Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16, 1962), better known by his stage name Flea , is an American musician and actor. He is known as bassist and founding member of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea briefly appeared as a bassist for bands like What Is This ?, Fear, and Jane's Addiction. He has performed with supergroup rock group Atoms for Peace, Antemasque, Pigface, and Rocket Juice & amp; Moon, and collaborated with Mars Volta, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, and Young MC.
Flea combines elements of funk (including slap bass), psychedelic, punk, and hard rock. In 2009, Rolling Stone recorded Flea as the second best bassist of all time, behind only John Entwistle. In 2012, he and other members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Since 1984, Flea has acted in more than 20 movies and television series such as Suburbia, Back to the Future Part II and Part III, > My Own Private Idaho , The Chase , Fear and Hate in Las Vegas , Thrashin ', Dudes i>, Child in Law , The Big Lebowski , Low Down and Baby Driver , in addition to voice the characters Donnie Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys animated television series and movies.
Flea is also the founder of Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit music education organization founded in 2001 for underprivileged children.
Video Flea (musician)
Life and career
Early life
Michael Peter Balzary was born on October 16, 1962 on the outskirts of Melbourne, Mount Waverley, Victoria. He is of Hungarian and Irish descent. His father, Mick Balzary, a diligent fisherman, often took him fishing. When Flea was seven years old, his family moved to Larchmont, New York for his father's career. In 1971, her parents divorced and her father returned to Australia. Flea and his siblings lived with their mother, Patricia, who soon married a jazz musician. A few decades later, Flea will receive American citizenship. He was first called "Flea" as a child because of his inability to sit still, and the nickname has continued since then.
Flea's stepfather, Walter Abdul Urban (1941-2011), often invites musicians to his home, where hour sessions are often held. The family moved again to Los Angeles, California, where Flea became fascinated with trumpets. He was not interested in rock music at the time; he idolized jazz musicians like Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. His stepfather was an "aggressive alcoholic", who eventually got into a gunfight with the police. "I grew up in a very hard and alcoholic household", Flea then said, "I grew to fear my parents, especially my father's figure, causing [me] a lot of trouble later in life." To deal with, Flea started smoking marijuana at the age of 13, and became a daily user.
Flea, nicknamed Mike B. the Flea, attended Fairfax High School, and was somewhat alienated by his musical tastes. However, he soon met Anthony Kiedis, and after a brief confrontation, the two became good friends. Kiedis recalled: "We are attracted to each other by the power of delinquency and love and we become inseparable We are both social outcasts We found each other and it was the longest long-term friendship of my life." Flea is turned on for rock music by Hillel Slovak, and in particular punk rock by Anthony Kiedis. Originally a jazz trumpeter, Flea learned to play bass from Slovak, who shortly after asking him to become a bassist in his band, Anthym. Flea soon developed his own style and joined the group, but quit a few months later to play for the punk rock Fear outfit. He then rejoined Slovak to form the only band heading: Tony Flow and Master of Miraculous Mayhem along with Kiedis and Jack Irons, all at that time inspired by the free funk band Defunkt and hip hop acting Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.
The first three Red Hot Chili Peppers albums (1984-1987)
The band's concert concert grew to nine songs as a result of months of playing in local nightclubs and bars. The Red Hot Chili Peppers entered Bijou Studios to record a demo tape produced by drum andear of the Fear and then secure a record deal with EMI. Irons and Slovak, however, decided to leave the Red Hot Chili Peppers to pursue a "more serious" future with rock band What Is This? Flea finally respected the decision, but felt the band would be lost without them. He and Kiedis hired drummer Cliff Martinez and guitarist Jack Sherman to fill Irons and Slovak places, respectively. Andy Gill, formerly of Gang of Four, agreed to produce their first album. Gill and Sherman clashed with Flea and Kiedis; they continue to argue about music style, sound, and album production. Flea himself felt that the album was rigid and "big mistake", but also admitted "we [he and Kiedis] are just rude and obnoxious". The band's debut album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers , was released on August 10, 1984 for a very bad critical and commercial review. After a relatively unfruitful tour, Sherman was dismissed in early 1985. Slovak, who had contemplated returning to the Chili Peppers, rejoined the group after being pushed by Flea.
