Photo by Clara Balzary

On Sunday night, the 2022 MTV Music Video Awards was held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The event was hosted by LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, who kept the audience entertained between the delivery of awards and unforgettable musical performances. Among the show’s highlights was the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ return to the fabled award show stage to perform two songs for the packed house and accept the coveted Global Icon Award. 

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ appearance at this year’s event marked their first in over two decades. The California rockers’ return to the award show stage brought forth the on-air performance of two songs. First, the band ran through “Black Summer” off their 2022 collection Unlimited Love before turning inward on their deep catalog of music and landing on the 2002 favorite, “Can’t Stop.” 

Of particular interest, drummer Chad Smith donned an illustration of a hawk on his kit in honor of the late-Taylor Hawkins, who passed away on March 25 while on tour in Bogota, Columbia. Apart from the band’s televised performance, they also joined the likes of Janet Jackson, U2 and the Foo Fighters by receiving the honorary Global Icon Award. 

During their acceptance speech, the band thanked their families and fans, and frontman Anthony Kiedis said, “I did want to thank the sassy mistress known as MTV for supporting is for 1,000 years or more.” He added, “I really want to thank Flea and John and Chad for giving me purpose in my life for the last 40 years.” 

Watch the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ perform “Black Summer” and “Can’t Stop” below.