Chili Peppers: We faked at Super Bowl

Bassist Flea says he "would do it all the same way again" He insists the band was not trying to trick anyone but was honoring NFL's stance The group's guitars were not plugged in during its Super Bowl XLVIII performance

(CNN) -- Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea just gave it away, confirming what everyone already suspected.

The rock group's halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVIII was pre-recorded. The band's guitars were not plugged in.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed Sunday night alongside Bruno Mars.

"When we were asked by the NFL and Bruno to play our song Give It Away at the Super Bowl, it was made clear to us that the vocals would be live, but the bass, drums, and guitar would be pre-recorded.

.cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute} .cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px} .cnnArticleBoxImage{cursor:pointer;height:122px;padding-top:0;width:214px} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControl{background-color:#000;color:#FFF} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControlText{cursor:pointer;float:right;font-size:10px;padding:3px 10px 3px 3px} .cnnArticleGalleryPhotoContainer cite{background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000;bottom:48px;color:#FFF;height:auto;left:420px;opacity:.7;position:absolute;width:200px;padding:10px} .cnnArticleGalleryClose{background-color:#fff;display:block;text-align:right} .cnnArticleGalleryCloseButton{cursor:pointer} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNext span{background-color:#444;color:#CCC;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:26px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNextDisabled span{background-color:#444;color:#666;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:25px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{padding-right:68px;width:270px;margin:0 auto} .cnnGalleryContainer{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0 0 0 10px} Bruno Mars performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, February 2, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stage is bathed in light as Mars starts his performance. Fans surround Mars as he performs a drum solo to start the show. After a children's choir opened the show, Mars and his band perform the smash hit "Locked Out of Heaven." The Red Hot Chili Peppers join Mars on stage for a rendition of "Give It Away." Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performs. Mars closed out the show with "Just the Way You Are." Fireworks go off over the stadium at the end of the halftime show. Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime HIDE CAPTION << < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > >> Bruno Mars performs at Super Bowl halftime .cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute} .cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px} .cnnArticleBoxImage{cursor:pointer;height:122px;padding-top:0;width:214px} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControl{background-color:#000;color:#FFF} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControlText{cursor:pointer;float:right;font-size:10px;padding:3px 10px 3px 3px} .cnnArticleGalleryPhotoContainer cite{background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000;bottom:48px;color:#FFF;height:auto;left:420px;opacity:.7;position:absolute;width:200px;padding:10px} .cnnArticleGalleryClose{background-color:#fff;display:block;text-align:right} .cnnArticleGalleryCloseButton{cursor:pointer} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNext span{background-color:#444;color:#CCC;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:26px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNextDisabled span{background-color:#444;color:#666;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:25px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{padding-right:68px;width:270px;margin:0 auto} .cnnGalleryContainer{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0 0 0 10px} Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll celebrates his team's remarkable 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. The helmets of the competing Super Bowl teams Seattle and Denver flank the iconic Vince Lombardi trophy. Denver makes a disastrous start as the ball sails over Peyton Manning from a snap which leads to a safety and points on the board for Seattle. Manning (18) cuts a dejected figure after he walks off the field after being intercepted. The Seahawks cheerleading squad had more to celebrate as its team took a stranglehold on the Super Bowl from the start. Marshawn Lynch (no 24) forces his way through a pack of players to score the opening touchdown of the game for the Seahawks. Manning is about to be intercepted in the second quarter with MVP Malcolm Smith returning for 69 yards to score the second touchdown for Seattle. Smith has intercepted Manning's misplaced pass and is charging towards the end zone to score a touchdown. A young Seahawks fan is dressed for the occasion as he supports his team at Super Bowl XLVII. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie takes a welcome break from recent political controversies to share a moment with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the build up to Super Bowl XLVII. Seattle's controversial cornerback Richard Sherman was well protected against the New Jersey elements prior to the showdown. Star quality. Actor Kevin Costner and his wife Christine Baumgartner turn up to watch the proceedings at the Metlife Stadium. Opera singer Renee Fleming enchanted the crowd with her rendition of the American national anthem before the kickoff. Denver Broncos fans were dressed for the chilly weather in New Jersey for Super Bowl XLVIII against Seattle Seahawks. Bruno Mars and Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers join forces during the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show in New Jersey. Wide receiver Percy Harvin is on his way to completing an 87-yard return from the kick off at the start of the second half to put Seattle out of sight in Super Bowl XLVIII Demaryuis Thomas scored a deserved touchdown in the third quarter to provide a rare moment of success for Denver. Seahawks coach Carroll gets the traditional treatment as the clock counts down at the Metlife Stadium. Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII HIDE CAPTION << < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 > >> Seattle wins Super Bowl XLVIII

"I understand the NFL's stance on this, given they only have a few minutes to set up the stage, there a zillion things that could go wrong and ruin the sound for the folks watching in the stadium and the t.v. viewers. There was not any room for argument on this, the NFL does not want to risk their show being botched by bad sound, period," Flea wrote Tuesday on the band's website.

He said that he and his bandmates -- Anthony Kiedis, Josh Klinghoffer and Chad Smith -- thought long and hard about doing the show given those conditions.

"We decided that, with Anthony singing live, that we could still bring the spirit and freedom of what we do into the performance, and of course we played every note in the recording specially for the gig. I met and spoke with Bruno, who was a beautiful dude, a real talented musician, and we worked out something that seemed like it would be fun," Flea wrote.

He said the band was not trying to trick anyone.

The bassist continued: "For the actual performance, Josh, Chad, and I were playing along with the pre recorded track so there was no need to plug in our guitars, so we did not.

"Could we have plugged them in and avoided bumming people out who have expressed disappointment that the instrumental track was pre recorded? Of course easily we could have and this would be a non-issue. We thought it better to not pretend. It seemed like the realest thing to do in the circumstance.

"I am grateful to the NFL for having us. And I am grateful to Bruno, who is a super talented young man for inviting us to be a part of his gig. I would do it all the same way again."

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