The funk musician George Clinton was hired to produce the band's second album, Freaky Styley (1985). The strong chemistry between Clinton and the Chili Peppers was instantly felt. Flea later called Clinton "the warmest and most beautiful man in the world". Freaky Styley was released in August 1985. It received little attention than the Red Hot Chili Peppers with about 75,000 copies sold by the end of the year. Flea was rather indifferent to the bad album sales because she recently applied for a lover Loesha Zeviar, who was pregnant with their child. The band hired Michael Beinhorn, their last venture among potential producers, to work on the next album. What is this? eventually disbanded, and drummer Irons returned to the Chili Peppers in mid-1986 after Martinez was fired. Flea, Slovak and Kiedis are primarily involved in heavy drug use and their relationships become strained. Flea remembers that "it's starting to look ugly to me and unpleasant, our communication is not healthy". Kiedis became dependent on heroin, leaving Flea and Slovak to work on most of the album material itself.
Kiedis was briefly kicked out of the band, and given a month to rehabilitate. Kiedis completed the rehab and rejoined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Los Angeles to record their third album The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). Flea has referred to this album as "the 'rockingest record" ever made by the band. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan proved far more successful, commercial and critical than the previous album Chili Peppers, registering at number 148 on Billboard 200. Following Uplift > tour, Slovak drug use increased dramatically. Flea's relationship with Slovak faded, and Slovak became isolated and depressed. On June 28, 1988, Slovak was found dead of a heroin overdose. Flea reflects: "I really do not know how to deal with that sadness, and I do not think [Kiedis] also knows how to handle it." Irons, who took the death of Slovak very hard, left the group.
Flea and Kiedis take time to gather themselves, but stay together. DeWayne guitarist "Blackbyrd" McKnight and drummer D.H. Peligro added, and the band entered the studio to record a new album. McKnight immediately started creating tension within the group, because his style did not fit with the other band members. Peligro, former drummer of punk rock band Dead Kennedys, is a friend of John Frusciante, an eighteen-year-old guitarist and Red Hot Chili Peppers fans. Peligro introduced Frusciante to Flea, and three jammed together on several occasions. Flea was impressed with Frusciante's skills, and was astonished by his knowledge of the repertoire of Chili Peppers. Flea realized that Frusciante could provide a poor spark of McKnight. McKnight was fired, and Frusciante accepted an invitation to join the band. Peligro was fired shortly afterwards; Chili Peppers brought drummer Chad Smith as his successor.
Success and main side project (1989-1998)
Flea and his wife Loesha began to grow apart, and she began trying to recreate her youthful memories by smoking marijuana every day. The Chili Peppers entered the studio, and completed the recording of their fourth album, Mother's Milk, in early 1989. Upon its release, the album met with mixed reactions from critics, but received a much more commercial attention, peaking at number fifty two on Billboards 200. After this, Flea made an appearance playing trumpet on Jane's Addiction album 1988 Nothing's Shocking , and bass on Young MC 1989 which was critically acclaimed album Stone Cold Rhymin '. She will also appear on the video for "Bust a Move", a hit single from the same album.
The next Mother's Milk Tour puts further strain on the marriage of Flea. To make money, he needs to tour, and therefore spend time away from his family. In addition, he and Smith were arrested on charges of battery and sexual harassment after appearing on MTV's spring coverage; the charge was finally dropped. The band, however, attracted more than three thousand people per show; Mother's Milk was certified as a gold record in early 1990. By the time Red Hot Chili Peppers returned to Los Angeles, Flea and Loesha agreed to split up. She tries to separate her mind by smoking marijuana and having sex with random groupies, when the band is on tour for Mother's Milk.
