Chili Peppers Explode Out of the Box With No 1 Debut on Modern Rock Chart

LOS ANGELES, CA. (Brian Bumbery/ Warner Bros. Records) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers return with a killer lead track, "Dani California," that explodes out of the box to score a No 1 debut on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart this week. The last time a band debuted at No 1 on the Modern Rock Chart was REM's "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" in 1994.

"Dani California" is a precursor to the much-anticipated, two-CD set, "STADIUM ARCADIUM," which releases May 9 on Warner Bros. Records.

The Chili Peppers hold the Modern Rock Chart record for the band with the most time at No 1 - 59 weeks. Additionally, their "Scar Tissue" owns the record for the song with the longest run at No 1 - 16 weeks.

"Dani California" is Red Hot Chili Peppers' ninth No 1 Modern Rock Track. It was preceded by "Give It Away" (1991), "Soul to Squeeze" (1993), "My Friends" (1995), "Scar Tissue" (1999), "Californication" (2000), "Otherside" (2000), "By the Way" (2002), "Can't Stop" (2002).

"Dani California" is also the first song to debut in the Top Five at Modern, Active Rock and Heritage Rock in the same week. The track enters the Active Rock chart at No 2 - that chart's highest debut since Metallica's "St. Anger" opened at No 1 in 2003. At Heritage Rock "Dani California" enters at No 4, which equals the debut of Pearl Jam's "World Wide Suicide" in March and its 303 spins is the most for a debut since Van Halen's "It's About Time" opened with 423 in 2004.

"'Dani California' boasts a monster punk-infused riff... a wild showcase of concentrated power and mature songwriting," reviewed Sven Philipp for Billboard magazine this week.

The song is supported by a video portraying a history of rock 'n' roll, directed by Tony Kaye. It debuted worldwide last week.

The Chili Peppers' first new studio album in four years, "STADIUM ARCADIUM," was produced by long-time collaborator Rick Rubin. The collection contains 28 songs divided between two discs, one named "Jupiter" (which includes "Dani California") and the other "Mars."

The Los Angeles-based band has sold more than 50 million albums and logged seven multi-platinum CDs.