Red Hot Chili Peppers tell Live Earth the 'most important thing ever'

Red Hot Chili Peppers took the London leg of Live Earth up a gear this afternoon (July 7).

Introduced by fellow Los Angeles megastar Chris Rock, the players in the band roared onto the stage with an uproarious instrumental solo, they then spent a few minutes jamming out before singer Anthony Keidis sprinted onto the stage wearing a smock which appeared to be emblazoned with newsprint, and played 'Can't Stop'.

Though the four-song set took in some of the band’s biggest hits, they also took the opportunity to play 'Stadium Arcadium' album track 'So Much I'.

Bass player Flea was on his usual eccentric form, scatting at the Wembley crowd in a stream-of-consciousness rant that ran something like: "space age couple! Why don’t you hustle and bustle?"

Later on he declared: "I have something to say. If there's a single thing that I can say, that's the most important thing you’ve ever heard – but I can’t remember it," before the four members huddled together for what looked like an impromptu band conference.

Red Hot Chili Peppers played:

'Can’t Stop'
'Dani California'
'So Much I'
'By The Way'

Live Earth continues in London with Bloc Party on next, and performances coming from Metallica and Madonna among others.

Stay tuned to NME.COM for reports live from Wembley Stadium all day.