When the successful Mother's Milk tour was over, the Red Hot Chili Peppers broke with EMI and signed with Warner Bros. Records. Rick Rubin, who has denied the opportunity to produce the Mofo Uplift Party Plan, agreed to produce the next album. Flea has used many of the major bass slap techniques in the band that preceded the four albums, and decided to shrink this style in favor of a more conventional bass melody line. To record the album, Rubin suggested that they use the mansion that Harry Houdini's magician had once owned. Flea felt it was "a very fertile situation", and decided to bring his daughter Clara with him. He and other band members, except for Smith, remain indoors for the entire recording process. When not writing or recording an album, Flea spends most of her time with Frusciante smoking large quantities of cannabis. The emotion that Flea felt during album recording was not like she had ever experienced:
When Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released on September 24, 1991, she received a very positive, critical response. The album peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 200, and sold over seven million copies in the US alone. The next tour of the album gets critical recognition - the Chili Peppers generally perform with more than twenty thousand people in attendance. Seattle-based band Grunge, Nirvana, also toured with them during a West Coast tour on their US tour. The great attention the Chili Peppers received, however, caused Frusciante to feel very uncomfortable, and he suddenly left the band during the Japanese album tour.
After the tour in 1993, Flea was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and ordered to rest for a year. Flea and Kiedis felt it was better to fire Marshall for lack of chemistry and briefly replaced him with Jesse Tobias despite his short tenure and he was quickly replaced by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, who was recruited in 1992 to replace Frusciante. The band is ready now to record their next album even though Kiedis is in the midst of a heroin recurrence, which forces Flea to play the lyricist, something she has not done yet. He wrote most of the songs "Transcending", and intro to "Deep Kick". Flea also wrote the lyrics for the entire song; "Pea", where he plays bass and sings. All three of these songs appeared on the sixth record of Chili Peppers One Hot Minute, which was released on September 12, 1995. The album received mixed reviews and was significantly less commercially successful than Blood Sex Blood Sugar i>. The One Hot Minute Tour was finally cut off due to various injuries Kiedis and Smith received, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers decided to continue the hiatus. Flea was so miserable that at one point during the tour he discussed stopping from the band. Flea began practicing Transcendental Meditation and yoga, and slowly reduced the consumption of marijuana. Due to the inactivity of the Chili Peppers, Flea joined Navarro on Addie Jane's reunion tour in 1997, filling in for former bassist Addiction Jane Eric Avery. Rumors spread, that the band broke up until Navarro stated the opposite: "I want to clarify that the Chili Peppers did not break... Flea and I are more than happy to do both projects, time allows."
Flea also has plans to record solo albums. He asked Chili Peppers manager Lindy Goetz to help him promote his record and his solo career in the future. Flea finally abandoned the idea of ​​offering his bass services to other artists. He appeared on over forty records from 1995 to 1998, from Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album to former Mike Watt Minute debut solo album, Ball-Hog or Tugboat? . He also worked with Tori Amos and Michael Stipe on the track for the 1995 Johnny Depp movie soundtrack Don Juan DeMarco . Navarro was fired from Chili Peppers in 1998, and Flea questioned whether the Red Hot Chili Peppers would live together: "... the only way I can imagine continuing is if we get John [Frusciante] back in the band." Frusciante has completed rehabilitation drugs in 1997 after a severe addiction of heroin and cocaine put her to death on the verge of death. Flea visited Frusciante in early 1998, inviting him back to the Chili Peppers; Frusciante who is emotionally ready to be accepted.
Californication , < i> By the Way and Stadium Arcadium (1998-2007)
The band, with Frusciante back on guitar, began writing new songs during the summer of 1998 in Flea's garage. She and Kiedis lack confidence in writing the album after the disappointing results of One Hot Minute . Flea also recently broke up with her two-year-old girlfriend, Marissa Pouw, causing her to enter a state of depression that was only lifted when her daughter, Clara, comforted her after a few weeks of crying.
