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Scar Tissue

{{Short description|1999 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers}}

{{About|the Red Hot Chili Peppers song||Scar tissue (disambiguation){{!}}Scar tissue}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Scar Tissue

| cover = Scartissue.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Red Hot Chili Peppers

| album = Californication

| B-side = * "Gong Li"

  • "Instrumental #1"

| released = {{start date|1999|5|25}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = * Blues rock

| length = 3:35

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer =

| producer = Rick Rubin

| prev_title = Love Rollercoaster

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = Around the World

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|mzJj5-lubeM|"Scar Tissue"}}}}

}}

"Scar Tissue" is the first single from American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh studio album, Californication (1999). Released on May 25, 1999, the song spent a then-record 16 consecutive weeks atop the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as 10 weeks atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also successful in Iceland, New Zealand, and Canada, reaching numbers one, three, and four, respectively. In the United Kingdom, it charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Scar Tissue" is considered to be representative of the new, more melodic rock sound the band experimented with on Californication (in contrast with the psychedelic One Hot Minute, and dry funk of Blood Sugar Sex Magik). The song is notable for its mellow intro guitar riff and for its slide guitar solos throughout. Guitar World placed the guitar solo 63rd in its list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos".{{Cite book|last=Leonard|first=Hal|title=Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time|publisher=Hal Leonard Corp.|year=2013|isbn=9781480356979|location=United States}} "Scar Tissue" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2000. In 2004, lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis published an autobiography titled after the song.

Music video

The music video for "Scar Tissue" was directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, who also directed the video for "Give It Away". The opening shot is of John Frusciante driving down a strip of desert highway, a metaphor for Frusciante's return to the band (he does not drive in real life).{{cite news|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/5_obscure_facts_about_john_frusciante-161356|title=5 Obscure Facts About John Frusciante|work=Ultimate Guitar|date=January 26, 2024|first=Justin|last=JustinBeckner|access-date=November 4, 2024}} But the four of them are battered, beaten and bandaged. They are traveling in a rusty wreck and playing broken instruments on the comeback trail. The video ends after an emotional thirty second Frusciante guitar solo at the moment of sunset, with John tossing the broken, stringless guitar from the car. The car Frusciante pretended to drive for the video was a 1967 Pontiac Catalina convertible. A very similar concept was considered, then scrapped, for the earlier "Soul to Squeeze" video. Prior to the video shoot, Kiedis had his hair cut and bleached his brown hair to platinum blond, a look he kept throughout the promotion and tour for Californication. It was filmed in California's Mojave Desert.

Reception

"Scar Tissue" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs. In 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers songs,{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers songs – ranked|first=Sam|last=Law|website=Kerrang|date=March 17, 2021|accessdate=May 4, 2023}} and in 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the song number two on their list of the 40 greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs-1324628/black-summer-2022-1332929/|title=The 40 Greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 11, 2022|accessdate=May 4, 2023}}

Live performances

"Scar Tissue" has been a live staple in the band's setlists since its first performance in 1998 making it the band's fifth most performed song overall.{{cite web|url=http://theside.free.fr/ |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Live |publisher=The Side |access-date=July 27, 2016}} American band Mr. Bungle performed a mock version of the song in 1999, as part of a Halloween concert parodying Red Hot Chili Peppers.{{cite web| url = http://exclaim.ca/music/article/five_noteworthy_facts_you_may_not_know_about_faith_no_more| title = Five Noteworthy Facts You May Not Know About Faith No More {{!}} Exclaim!}}

Track listings

CD single (1999) (Catalogue Number 9 16913–2)

  1. "Scar Tissue" (album) – 3:37
  2. "Gong Li" (previously unreleased) – 3:42
  3. "Instrumental #1" (previously unreleased) – 2:48

CD single (Slipcase) (1999)

  1. "Scar Tissue" (album) – 3:37
  2. "Gong Li" (previously unreleased) – 3:42

Cassette single (1999)

  1. "Scar Tissue" (album)
  2. "Gong Li" (previously unreleased)

Personnel

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1999)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|15|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|11|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|4|chartid=7279|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|65|chartid=8358|rowheader=true|access-date=July 29, 2018}}
{{single chart|Canadarock|1|chartid=8375|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
scope="row"|Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|archivedate=April 7, 2005|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 1999|website=Cross Canada Countdown|accessdate=November 13, 2023}}

| style="text-align:center"|11

scope="row"|Dominican Republic (Notimex){{cite web|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT/1999/10/17/88/Ar08800.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=2357827&PageLabelPrint=88&skin=%45%6c%53%69%67%6c%6f&AppName=%32&sLanguage=%45%6e%67%6c%69%73%68&Content=%41%4c%4c&selLanguage=&sPublication=%45%44%54&sDateFrom=%30%31%25%32%46%30%31%25%32%46%31%39%39%39&sDateTo=%31%32%25%32%46%33%31%25%32%46%31%39%39%39&dummy=%31%39%39%39&sQuery=%53%6f%6d%65%74%69%6d%65%73%2b%2d%2b%42%72%69%74%6e%65%79%2b%53%70%65%61%72%73&x=%31%35&y=%30&ViewMode=HTML|title=Britney Spears se coloca entre las más escuchadas|work=El Siglo de Torreón|language=Spanish|page=88|date=October 17, 1999|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221201115147/http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT/1999/10/17/88/Ar08800.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=2357827&PageLabelPrint=88&skin=ElSiglo&AppName=2&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sPublication=EDT&sDateFrom=01%252F01%252F1999&sDateTo=12%252F31%252F1999&dummy=1999&sQuery=Sometimes%2B-%2BBritney%2BSpears&x=15&y=0&ViewMode=HTML|archive-date=December 1, 2022|access-date=April 7, 2023}}

