Bangkok--19 May--Warnermusic
For the first time in their 22-year career, Red Hot Chili Peppers score a No. 1 album on The Billboard 200.
The two-disc "Stadium Arcadium" (Warner Bros.) sold 442,000 copies in the United States in its debut week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The total is the band's career best sales week, beating the opening week of 2002's "By The Way," which bowed at No. 2 with 282,000.
"Stadium Arcadium" is RHCP's ninth studio effort and its fifth top 5 entry. The album's first single, "Dani California," is also the group's ninth No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart, the most by any artist.
Nick Lachey's second solo effort, "What's Left of Me," bows at No. 2 on The Billboard 200. The Jive set's first week sales of 172,000 copies equals what the ex-98 Degrees member's first effort, "SoulO" (Universal), which has sold since its 2003 release. Coincidentally, his former group also opened in the No. 2 spot in 2000 with "Revelation," which sold 276,000 in its first week and 1.8 million to date.
After debuting on top last week, Tool's "10,000 Days" (Tool Dissectional/Volcano) slides 1-3 on sales of 157,000, a steep 72% slide. The disc remains atop of the Top Rock Albums chart, however, for a second week.
Jagged Edge's self-titled Columbia album enters The Billboard 200 at No. 4 with 115,000 copies. The quartet's fifth release ranks behind the openings of 2003's "Hard" (No. 3, 178,000) and 2001's "Jagged Little Thrill" (No. 3, 215,000).