Flea was heavily influenced by electronica during the writing and recording of Californication (1999) and he attempted to imitate this when writing a bass line for an album. Californication takes less than two weeks to record; otherwise, One Hot Minute takes over a year. When Californication was released on June 8, 1999, she received a very positive critical review and sold fifteen million copies worldwide - more than Blood Sugar Blood Squids. The Chili Peppers played Woodstock 1999, with Flea playing completely naked - something she would do again at Reading and Leeds Festivals that same year as well as some other Californication concert tours.
Red Hot Chili Peppers spent most of 2001 writing their eighth studio album, By the Way (2002). The whole band started listening to more melodic and textured music, which would greatly reflect on the album. Frusciante became the driving force behind By the Way , causing an initial dispute between him and Flea. If he introduces a funk rhythm into his bass line, Frusciante will consequently disagree to the point where Flea is almost out of the band because he feels his role is no longer important. By the Way was released on July 9, 2002 for a positive critical review. By the Way will sell over nine million copies worldwide. The next tour is very profitable; The Chili Peppers performed three concerts at Hyde Park London for over 250,000 participants and a gross accumulated total of US $ 17.1 million. It became the best-selling concert in one place in history.
After another two-year world tour, Chili Peppers wrote their ninth studio album Stadium Arcadium (2006). Unlike By the Way , both Flea and Frusciante are more musically joined, while writing notes. They found inspiration in Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eddie Van Halen. The double album was finally released on May 9, 2006, for generally positive reviews, selling over seven million copies in less than two years. In November 2007, the $ 4.8 million Corral Canyon house in Malibu was burned by wild fire. The location is not, however, his main residence and at the time of his destruction being hired for musician and producer Butch Walker.
Chili Peppers hiatus, back to school, Atoms for Peace, and Helen Burns (2008-2012)
After the Chili Peppers announced a long hiatus due to fatigue, Flea enrolled in a music class at the University of Southern California. Beginning in the fall of 2008, he studied music theory, composition and jazz trumpet. Flea attributes her interest in attending such courses with a new passion for extending her appreciation and understanding of music: "It's great to learn this because I never know anything.I play trumpets in school bands, I like to play on my trumpet but I do not learn why this note applies with this note and why it produces that sound or how to create tension in the composition [...] Knowing the structure is really fun. "Flea also revealed the plan to release an instrumental solo record, recorded at his home; guest musicians include Patti Smith and a choir from the Silverlake Conservatory.
In 2009, Flea joined Atoms for Peace, a super group formed by Radiohead singer Thom Yorke to perform songs from her debut solo album, The Eraser (2006). The band toured the United States in 2010. After the tour, Atoms for Peace spent three days jamming and recording original material in Los Angeles. It became the band's debut album, Amok , released on February 25, 2013, via XL Recordings. The album followed that year with tours to Europe, the US, and Japan.
The Chili Peppers ended their hiatus in October 2009 without Frusciante, who quit the band to pursue other musical interests. He was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer. The band started practicing and writing for their tenth studio album.
In April 2011, Flea took second place in an online poll conducted by Contact Music to name the best bass guitarist in rock music. Flea lost to John Entwistle of the Who. Rounding out the top five are Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Les Claypool (Primus).
In June 2011, Flea announced that he provided a personally customized bass guitar that was covered with graffiti and one-on-one bass lessons as a gift in an eBay auction. The auction will benefit Wars Style , a 1983 documentary about early hip hop. The auction will raise money to recover the movie's negative. Brad Pitt, James Franco, and Spike Jonze also participated in the auction, which ended on June 11, 2011.
In an interview June 23, 2011, Flea discusses the band's comeback and how she almost got out of the Chili Peppers during their hiatus. Flea said he just wanted to take another two years just to really see and see if the band was "something we should do". "Everything has been dysfunctional and unpleasant, although I think we made great recordings, performed great performances and were very strong, mighty as a band, I'm proud of what we did." "For me, the biggest thing during break time, and what really made me want to continue to do the band, especially after deciding he did not want to continue in the band anymore, I just realized, Anthony, man, he is my brother, I love him very much, and we started the band when we were kids, I want to keep doing it, I never want to let it go Play with it is something, though I can do something else exciting and beautiful and I will always do those things and I will always want to grow and do music outside the band, the thing we have is special for us and something that is blood. "
The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their tenth studio album, me with you on August 29, 2011.