|3

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-06-19.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=25|page=15|date=June 19, 1999|access-date=June 4, 2020}}

|59

{{single chart|Finland|16|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|France|66|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Germany|75|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|songid=10042|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016|refname="ger"}}
scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2986496#page/n10/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn (1.7–8.7. 1999)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=11|date=July 2, 1999|access-date=October 5, 2019}}

|1

{{single chart|Ireland2|16|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-07-31.pdf|title=Hits of the World – Italy|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=31|page=70|date=July 31, 1999|access-date=June 4, 2020}}

|11

scope="row"|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-24.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=30|page=19|date=24 July 1999}}

| 1

{{single chart|Dutch40|24|year=1999|week=37|rowheader=true|access-date=July 29, 2018}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|38|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|song=Scar Tissue|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
scope="row"|Poland (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-06-26.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay – Week 26/1999|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=26|page=19|date=June 26, 1999|access-date=January 29, 2021}}

|2

{{single chart|Scotland|11|date=19990612|rowheader=true|access-date=July 29, 2018}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|15|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|artistid=15644|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|2|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|11|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|12|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2016}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1999)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1999/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999|publisher=ARIA|access-date=July 29, 2018}}

|69

scope="row" |Brazil (Crowley){{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/1999/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1999|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}

|98

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9952&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9952.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9952|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=July 29, 2018}}

|40

scope="row"|Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9960&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9960.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9960|title=RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=July 29, 2018}}

|1

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1999.html|title=Jaarlijsten 1999|language=nl|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=May 11, 2022}}

|162

scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1999-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1999|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

|46

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1999|access-date=August 28, 2010|archive-date=November 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095342/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999|url-status=dead}}

|34

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=47|date=December 24, 1999}}

|40

scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-12-25.pdf|title=1999 The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=52|page=YE-90|date=December 25, 1999|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

|3

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=54|date=December 24, 1999}}

|50

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)

|3

scope="row"|US Triple-A (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=38|date=December 24, 1999}}

|5

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|award=Gold|type=single|access-date=October 24, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|award=Platinum|number=6|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|type=single|access-date=May 29, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|relyear=1999|certyear=2023|award=Gold|id=12512|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|type=single|access-date=June 3, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|relyear=1999|certyear=2019|award=Platinum|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|type=single|access-date=July 15, 2019|id=6826}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|access-date=January 17, 2025|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|access-date=August 16, 2024|id=file_2024-10-28-09-54-31.pdf}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|access-date=October 14, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|award=Platinum|number=2|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|type=single|id=13927-982-1|access-date=February 15, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|award=Platinum|number=6|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Scar Tissue|type=single|access-date=September 29, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"|United States

|May 24, 1999

|Rock radio

|rowspan="8"|Warner Bros.

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=Big Rock Is Back, Baby|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1300|page=86|date=May 21, 1999|quote=...'Scar Tissue' (coming Monday)...}}{{cite magazine|title=Adds for May 24 & 25|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2256|page=31|date=May 21, 1999}}

scope="row"|Europe

|May 25, 1999

|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/post/146158-the-15-best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs/P2/|title=The 15 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs|work=PopMatters|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003150518/http://www.popmatters.com/post/146158-the-15-best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs/P2/|archive-date=October 3, 2013|access-date=March 23, 2015}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|May 31, 1999

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 31 May, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=May 29, 1999}}

scope="row"|Japan

|June 9, 1999

|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/184081/products/306168/1/|title=スカー・ティッシュ {{!}} レッド・ホット・チリ・ペッパーズ|trans-title=Scar Tissue {{!}} Red Hot Chili Peppers|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 17, 2023}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States

|June 21, 1999

|{{hlist|Hot adult contemporary|modern adult contemporary radio}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2260|page=34|date=June 21, 1999}}

June 22, 1999

|Contemporary hit radio

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1304|page=42|date=June 18, 1999}}

September 14, 1999

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=39|page=105|date=September 25, 1999|quote=...Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Scar Tissue' (Warner Bros.), as cassette and CD configurations hit retail Sept. 14.}}

scope="row"|Canada

|October 12, 1999

|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1999/oct99.html|title=Album Releases: October 1999|publisher=Jam!|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000829104241/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1999/oct99.html|archive-date=August 29, 2000|access-date=January 6, 2023}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Red Hot Chili Peppers}}

{{Red Hot Chili Peppers singles}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Song}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1999 singles

Category:1999 songs

Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Song

Category:Music videos directed by Stéphane Sednaoui

Category:Number-one singles in Iceland

Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Songs written by Anthony Kiedis

Category:Songs written by Chad Smith

Category:Songs written by Flea (musician)

Category:Songs written by John Frusciante

Category:Warner Records singles