Since their formation in 1983, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have become rock icons - with a career spanning almost thirty years. Ahead of their tour to South Africa next year, we take a look back at ten of our favourite Red Hot Chili Peppers songs and videos.

Higher Ground (1989)

This cover of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground earned the band their first MTV Video Music Award nomination. They played the track when they were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012 - accompanied by Slash, the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, among others.

Give It Away (1991)

The video for Give It Away was created by French fashion photographer Stephane Sednaoui – and was almost deemed too bizarre for MTV. The band loved it and managed to persuade the channel to run it – and it's become one of their most iconic videos. The song won the band a Grammy for Best Hard Rock performance.

Under the Bridge (1992)

Directed by now Oscar-nominated Milk director Gus van Sant, Under the Bridge originally started out as a poem that Anthony Kiedis wrote about scoring heroin under a bridge.

After the success of Blood Sex Sugar Magik, guitarist John Frusciante left the band in 1992 and spent some time in rehab seeking treatment for heroin addiction. He returned for work on Californication in 1998, replacing Dave Navarro.

Scar Tissue (1999)

Scar Tissue was the first work off the band's reunion album with John Frusciante – proving he hadn't lost his touch during his years out of the spotlight. The song won the band a Grammy for Best Rock Song.

Otherside (2000)

The video – directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris – was shot in a monochrome style and influence by German Expressionist art, drawing elements of Cubism and work by MC Escher into the video.

Five more great RHCP tracks on page two - including Californication, Snow (Hey Oh) and Dani California! Plus, some notable mentions...