kiedis | first = Anthony | author-link = Anthony Kiedis |author2=Sloman, Larry | title = Scar Tissue | date = October 6, 2004 | publisher = Hyperion | isbn = 1-4013-0101-0| title-link = Scar Tissue (autobiography) }}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|42557|name=By the Way}}
• [https://www.google.com/musicl?lid=sV1RD4Or6zP&aid=rwDAhdphyiH By the Way] at Google Music
• {{Metacritic album}}

{{Red Hot Chili Peppers}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2002 albums

Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers albums

Category:Warner Records albums