A Red Hot Chili Peppers fan who simply wanted to entertain the public in California with his drum talents had no clue he’d attracted such a large crowd. It’s always fascinating to see a celebrity out in the wild, i.e., socializing with the ordinary populace. Some individuals choose to remain calm by glancing at them from a distance, while others can’t resist taking a snapshot. However, we, the “regular persons,” typically have one thing in common in these situations: we don’t want to disgrace ourselves.
It can be challenging to perform in front of a celebrity, particularly if you have a fondness for them. That’s why it’s probably best for this particular busker to be completely unaware of the audience he was performing for. The incident occurred on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, where busker Armand Davis had set up a drum setup and was performing the Red Hot Chili Peppers song ‘Otherside’. A TikTok video of the event has gone viral, showing him joyfully playing along while one man sits only a few feet away, nodding and tapping his feet to the music. However, the message, ‘Who wants to inform him?’ made it plain that this wasn’t just any random dude. In reality, the drummer had drawn the attention of Chad Smith, the actual drummer of the band Davis was performing with.
@iamarmonddavisYesterday, 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!
Joey McCarthy, who captured the moment on camera, said on TikTok, “Imagine shooting hoops in front [of] Michael Jordan and not even realizing it?” The video instantly went viral and found its way back to Davis himself. The busker, engrossed in the moment, shared the video on TikTok, claiming he was unaware he was performing for Smith. He posted the following: “Yesterday, I played Otherside by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and halfway through, I noticed someone really vibing, which isn’t unusual.” However, as I concluded my performance, several people informed me that I had just performed for RHCP’s drummer, Chad Smith.
Davis went on to explain that Smith told him he ‘sounded fantastic’, and that hearing Smith say that about a track he is renowned for was ‘totally strange’. “I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!” Davis said. After the video went viral, people applauded the busker, with one remarking, “The fact that Chad Smith is just sitting there vibing is just about the biggest compliment you could ask for, bro. Good job.”