Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gnarls Barkley start tour

The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley not only kicked off a North American tour on Friday, January 12th, but the two acts have both been named as performers at the 48th annual Grammy Awards, scheduled to air live on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 11th. Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks are the only other confirmed performers so far, while presenters will include actors Terrence Howard and Samuel L. Jackson along with pop star Pink. Additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, the Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley begin their two-month trek together in Oklahoma City. Chili Peppers bassist Flea said that the band has a simple rule for choosing its opening acts: "We just want the best act we can get, you know. We never have a fear of being, you know, blown off the stage or anything, 'cause that's not gonna happen. That's just not gonna happen, you know."

Gnarls Barkley and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are nominated for four and six Grammys respectively. Both are vying for Album of the Year, while Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" is up for Record of the Year.

The Chili Peppers are also up for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album, among others. Gnarls Barkley will compete for Best Alternative Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance.

The latest Chili Peppers album, Stadium Arcadium, has sold over 1.5 million copies since its release last May. The CD's new single is "Snow (Hey Oh)."
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