Flea played bass on 2 songs on Tom Waits 2011 album Bad i Me, released on October 21st.
On October 27, 2011, it was announced that Flea's side project with Damon Albarn and afrobeat legend Tony Allen would be called Rocket Juice & amp; month. According to Albarn, where the name of the band came from, someone in Lagos designed armor and that is the name he gave, which he thinks he's fine, because trying to find a name for another band is always difficult. The band made their live debut on October 29, 2011, in London and their debut album was released in 2012.
On December 7, 2011, Red Hot Chili Peppers announced as 2012 was adopted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Flea commented on the induction by saying, "It's always easy for me to give this award - [Rock] Hall of Fame as well.But I inaugurated Metallica a few years ago, and it's really a beautiful thing to look at, because all these guys inaugurated, it makes me love it, I love the hall of fame, Hall of Fame basketball, Baseball Hall of Fame, so I feel grateful for the recognition of what we have done and for what hope and potential we will continue to do.
The debut album by Rocketjuice and the Moon was released on March 12, 2012.
On July 19, 2012, Flea released a solo EP, Helen Burns , mainly composed of instrumental songs, except the title track (sung by Patti Smith) and "Lovelovelove", featuring the Silverlake Children's Conservatory of Music and an adult choir. This is Flea's first solo release, which only releases previous solo songs on the soundtrack and other projects. Flea said about the EP "I took it out to raise money for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a community-based nonprofit music school that I am an integral part of." EP downloads are available at "your own price name" on the Silverlake Conservatory website and will be available through all major digital outlets August 9, 2012.
On October 16, 2012, his 50th birthday, Flea gave an interview with CNN discussing the Chili Peppers and asked if he plans to continue. Flea responded by saying "I love chili chili, and I will be happy, if I know that, every time you start making plans, you do not know what will happen next.Anything can happen So I like to be in Chili Peppers and that is my home, and I have been doing it for more than half my life.Of course, during that time, there have been all sorts of joys and sorrows, and extreme moments (positive), floating in clouds of greatness, and moments demeaning, and misery, and uncertainty, and anger, and love and all things.like being in a family I can not really predict, but I like to be in it for now, and now, as far as I'm thinking it is through this tour we do, perform at the highest level, then crouch down and write another note. "
Return to acting, < i> The Getaway , Acid for Children memoir (2014-present)
It was announced on April 1, 2014 that Flea is in the process of writing her own personal memoir to be released through Grand Central Publishing. No release dates have been set or titles for books that according to a press release will detail Flea's young years as a rebellious teenager on the streets of LA where he befriends high school classmates Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons and the form of Red Hot Chile Peppers. This book will detail long and sometimes complicated friendships and collaborations with Kiedis, his drug use and the tumultuous creative journey from the band.
On April 9, 2014, it was revealed that Flea was working on a new music project entitled Antemasque, with former Mars Volta members Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar RodrÃÆ'guez-LÃÆ'³pez, and Dave Elitch. Two songs were released in early April although Flea has confirmed that he is not a member of the band and only recorded some songs with them. Antemasque released their self-titled debut album on July 15, 2014.
Flea made her comeback to acting and starred in the 2014 movie, Low Down , based on the life of jazz pianist Joe Albany. Flea along with Anthony Kiedis executive produced the movie starring John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, and Peter Dinklage. The film has a successful debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014 and opened limited to October 2014. The album was released in March 2015 on DVD.
In February 2015, Flea posted a photo to his Instagram page showing that he had broken his arm during a ski trip. The injury delayed the recording of the eleventh studio album Chili Peppers for six months with production expected to resume in mid-August according to Flea, who said on 3 August he is now recovering enough to play bass again and continue recording.
On April 13, 2016, Flea performed the rendition of bass The Star-Spangled Banner before the game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz; this is the last NBA superstar game Kobe Bryant.
