When it comes to rock and roll powerhouses, few bands come close to matching the success of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses. These bands dominated the local scene in Los Angeles before growing up and conquering the music charts. Through the years, they each established a timeless legacy and have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

While they have few similarities, these two bands are actually connected in a unique way. Childhood has a unique way of bringing people together, and this is precisely what happened decades ago in Los Angeles when members of these groups became friends before turning into rock stars.

Let’s look at the wild connection shared between the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses.

Flea And Slash Grew Up Together

One of the crazy things about growing up in Los Angeles during the 70s and 80s was that there were plenty of people living in the area that went on to become something special in music, acting, and beyond. As it turns out, Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist, Flea, and Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Slash, actually grew up down the street from one another.

It is hard to believe that this much music talent used to live near each other as kids at one point, but they were not the only future rock stars that lived near one another. Former Guns N’ Roses drummer, Steve Adler, also lived on the same block as these guys.

“Me and Slash and Flea all went to junior high together. We all grew up in the same neighborhood. We all used to play football in the street and Flea would play trumpet for my grandmother on her porch,” Adler told Rolling Stone.

In his autobiography, Flea would touch on meeting a young Slash for the very first time, and the axeman himself has even talked about growing up knowing a young Flea.

“Me, Flea and Steven all knew each other from the same neighborhood. When I first started playing, and Steven was playing, and Michael [Flea’s real name is Michael Peter Balzary] was playing trumpet, we used to hang out in this one area in West Hollywood where this elementary school was, cos it had banks that you could do on your skateboard and s***,” Slash said in an interview.

Related: These Top Recording Artists Have New Music Planned For 2021

Members Of Both Bands Went To High School Together

As time went on, these guys would all end up in high school together, but the rock star connection didn’t just end with those three. Enter Anthony Kiedis, who soon found himself with the rest of the aforementioned future rock stars while attending Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. Future Red Hot Chili Peppers members Jack Irons and Hillel Slovak also attended Fairfax.

Slash, however, attended multiple high schools, and at one point, he found himself going to school with none other than Lenny Kravitz, who also went on to become a famous musician.

Per Ultimate-Guitar, Kravitz would talk about going to high school with Slash, saying, “We went to high school together. We weren't friends but I knew him. We were like, cool. I never went to his house or anything, but I used to see him in the hallway a lot. He and I were in the hallway a lot.”

Once they both became famous, the duo reconnected at an awards show.

"I was at the American Music Awards. They [Guns N' Roses] won a bunch of awards and [Lenny's 1989 debut album] 'Let Love Rule' had just come out. And we saw each other - we were sitting near each other at the awards and... *points finger* It didn't have anything to do with Lenny Kravitz or Guns N' Rose; we were both like, 'Wait a minute. I remember you!' And then we talked and like, 'Oh, wow! We both went to school together,'” Kravitz told Eddie Trunk.

Related: Everything We Know About Dylan Minnette’s Band, Wallows

Flea And Slash Have made Music Together

As time went on, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses went on to become rock legends, and they have since been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Interestingly, the enshrinement of both bands came back in 2012. That night, old friends Flea and Slash would share the stage together.

Outside of that night, Flea and Slash have played together in the studio, along with Steven Adler.

“It was really cool that me and Slash and Flea recorded a song for Slash’s solo album last year. That was really exciting…But this! Three punks from the streets of Hollywood who grew up together and did good,” Adler told Rolling Stone.

Related: Who Is The Richest Member Of Metallica?

Despite being different in every single way, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses will always share a unique childhood connection.

Next: Musicians From The ’90s Who Are Still Going Strong