"Scar Tissue" is the first single from the American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh studio album Californication, released in 1999. It is one of their most successful songs, spending a then record 16 weeks on top of Billboard's Modern Rock Charts. It was released in late 1999, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #15 on the UK charts. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2000. The song is notable for its mellow intro guitar riff and for its slide guitar solos throughout.

It was the band's first top 40 hit since 1993's "Soul to Squeeze."

Meaning

"Scar Tissue" is considered to be representative of the new, more melodic rock sound the band experimented with on Californication (in contrast to the psychedelic One Hot Minute, and dry funk of Blood Sugar Sex Magik). The song's most agreed-upon interpretation is that it is a celebration of life and rebirth, especially due to the situation before Californication (guitarist John Frusciante left the band in 1992 and spent six years as a drug addict, almost dying at one point, before cleaning up and rejoining).

Music video

The video for "Scar Tissue", was directed by Stephane Sednaoui, who also directed the video for "Give It Away".

The opening shot is of John Frusciante driving, a metaphor for Frusciante's return and ascension to musical leadership of the band (he does not drive in real life). But the four of them are battered, beaten, and bandaged. They are traveling in a rusty wreck and playing broken instruments on the comeback trail. The video ends after an emotional thirty second Frusciante guitar solo at the moment of sunset, with John tossing the broken guitar from the car.

Track list

CD single (1999)

1. "Scar Tissue" (Album) – 3:37
2. "Gong Li" (Unreleased) – 3:43
3. "Instrumental #1" (Unreleased) – 2:48

CD Single (Slipcase) (1999)

1. "Scar Tissue" (Album) – 3:37
2. "Gong Li" (Unreleased) – 3:43

Cassette single (1999)

1. "Scar Tissue" (Album)
2. "Gong Li" (Unreleased)

Jukebox Single

1. "Scar Tissue" (Album) – 3:37
2. "Gong Li" (Unreleased) – 3:43

Sample clip

External links

• stephanesednaoui.com - official Stéphane Sednaoui website.

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