L.A. has been blindsided by a wave of cryptic Red Hot Chili Peppers-themed street art -- and TMZ has learned the secret identity of the man behind the onslaught ... Banksy protégé Mr. Brainwash.
Mr. Brainwash -- real name Thierry Guetta -- tells TMZ, RHCP hired him to use street art to promote their new album ... set for release in August ... which is why each poster contains the date 8/30/11.
Brainwash -- who starred in the infamous Banksy documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop" -- wouldn't specify how much he's getting paid for the gig, but tells us, his job is far from done ... in fact, he and RHCP are teaming up on several more projects.
We called the Peppers' peeps for comment several times -- but so far, no word back. 
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Targeted by Banksy Apprentice
7/14/2011 4:00 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
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Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2
Delaware D
Banksy IS Mr Brainwash. Mr Brainwash IS Banksy. Watch Exit Through the Gift Shop again. They are the SAME guy!!
fromwayacrosstheoceanami
Its been a long time between albums boys.... finally I can enjoy music again.... Love you RHCP xoxoxoxoxoxox
The Flint Skinny
These pictures are from 3 weeks ago on Melrose and Fairfax. How is this new or exclusive?
http://melroseandfairfax.blogspot.com/2011/06/proof-of-mr-brainwash-putting-up.html
Eeeee
Oh, Banksy. So brilliant.
*Of the Mr. Brainwash = Bansky school - I've seen "Exit" three times, and interviews with producers, and it is a fabulous bit of pop culture vandalism. (No one gets 'funding' at that level to open a studio like that, with obviously seasoned art heads) Best prank ever, and one he's obviously making serious moolah off of.*
Philip J. Fry
Well, if RHCP hired him, they did along with Futurama, because that robot looks like Bender!
George Ostrowski
Sounds like the band is desparate. They know the product is lacking without the genius that is John Freschante.
The last Freschante-less album was the awful Red Hot Minute. The peppers had to resort to national magizine covers with man on man kissing(flea and replacement pepper Dave Navarro)to generate attention.
When the Chillis are at their best, the music stands on its own.
I hope this album is a bomb and they never record without Fruchante ever again.
Sarah
Mr. Brainwash pays people to make his art for him...this story is bull****. That idiot deserves no publicity.
KBN
Exit Through the Giftshop explains everything. This guy is a total fraud. He has no original ideas of his own and pays ppl to create works of art and then takes credit for them.
Jonno
Mr Brainwash is fake, a poser product, banksy doesn't want anything to do with him, you need to watch "exit through the gift shop" the do***entary for the full story
Harvey Levin
You people who think MBW is cool and awesome etc... are idiots, Banksy invented MBW to prove a point. MBW Doesn't even come up with the designs, he has people doing it yet people are paying 15k for a poster sized stencil he didn't create. No one was even familiar with MBW until Banksy got involved in promoting the MBW brand. They made over a million off idiots living in LA lol bravo Mr Banksy bravo.
DHod33, You missed the whole point of the movie, ask yourself why MBW would talk so candidly about photo-shopping, having a team etc...
Nortern lights, what artistry and creativity are you talking about? Pretty sure some min wage emplyee came up with the design/stencil.
Solomon
Thierry Guetta is a smelly talentless slob.
I thought the RHCP died a long time ago??
Dave
Thierry is a smelly talentless clown.
I thought the Red Hot Chili Peppers died in the 90's??