He may be a Red Hot Chili Pepper to his millions of fans, but Anthony Kiedis is cold-brewed at heart. Jolene, the new ready-to-drink coffee brand co-founded by the band’s frontman, lands less like a celebrity vanity project and more like a love letter to two decades of ritual and a longtime love of coffee. Born from a longstanding friendship between Kiedis and entrepreneur Shane Powers, the beverage venture pulses with the energy of late-night jam sessions and early-morning come-downs. This is coffee meant not just to caffeinate, but to soundtrack.
The idea first sparked, appropriately, mid-stride. “Shane shouted at me down the sidewalk ‘Let’s do something,’” Kiedis recalled in a statement. “I shouted back ‘how ’bout coffee’? He said ‘done.’ And so began the adventure of putting a high-quality spin on a can of coffee. Now it’s time to put on some aprons and serve the world some delicious coffee. Simple and fun.”
Jolene Coffee | Instagram
Jolene launches with two flavors: Black (a bold cold brew) and White (a mellow oat milk latte). Both are shelf-stable and built for a life on the move. With distribution across forty Live Nation amphitheaters in 23 states, Jolene has positioned itself as more than a drink—it’s a backstage pass. The brand is also available direct-to-consumer and at select retailers in Los Angeles and New York.
‘High quality, easy to enjoy’
It’s no accident that Jolene’s debut tour begins in the music scene. The team includes nightlife visionary John Terzian, whose h.wood Group portfolio includes some of Los Angeles’ most influential venues, and James Morrissey of Global Brand Equities, who spearheaded product development. Live Nation itself took an equity stake, along with Global Brand Equities and Terzian. “Fans want options that fit the pace and energy of live music,” said Russell Wallach, Global President of Live Nation. “Cold brew has come up again and again, and Jolene delivers—it’s high quality, easy to enjoy, and adds something new to the fan experience.”
For Kiedis and Powers, the coffee isn’t just high-octane—it’s high-integrity. Jolene sources its beans from an all-female co-op in Peru, where direct compensation helps fund tools and support systems for the women behind the beans. “I’ve been extremely lucky to have had a lot of life experiences,” Powers said. “The adventure of visualizing Jolene with Anthony from inception, to the execution with John and James, to the realization with Michael leaves me with a ton of gratitude. Like everything important in my life, this new experience will be shared with people over great coffee.”
Jolene Coffee | Instagram
The name Jolene, which evokes a certain smoky Southern charm, fits the brand’s sultry-meets-streetwise identity. At major festivals, Jolene is planning “high-energy fan activations,” including cocktails infused with the brand’s signature brews. Think: less VIP lounge, more caffeinated communion.
Investor Terzian sees the vision as universal. “I have been in the business of people for the past two decades and one of the few things that everyone has in common is coffee. Whether it’s celebrating, commiserating, or just catching up, coffee is the common denominator,” Terzian said.
Celebrity coffee
The cold coffee space has become a magnet for celebrity founders. Green Day’s Punk Bunny Coffee, launched in 2024, targets grocery aisles with organic, fair trade blends. Emma Chamberlain’s Chamberlain Coffee has cornered the Gen Z niche with pastel branding and collapsible straws. Jimmy Butler’s Bigface started as an NBA bubble novelty and is now expanding into retail cafés. But Jolene, with its stadium-scale ambitions, aims to own the amphitheater.
BECOME A VEGNEWS VIP: Get exclusive product deals, freebies, and perks galore!
Jolene Coffee | Instagram
Still, Jolene insists on starting with the blend itself. “Creating a coffee of the highest quality taste and ingredient mix was a priority from the outset,” said Morrissey. “We spent a lot of time with Anthony, Shane, and John tasting many rounds until we landed on the perfect blend with Jolene. Any successful brand must start with a great product that can resonate with consumers, and Jolene delivers.”
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
