Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is a man who respects the craft of music and embraces its many forms, so it's no surprise that he'd be willing to speak out on behalf of music education in Washington, D.C. Smith did just that earlier this week, speaking to members of Congress about music funding in public schools.

Rolling Stone reports that this past Tuesday (March 19), Smith joined former Yankees centerfielder turned jazz guitarist Bernie Williams in Washington to speak on behalf of the National Association of Music Merchants to demand a stronger national presence for music instruction in the classroom.

Talking ahead of his address, Smith stated, "Right now, [music education] is in jeopardy and they have the power to change it and do something good here for everybody and every kid. If I didn't have music education in school, I probably would have ended up in jail or dead. And instead I ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

Smith has given back to the music world that his provided him so much over the years. He's worked with New York's Collective School of Music and the Little Kids Rock program in New Jersey. Meanwhile, his bandmate Flea has founded the nonprofit Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles.

As for his current musical plans, Smith is planning to work with Outernational on their new record later this year and he revealed that he expects the Red Hot Chili Peppers to begin work on the follow-up to 'I'm With You' potentially as soon as September. The band will play Coachella and Metallica's Orion Music + More festival in the coming months.

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