Chad gets up on the ledge. It’s windy, wet and the drop on the other side is about 150 feet. A fall from this height would mean it’d take Chad about 3.2 seconds before he hit the ground at a speed of 70 miles per hour. I did not want to be responsible for the death of Chad Smith. Chad begins to mimic losing his balance. His publicist is telling him sternly to get down. Instead, he lights a cigarette and begins to emulate walking along a tightrope, steadily placing one foot in front of the other. When he reaches the end, he does a small jig, at which point his publicist loses patience, grabbing his feet and pulling him back on to the balcony. Introversion was a term coined by renowned psychologist Carl Jung. You’re likely familiar with it. It’s probably not how you’d describe any member of a band famed for embracing full frontal nudity. But, earlier on that morning as we sat in a hotel restaurant eating breakfast, it’s how Chad had described himself. Sometimes flecks of Chad’s spit would make their way across the table and land on my pancakes as he spoke. I didn’t mind too much, largely because I was ravenously hungry and I’d spent a substantial part of my childhood idolising the band in which he plays.

Chad Smith: How are the pancakes? The Drummer’s Journal: Great. Thanks. Going back to what you just said - you don’t strike me as being particularly introverted… It’s a performing thing I think. I enjoy performing – I think it’s important to convey energy out to a crowd. To be animated. And yeah, sure, people think that’s how you are. And the band does have a reputation for being (pauses) entertainers. But it doesn’t mean you’re like that all the time. Hendrix was this whirlwind on stage but this shy, soft-spoken guy off it. So people look at how you perform and think that’s what you must be like. Of course, in part that is who you are otherwise it’s not very authentic, but I’m not “on” all the time, I probably fall somewhere in the middle. I mean, I still get pretty nervous doing anything on TV. You did good on The Tonight Show with Will Ferrell though… Yeah, but I didn’t have to say anything. Whenever I do something on TV I have to write whatever I’m going to say on the floor tom. Thankfully I usually don’t have to say anything. I never really do chat shows where I have to talk, except for (adopts robotic voice) “I’m really happy to be part of this show.” You were nervous about it? Yes. Very. I was standing there waiting to go on thinking, “I’m not going to be very good at this,” and Will turned to me and said, “What about if I’m you and you’re me?” Then the curtain goes up! Music! Lights! So that saved me, he’s a pro, that’s what he does. I thought you’d be used to doing TV shows with the band.