Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Keidis says having a son helped him forgive his own father for his mistakes.

The 48-year-old rocker's three-year-old son Everly Bear has helped him understand his own upbringing with John Keidis, who let him try drugs at an early age and even arranged for him to lose his virginity at the age of 11 to his own girlfriend, and has brought him closer to his dad.

Anthony told The Sun newspaper: "The fact my relationship with my son is so good makes me forgiving of my father and also appreciative.

"Now I can look back and say I actually like the upbringing I had, my father was very attentive and a great educator.

"He just didn't have the same tools I have today and there was no way he could have acquired them at that point in time. So, yeah, I forgive him for his mistakes and I thank him for giving me so much of his time and energy."

The 'Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie' singer was a heroin addict himself for a long time, before finally quitting drink and drugs in 2000, and although he acknowledges he can still be tempted, he stays strong and sober for Everly, whose mother is Anthony's ex-girlfriend model Heather Christie.

He added: "As every heroin addict will know, temptation is always there. But becoming a father has given me a reason to live and stay clean for good.

"Every day since has been a battle to stay clean, but my son makes me thankful that I am. I feel very lucky.

"Having Everly has changed my life. You can hear the new energy I have, we have, on the new album."