Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith discussed drunk driving in a new Trap Set podcast interview. He brought it up when discussing moving from Detroit to California, and how he was able to obtain a new license despite his drunk driving record.
“I also lost my license by then with drunk driving, two drunk drivings, so my license was gone for two years or something like that. My friend Gordy is like, ‘You just go to the DMV, they ask if you’ve had a license before, and you write no.’ This is before any checking internet thing, and they gave me a brand new license. I’m like, ‘You’re kidding!’ Seriously, that was like a big thing.”
He was then asked if he ever hit anyone.
“With a car? Oh yeah? Hit and run? Oh yeah. I went to jail for like 30 days in 1986. 26 days, because you get one day a week off for good behavior.”
He was also asked when he got his life together.
“Seriously, about 10 years ago. Because my lifestyle, I just did what I did, I joined the Chili Peppers, moved out to California, was making records.”
“I moved in August of 1988, and joined the Chili Peppers in December of 1988.”
