Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis’ candid memoir inspires biopic adaptation

Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to Anthony Kiedis’ autobiography, “Scar Tissue,” for a potential motion picture. The Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ frontman’s New York Times bestseller is now in the early stages of development at the studio, with Brian Grazer set to produce through Imagine Entertainment. Kiedis and talent manager Guy Oseary are also involved in the project.

“Scar Tissue” delves into Kiedis’ unconventional upbringing, his ascent with the Red Hot Chili Peppers amid the ’70s and ’80s L.A. punk scene, and his struggles with substance abuse, illustrating how these experiences influenced the iconic band’s music.

In a 2022 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Kiedis revealed the band’s early battles with substance abuse, which cost them an opportunity to work with producer Rick Rubin and the Beastie Boys. Rubin, upon meeting them, feared that “somebody was gonna get murdered” due to the band’s dark and troubled state at the time. Kiedis recalled the moment, stating:

“He was like, ‘I thought somebody was gonna get murdered in that rehearsal space. I thought somebody was gonna die. I had to leave.’ That’s how dark we had become! That’s how dark I had become; he was afraid someone was gonna die, and it was time to leave.”

Despite these challenges, Kiedis has consistently channeled his personal struggles into the band’s music, with hits like “Under the Bridge” reflecting one of his lowest points in the battle against substance abuse. The upcoming film is poised to bring Kiedis’ candid and impactful memoir to the big screen.