REVIEW: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hampden

AFTER 24 years in the music biz, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, proved they're still scorching at Hampden Park last night.

They played an epic, career-spanning set, featuring hits like Give It Away, Californication and Can't Stop.

Opening with an instrumental jam, the Chilis took every opportunity to show off their virtuoso-like musicianship, with John Frusciante extracting never before heard noises from his guitar.

They then moved on to 2002's Can't Stop, before Dani California - first single from their aptly-named latest album.

Singer Anthony Kiedis managed to look both resplendent and ridiculous at once in a fetching shirt, tie, waistcoat and, er, shorts combo, while bassist Flea went with the familiar topless look.

The band's set also included less familiar songs like Get On Top - a mindless but brilliant funk workout, which saw Kiedis leaping around the stage like a man possessed.

Meanwhile, Frusciante dropped to his knees for yet another over the top solo - like the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix, the riffs just kept coming.

After another lengthy jam, Californication was greeted with huge applause.

They finished with By The Way, an enormous, bass-driven rocker, but returned to play another jam, and a completely unnecessary trumpet solo before their 1991 hit Give It Away.

"If you're 17, this was written when you were born," said Flea, before unleashing one of the world's funkiest basslines - while the audience in turn unleashed some heinous dancing.

Bouncing around the stage, the Chili Peppers looked like a band at the peak of their powers with enough punch to stay the kings of punk-funk for a long while yet.