The Red Hot Chili Peppers may be strongly associated with southern California, but drummer Chad Smith's heart never left the Midwest. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who grew up in suburban Detroit, is gifting a need-based music scholarship to the University of Michigan.
Smith attended Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and began his career playing in clubs and bars across the Detroit area. Smith spent most of his childhood in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he graduated from Lahser High School in 1980.
Smith was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the third child of Joan and Curtis Smith. "A lot of people (say), 'The Chili Peppers, West Coast band, California this and California that.' I get it. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota," Smith told The Associated Press in an interview. "The Minnesota connection is strong. The Michigan connection is strong." And that's why we're here.
Smith has been with the Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988, appearing on ten of the band's studio albums and becoming the band's longest-serving drummer in its history. In 1988, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were looking for a replacement for their drummer D.H. Peligro, who had recently been fired. Smith joined the Chili Peppers in December 1988.
During that time, the quartet, which also includes singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, have been one of the biggest-selling music acts, mixing layers of funk, punk, rap and traditional pop over a foundation of rock. The Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
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The backward-baseball-cap-wearing Smith has held down the beat on such hits as "Give It Away," "Under the Bridge" and "Dani California."
"I'm fortunate to be in a band people like and I play the drums and maybe some drummers or musicians will get inspired just from my story," Smith said.
Smith is also an avid fan of his hometown Michigan sports teams, including the NHL's Detroit Red Wings.
Following the Red Hot Chili Peppers performance in Columbus, Ohio, Smith sang the University of Michigan fight song "The Victors". Smith's singing of the fight song made national news as the University of Michigan and Ohio State are longtime sports rivals.
The Detroit Lions’ home playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, January 21, drew some famous fans to the Motor City’s Ford Field. “It’s great for the city. It’s great for the fans. The team, the whole thing,” Smith declared. “It’s an amazing environment. He added, “It’s been a long time. It’s so great. I’m just Detroit all the way. And it’s a really special year. And I hope it continues. I know it’s gonna continue! Positive energy! Let’s go!
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The team beat the Buccaneers 31-23. Detroit now will play the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday, January 28, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Smith is widely known for his strong facial resemblance to actor and comedian Will Ferrell, which he has acknowledged by wearing shirts reading "I Am Not Will Ferrell" in live performances. Smith said that the two first met during the premiere of the film The Ladies Man (2000).
Chad Smith's "My Story" Documentary Excerpt
The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship
The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, which is named in honor of Smith's parents, will be awarded to an incoming University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance student, beginning in 2026. The scholarship is a partnership between the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Chad Smith Foundation and comes on the heels of one with the same name launched two months ago at the University of Minnesota. Smith's parents are Minnesota alums.
Michigan's version of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship will support incoming freshmen to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance undergraduate program who demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to pursuing a music career. The scholarship reinforces CSF's mission to expand access to high-quality music education and career pathways for aspiring musicians across the country.
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"My mother is 98 years young. Still going. She's here today - amazing," Smith said. "So, to be able to honor her (and) my father, unfortunately, passed away, but they were so integral in helping me with my musical path."
On August 19, 2025, Smith announced that he was starting the "Chad Smith Foundation" music school which will provide scholarships, music equipment and music education to kids. “I believe every kid, no matter where they come from, deserves the chance to explore their musical potential and find their voice.
Other Musical Ventures
In 2007, Smith, along with fellow Glenn Hughes alumni, guitarist Jeff Kollman and keyboardist Ed Roth, formed an all-instrumental band inspired by their shared love of 1970s funk and fusion. Following a lengthy world tour in support of Stadium Arcadium, the Chili Peppers decided to take a break in 2008. During this break, Smith joined the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot, whose other members are Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony.
In June 2016, Smith discussed the future of Chickenfoot touring and recording new music saying that "everyone has different things going on. We really enjoy playing together, but with my schedule I don't see us playing too much. I would love to make some new music with those guys, but we'd have to be in the same room at the same time. I just don't know. It's up in the air. I love playing with those guys, though.
Smith released an app in March 2012, which is a free mobile application for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices and features his "Drummer GPS". In 2013, Smith joined jazz musician Jon Batiste and bassist/producer Bill Laswell to create a unique musical group to score a film that had yet to be written and would never be made.
On May 28, 2018, Smith along with co-host and Yahoo Entertainment music editor Lyndsey Parker, began their own music radio talk show on SiriusXM titled VOLUME West which airs every Monday.
That collaboration with Post Malone led to the creation of Osbourne's 2020 album, Ordinary Man, which Smith co-wrote along with Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan and producer Andrew Watt. Smith performs drums on Ozzy Osbourne's 2022 album, Patient Number 9. Smith performs on seven of the songs and also co-wrote five songs on Iggy Pop's 2022 album, Every Loser.
Charity Work and Advocacy
In April 2013, Smith was asked by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), to represent the music community by going to Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist in support of music education in US public schools. While in DC, Smith had the opportunity to meet with congressional leaders and share his experience as a student who learned his craft entirely within the public school system.
On May 21, 2014, Smith appeared along with other celebrities in Washington, D.C. at a White House talent show held by Michelle Obama which was organized to raise awareness for Turnaround Arts, a program enacted under the guidance of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH) to increase performance and achievement at some of the lowest-ranked schools in the country through arts education.
Smith said "I didn't give a shit about science, math or English when I was in school and music was the only reason I wanted to go. It got me interested in other subjects and I would've never graduated without it. If kids can connect with some sort of art in some way, it will enrich their lives in ways they probably can't fully comprehend at the time."
On April 29, 2016, Chad Smith and Will Ferrell hosted the Red Hot Benefit Comedy + Music Show & Quinceanera. On October 6, 2018, Smith and Will Ferrell hosted Will Ferrell's Best Night of Your Life, a one night charity event in Los Angeles at the Greek Theater. The event, produced by Funny or Die, will benefit Cancer for College and feature many big-name celebrities.
On January 13, 2019, Smith along with the Chili Peppers performed at a benefit for victims of the recent deadly Woolsey Fire. Smith said that the fires even put the band's recording of their twelfth album on hold saying "the house we were working in, there was no damage, it didn't burn down, but we couldn't get back in there. So that halted our [progress]. Myself and Anthony both live in Point Dume. Seventy houses in our neighborhood burned down.
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