Lesson learned. Think twice before aggregating news from sources whose sources are likely being sarcastic. As previously reported, Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer Chad Smith spoke with KROQ about the band's upcoming Super Bowl halftime gig with Bruno Mars and said the band had planned on covering Led Zeppelin's live version of "Dazed and Confused."
Rushed to get the news out, we didn't take the time to think through the likelihood of a band covering a 30-minute live version of an almost 47-year-old stoner track at one of the most televised events in the country. To our credit, we weren't the only ones to perpetrate this trolling as truth, but nonetheless we feel pretty stupid.
"People in the media are so gullible sometimes," Smith told Radio.com. "We will, however, be performing side one of Rush's 2112." As awesome as that would be, of course that won't be played either.
"Obviously I can't tell you what we're going to do, it would ruin the surprise," he continued. "Come on, you gotta watch! It's gonna be great, Bruno Mars, we met them, his band are great people, today I'm going to rehearse with them outside in the beautiful weather here in New Jersey, it'll be a real spectacle, I'm looking forward to it."
Smith also explained to them how the whole collaboration came about: "We know of the Bruno Mars, but we're not homies. This is what I know: The NFL said to Bruno, 'You can have a special guest, and choose whomever you like.' Bruno chose the Red Hot Chili Peppers because he's a big fan, unbeknownst to us. He called us and said 'Hey, would you guys be my guest at the halftime show, come and do a jam?' We said sure, sounds like fun."
The drum kit Smith will play on Sunday will be auctioned off to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"The wonderful people at Pearl that make my drums made me a custom giant drum kit, because if it's the Super Bowl you've gotta go big," he explained. "It lights up and changes colors and has all of the NFL team logos on it. Through the NFL and Make-A-Wish we're going to auction it off to the highest bidder and of course the money will go to that charity. I'm happy to do it."
Super Bowl halftime takes place this Sunday, Feb. 2, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What would you like to see them play? Let us know in the comments section below (or feel free to judge our gullibility or offer more unlikely song suggestions)!
