How Many Kids Does Chad Smith Have?

The Short Answer

Chad Smith is 64 years old — born on October 25, 1961. That makes Chad Smith one of the most-searched public figures for age-related questions, with fans regularly looking up birthday and family details.

Chad Smith: Early Life and Background

Chad Gaylord Smith (born October 25, 1961) is an American musician who is the drummer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith has played with Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988, appearing on ten of their studio albums as the band’s longest-serving drummer. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot, formed in 2008, and of the all-instrumental outfit Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats, formed in 2007. He worked with the Chicks on Taking the Long Way, an album that won five Grammy Awards in 2007.

Smith has recorded with various artists including Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Jennifer Nettles, Jake Bugg, the Avett Brothers, Joe Satriani, Post Malone, Eddie Vedder, Brandi Carlile, Lana Del Rey, Halsey, The Chicks, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Hardy and Lady Gaga. In 2010, joined by Dick Van Dyke and Leslie Bixler, he released Rhythm Train, a children's album which featured Smith singing and playing various instruments. In 2020, Smith co-wrote and performed as part of the backing band on Ozzy Osbourne's album, Ordinary Man, and again in 2022 on Patient Number 9. That same year, Smith was a member of Eddie Vedder's backing band, The Earthlings, after co-writing and recording the album, Earthling. He was the primary drummer on Iggy Pop's Every Loser the following year.

Spin magazine placed Smith at number 91 on their list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music" in May 2013. Readers of UK-based Rhythm magazine ranked Smith and Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea the fourth-greatest rhythm section of all time in their June 2013 issue. Smith is also known for his charity work especially with young musicians. He has been a lobbyist in support of music education in U.S. public schools. Smith is also the host of the PBS concert series Landmarks Live in Concert, which began in January 2017.

Early life

Smith was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the third child of Joan and Curtis Smith. He spent most of his childhood in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he graduated from Lahser High School in 1980. Part of his schooling was spent at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois. He started to play drums at age seven and grew up listening mainly to bands such as Rush, the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, the Who, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Kiss.

Smith did not receive formal drum lessons, and gained drumming experience by playing in school bands. He ran away from home when he was 15, but returned home after a summer.

Career and Rise to Fame

Smith spent his early years in various rock bands, starting in high school with a band called Paradise which won a battle of the bands in Birmingham, Michigan, in 1977. Following this, Smith played with Detroit-based bands Pharaoh and Toby Redd. Pharaoh's percussionist Larry Fratangelo, who also worked with Parliament-Funkadelic, introduced Smith to R&B and funk music and taught him how to play funk. Smith said, "I think up until then, I was a drummer. Once I studied with Larry, I turned into a musician." Funk drummers David Garibaldi, Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, and Greg Errico caught his attention and influenced his style. Smith decided to move to California to pursue his musical aspirations.

Music career

Red Hot Chili Peppers (1988–present)

In 1988, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were looking for a replacement for their drummer D. H. Peligro, who had recently been fired. Already into the process of working on their fourth studio album and hiring new guitarist John Frusciante the band held open auditions for a new drummer. Smith was the last drummer to audition for the band and the band felt that on looks alone, Smith would be the wrong fit as he looked more hair metal than punk. Nonetheless, the band were impressed by his audition. Singer Anthony Kiedis admired Smith and found his persistence impressive.

Smith joined the Chili Peppers in December 1988. Within a few months, he was recording his first album with the band, Mother's Milk, which was released in 1989. Smith reflected on joining the band in a 2012 interview by saying "I remember thinking, 'Oh, cool, they have a record deal. Great! I'd love to be in a band that has a record deal. We started playing, and right away we just hit it off musically. I was like, 'Man, this is a blast! These guys are great!' ... We were just doing what we do. We just jammed, which is what we still do today. It's very similar." Smith has recorded ten albums with the band since 1989 with their most recent, Return of the Dream Canteen, being released in 2022.

As of February 2026, the Chili Peppers are currently in the writing process for their fourteenth studio album. “We’ve been writing music together, recording at John Frusciante’s house, and the music feels great. Ultimately, once we start playing, it’s about… just catching a magic groove and doing it good", Flea said.

Age and Birthday Details

Chad Smith was born on October 25, 1961.

As of 2026, Chad Smith is 64 years old.

Birthday milestones for public figures like Chad Smith routinely trend on social media, which is why "how old is" questions generate such consistent search demand.

Personal Life and Family

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats (2007–present)

In 2007, Smith, along with fellow Glenn Hughes alumni, guitarist Jeff Kollman and keyboardist Ed Roth, formed an all-instrumental band inspired by their shared love of 1970s funk and fusion. Still unnamed at the time, the group, rounded out by bassist Kevin Chown, debuted at the 2008 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. The band has released two studio albums and a double live disc as Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats since its inception.

Chickenfoot (2008–present)

Following a lengthy world tour in support of Stadium Arcadium, the Chili Peppers decided to take a break in 2008. During this break, Smith joined the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot, whose other members are Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony. The group has released two studio albums, a live album and a box set to date with Smith. Due to touring commitments with the Chili Peppers in 2011, Smith was unable to tour with Chickenfoot and was replaced by Kenny Aronoff. In 2012, Smith rejoined Chickenfoot for a four-song encore and the band briefly reunited for only two shows on May 7, and May 8, 2016, at Harrah's Showroom at South Lake Tahoe.

During the show, the band debuted a new song titled "Divine Termination". In June 2016, Smith discussed the future of Chickenfoot touring and recording new music saying that "everyone has different things going on. We really enjoy playing together, but with my schedule I don't see us playing too much. I would love to make some new music with those guys, but we'd have to be in the same room at the same time. I just don't know. It's up in the air. I love playing with those guys, though. It's a real treat.

Other projects

Recent Years

Smith released 2010's Rhythm Train, a critically acclaimed children's album which he recorded with Dick Van Dyke and Leslie Bixler.

Smith released an app in March 2012, which is a free mobile application for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices and features his "Drummer GPS". The GPS section of the app spotlights drummers Smith has been influenced by and those he regards as some of the best modern drummers. In May 2013, he launched In Conversation with Chad Smith, his own podcast through MusicRadar where he interviews other musical artists.

Smith joined Sammy Hagar in the studio to work on music for what would become Hagar's sixteenth studio album. They were joined by guitarist Neal Schon (from Journey) and bassist Michael Anthony and according to Hagar, it was the rebirth of his 1980s band HSAS, which featured Schon and two other members.

In 2013, Smith joined jazz musician Jon Batiste and bassist/producer Bill Laswell to create a unique musical group to score a film that had yet to be written and would never be made. The album, The Process, was released on November 4, 2014.

Starting on January 20, 2017, Smith began hosting Landmarks Live in Concert, an eight-episode concert series on PBS in which Smith will sit down and discuss music with various artists. The first two episodes featured Alicia Keys and Brad Paisley.

Smith performs drums on the Lorne Balfe composed score for The Lego Batman Movie. The soundtrack for the animated film was released on February 3, 2017.

Frequently Asked Questions

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