The Human League - Reproduction
I also got this when we were writing Californication. However much money I had in my pocket when I left rehearsal, I would stop at Vinyl Fetish and buy UK imports of synth-pop records, trip-hop, and whatever electronic music I was starting to find out about. I knew the Human League was one of the reputable names, and I remember coming home with Reproduction and Travelogue. The second I started listening I just knew. I guess I was looking for the punk equivalent of synth-pop or something.

I have a lot of memories associated with the Human League, especially by the time Red Hot Chili Peppers were writing the second album after I re-joined, By The Way. I would blast Reproduction to and from rehearsal every day. The band's tour manager for the last 20 years was my driver back then. I don't think it was exactly his thing but he still remembers it. I recall Martin Ware from the Human League wanting to come to a show of ours in Italy and I was so excited. I asked our tour manager, 'Remember when you used to drive me around listening to the Human League?' and he was like, 'Oh yeah, I remember.' I've benefited a lot as a human being by having all those lyrics memorised for all these years.