Street Performer Goes Viral Covering Red Hot Chili Peppers, Unaware of His Audience

A drummer and fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing on the streets of California, found himself with an extraordinary audience.

Spotting a celebrity interacting with the general public is always a thrilling experience.

While some prefer to admire from a distance, and others attempt to capture the moment with a picture, many people share a common desire in such scenarios: avoiding embarrassment.

Considering this, performing in front of a famous person, particularly one you respect, could be quite daunting. Fortunately for this street musician, he was blissfully unaware of his significant audience member.

The event unfolded on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, where Armand Davis was playing a drum kit, accompanying the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ track ‘Otherside’.

A TikTok video that has gone viral shows Davis enjoying his performance, with a man nearby, nodding along to the beat.

The video’s caption, ‘Who wants to tell him?’, hinted this wasn’t just any passerby.

In reality, the attentive listener was Chad Smith, the drummer from the very band Davis was covering.

@iamarmonddavis

Yesterday, I played Otherside by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and halfway through, I noticed someone really vibing which isn’t unusual. But when I finished, a few people told me I’d just played for Chad Smith, the drummer of RHCP. Hearing him say I sounded good on a track he’s known for? Completely surreal. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!

♬ original sound – Armond

Joey McCarthy, who filmed the incident, shared on TikTok: “Imagine shooting hoops in front [of] Michael Jordan and not even realizing it?”

The video quickly caught widespread attention and eventually reached Davis himself.

Upon sharing the clip on TikTok, Davis explained he didn’t recognize Smith during his performance as he was deeply focused.

“Yesterday, I played Otherside by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and halfway through, I noticed someone really vibing which isn’t unusual,” he explained.

“But when I finished, a few people told me I’d just played for Chad Smith, the drummer of RHCP.”

Davis also mentioned that Smith complimented him, saying he ‘sounded good’, which Davis described as ‘completely surreal’.

“I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!” Davis expressed.

Viewers of the viral video have showered praise on Davis, with comments like: “The fact that Chad Smith is just sitting there vibing is just about the biggest compliment you could ask for bro good job.”