David Bowie Declined Multiple Red Hot Chili Peppers Collaboration Offers

With the recent death of glam rock icon David Bowie, fans and musicians alike have shared covers, their favorite Bowie stories and reminisced on the time they spent with or influenced by the one-of-a-kind entertainer. Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis recently admitted that the Hunky Dory singer turned down possible collaborations with the chili peppers multiple times.

The Chili Peppers weren't the only ones denied partnerships however. The Labyrinth actor also declined an invitation to work with Coldplay, Consequence of Sound notes. Kiedis let the details flow while guest appearing on Joney's Jukebox radio show during the week when he elaborated on the Bowie botch.

"Every record we ever made, we had the band discussion. 'Who should we get to produce this record?', 'I don't know, we have to try someone new!' 'Let's get David Bowie!' 'Okay, let's call him,'" he recalled.

"So in the beginning we would call him, and he would say 'no', respectfully. Then later we would write long emails explaining everything, and why it was time for us to really get our ships on, and he always respectfully declined. For two minutes I was heartbroken, and then I would hear [RHCP drummer] Chad Smith play drums, and I'd be like, 'We're good, we could do something else.'"

He further revealed that the Aladdin Sane singer was approached to help produce their fan-favorite 2002 album, By The Way and again in 2006 for Stadium Arcadium. While he responded no a handful of times, his associate, Brian Eno, has rejected the Chili Peppers eight offers over their entire career.

Trailing the death of David Bowie, Chili Peppers bassist Flea expediently got the musician's name tattooed on his arm in bold letters accompanied by the signature flash logo.