REUTERS
US rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' frontman Anthony Kiedis (R) and bassist Michael ''Flea'' Balzary.
Johannesburg - US rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers are in town and ready to rock.
The outfit, made up of lead singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, landed in the country on Wednesday for their tour of South Africa.
The seven-time Grammy award-winning band get the South African leg of their world tour off to a start at National Stadium in Joburg tonight, before heading off to the Mother City to perform at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday.
This is the first time the Chili Peppers have performed in South Africa.
Tickets for the Cape Town and Joburg concerts were sold within a day. However, additional tickets have been released by Computicket this week.
Local rap rave crew Die Antwoord will be opening for the Chili Peppers at both of their concerts, while eclectic soul trip group The Muffinz will only feature in the Joburg leg of the concert.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1983, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are a band with a strong emphasis on funk, punk and psychedelic rock.
The group shot to fame with their 1991 album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. This album, as well as Californication, have ranked in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest albums of all time.
Though fraught with drug problems, one of the original band members dying and some coming and going, the band have made their mark as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, winning seven Grammy Awards and having sold over 80 million albums worldwide. In 2012 they were inducted into the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.
The band are seemingly enjoying their time in South Africa, having tweeted on Wednesday that they are loving the country.
Bassist Flea tweeted: “whoa South Africa, this place is f****** cool.”
Drummer Chad Smith also tweeted a picture of a lion he had seen during a safari the band went on when they arrived.
After the South African leg of their tour, the Chili Peppers leave for Mexico where they perform three concerts before heading to Guatemala and California for the rest of the tour.
Meanwhile South African fans have taken to Twitter to express their excitement ahead of the concerts.
Kay Adrianne tweeted: “Can’t wait for #RHCP!!! I love them. Happy Days.”
Mitch Williams tweeted: “Looking forward to jamming with my son at the RHCP concert.”
Transport for the Chili Peppers Joburg concert
*Please note that Rea Vaya will not be in operation for the concert.*
Gates at the FNB Stadium will open at 17:00 and due to transport and entry systems being pressured with the large crowd, concertgoers are encouraged to allow enough transport and entry time so as not to miss part of the show.
There are three options in place for fans attending the concert:
1. Park 'n RideTickets are R120 per return ticket from Northgate Shopping Centre, Birchwood Hotel in Boskburg, Silverstar Casino, Menlyn Shopping Centre, Royal Elephant Hotel and Emerald Casino. All Park 'n Ride facilities will open at 13:00 with the first bus leaving at 14:00 and the last bus at 16:00, except for Northgate Shopping Centre where the last bus will leave at 16:30. Buses will start leaving the stadium 30 minutes after the show for the Park 'n Ride centres, as and when each bus reaches capacity, with the last bus leaving no later than one hour after the end of the concert.
2. Park and Rail:To the concert:There will be two trains shuttling between Pretoria Station and Nasrec:1. Train 2242 will depart from Pretoria at 15:35 and will arriving at Nasrec at 17:55.2. Train 2244 will depart from Pretoria at 16:00 and will arriving at Nasrec at 18:25.
Returning:The following return train service will be available as follows: Nasrec – PretoriaTrain 2242 will depart from Nasrec at 00:30 via Johannesburg, Germiston, Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, Centurion and arrive at Pretoria at 02:38.Nasrec – RandfonteinTrain 2244 will depart from Nasrec at 00:30 via Johannesburg, Germiston, Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, Centurion and arrive at Pretoria at 02:38.There will be two trains shuttling between Johannesburg Park Station and Nasrec.
The first train will depart at 16:15 and the second train at 16:45. Both trains are to be expected at Nasrec Station before 18:30. After the concert, both these trains will return back to Park Station at 00:15 and 00:25.3. Parking at the stadium
3. Car: A limited number of parking tickets within Soccer City precinct are available from Computicket and car-pooling is advised if you have purchased a parking ticket. Disabled parking is available and fans in possession of a Disabled Parking Ticket will be directed to parking conveniently situated close to the stadium entrance. These parking tickets can also be purchased from Computicket.
Fans are advised not attempt to approach the stadium by car, unless they are in possession of a Computicket issued parking ticket. Roads in the Soccer City precinct will be closed from 06:00 on Saturday, 2 February and you will not be allowed entry unless you have the prerequisite parking ticket.
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