By Kreig Marks, June 2026 TRR

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Chad Smith has been holding down the groove for one of rock's most iconic bands for nearly four decades, and if anything, the man hits harder now than ever. As the thunderous backbone of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad has helped shape some of the most recognizable rhythms in modern rock history, from the funk-drenched chaos of "Give It Away" to the stadium-shaking pulse of "Can't Stop."

 

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota and raised in Michigan, he picked up sticks as a kid and never once put them down, eventually landing a spot in an up and coming Los Angeles band that would go on to sell over 120 million records worldwide.  Off-stage, Chad is warm, funny, and very down to earth, the kind of guy who genuinely loves talking about music as much as he loves playing it. So pull up a chair, because we sat down with the man himself to talk drumming, legacy, and what keeps the fire burning after all these years

 

 

Kreig:  What still gets you excited about playing drums after all these years?

 

Chad:  The same thing that got me hooked in the first place. When the groove locks in, it feels alive, like the whole room takes one big breath together. That never gets old.

 

Kreig:   The Chili Peppers are always balancing chaos and chemistry. What keeps that magic working?

 

Chad:  We like each other, we challenge each other, and we do not overthink it. A lot of it starts with a jam, and then we just follow the energy until it turns into something real.

 

Kreig:  If you had to describe the band’s sound in one word right now, what would it be?

 

Chad:   Hungry. We still want to move people, surprise ourselves, and make stuff that feels fresh instead of safe.

 

Kreig:   What has been inspiring you creatively lately outside of music?

 

Chad:   I still draw a lot, and I love anything visual and colorful. Sometimes the same creative muscle shows up in art and drumming, just in different ways.

 

Kreig:  What is the best part of being onstage in 2026?

 

Chad:  The crowd energy feels priceless. People are not just watching anymore, they are fully in it, singing, jumping, and making the night feel bigger than the band.

 

Kreig:  Do you still get nervous before a show?

 

Chad:   A little, which is good. If you are never nervous, you probably do not care enough. I like that tiny edge before the first downbeat.

 

Kreig:   What is one song from the Chili Peppers catalog that still surprises you live?

 

Chad:  It depends on the night, but the fun ones are the songs that leave room for us to play around. Those tunes can feel different every time, which keeps them interesting.

 

Kreig:  How do you keep the drumming fun instead of turning it into a job?

 

Chad:  I try not to treat it like homework. Drums are a physical thing, a feel thing, and a joy thing. Once it stops being fun, the whole point is gone.

 

Kreig,: What is something fans would be surprised to learn about your process?

 

Chad:  A lot of what we do starts simple. We are not always trying to make it complicated. Sometimes the best idea is the one that feels good in the first 10 seconds.

 

Kreig:  What is your relationship with social media and the modern music world like?

 

Chad:   It is wild, fast, and a little absurd, but that is part of the fun. You can connect with people instantly, which is amazing, but I still think the real test is what happens when the lights go down and the band starts playing.

 

Kreig: If you could give younger drummers one piece of advice, what would it be?

 

Chad: Learn to listen. Technique matters, but groove, time, and listening to the other musicians matter just as much. The best drummers make everybody else sound better.

 

Kreig:  What keeps the Chili Peppers feeling like a band and not just a legacy act?

 

Chad:   We keep making things, keep taking risks, and keep laughing. If you can still surprise each other, you are still alive as a band.

 

Kreig:  Your Saturday Night Live moment with Paul McCartney was legendary. What do you remember most about that experience?

 

Chad:  What I remember most is how surreal it felt. You are standing there with Paul McCartney, trying to stay cool, and at the same time you realize you are part of a moment that music fans will talk about for a long time. He is effortlessly warm, funny, and completely masterful, so the whole thing felt like a blast rather than a pressure cooker.

 

Kreig:  Your drum-off with Will Ferrell was epic. How did you keep yourself from completely losing it and laughing hysterically?

 

Chad:   Honestly, I almost did lose it. Will is one of those people who can make even the most serious moment feel totally ridiculous in the best way, so the trick was to stay focused on the beat and not look at him too long. If you make eye contact with Will Ferrell while he is in full chaos mode, you are done for.

 

Kreig: Ha. If you decided to retire today from the Chili Peppers, what would you do from then on?

 

Chad:  I would slow down a little, but I would not stop being creative. I’d spend more time with family, keep making art, maybe do some drumming projects just for the fun of it, and finally enjoy a pace of life that is not built around airports, soundchecks, and tour buses. But honestly, retirement would probably still look a lot like me finding something loud and weird to do.