Chili Peppers released their eleventh studio album, The Getaway, on June 17, 2016. The band embarked on a world tour on 151 which ends in October 2017.
In 2017 Flea appeared in the critically acclaimed movie Baby Driver hailed as one of the 10 best movies of the year by the National Board of Review.
On February 16, 2018, Flea took part in the NBA All-Star 2018 Celebrity Game on a team led by Justin Bieber.
It was confirmed in February 2018 that the long-awaited Flea memoir, Acid for Kids , will be released on September 25, 2018.
Maps Flea (musician)
Personal life
From 1988 to 1990, Flea was married to Loesha Zeviar (the name Loesha still remains tattooed on Flea's chest). Together they have one daughter, Clara Balzary, who was born in 1988. Clara has been featured in many Chilean Chili books and documentaries including the Funky Monks band documentary. She has also appeared on many shows and as a child even provides artwork for T-shirts and promotional material bands. He has also documented the band's tour I'm With You through photos and videos. As an adult, Clara recently was in the short-lived band Tints and also an aspiring artist and photographer, taking promotional photos for the new Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea married for the second time in 2005 for the Frankie Rayder model who has been named the sexiest woman of GQ Magazine in the world. They had their first child together, Sunny Bebop Balzary, who was born in 2005. The song "Hard to Concentrate" on the album Chili Peppers' 2006, Arcadia Stadium was written by Kiedis as a marriage proposal for Flea and Rayder.
Flea was a close friend of River Phoenix actor and with him on October 31, 1993, the night he died of a drug overdose, even riding an ambulance to the hospital with him. The song "Transcending" on One Hot Minute is a tribute to Phoenix written by Flea.
In the documentary 2011 The Other F Word, Flea discusses the excitement of being a father by saying, â € Å"It's funny how you always hear people say that classic parenting attitude, 'I bring you to this world, I give you life! 'You know, it's just, I think, really vice versa. My children gave me life. They gave me reason. "
Flea is a fan of Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers. He is often seen sitting on the sidelines in Lakers with some of his bandmates and even has done the Anthem before the Lakers game. He is also known as a fan of English football team Sheffield United.
In February 2018, Flea released an energetic and open magazine through Time magazine about the current Opioid crisis and her own drug addiction history, which for most of her career was very personal about her. Flea hopes that by exposing his past issues with substance abuse whose story may help others fight their own addiction and raise greater awareness of the need for them in the medical community and government to help those in need. "I've had substance abuse since the day I was born, all the adults in my life are regularly numb to alleviate their problems, and alcohol or drugs are everywhere, always.I started smoking marijuana when I was eleven years old, and then continue to snort, shoot, burst, smoke, drop, and dragons pursue their way through teens and twenties, "Flea said. Flea finally kicked his addiction in 1993; However, it was revealed that in 2014 when he broke his arm in a snowboard accident, he almost suffered a setback due to Oxycontin being prescribed a doctor for him. "My doctor brings me back perfectly, and thanks to him I can still play bass with all of me But he also gave me a supply of Oxycontin two months.The bottle says to take four every day I'm so tall when I take those things. It did not only extinguish my physical pain, but all my emotions too, just took a day but I was not present for my children, my creative spirit went into decline and I became depressed I stopped taking them after a month but I can easily get another refill. "Addiction is a cruel disease, and the medical community, along with the government, should offer help to all who need it."
Activism and philanthropy
Flea and Chili Peppers appeared in the 1990 PSA commercial for Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organization created to encourage 18 to 24 year olds in the United States to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
Chili Peppers was invited by Beastie Boys and Milarepa Fund to perform at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in June 1996 in San Francisco. They also performed at the Washington DC concert in June 1998 as well. The concert, held worldwide, is to support the cause of Tibetan independence.
In 2001, he founded Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a school dedicated to helping the youth's progress in music, because of this. "I just want to fill in the void that public education has been cut from their curriculum, they have dropped the ball by cutting the music program", Flea regretted, "I grew up in LA general school and in the music department." It's really important for my life , it gives me something to hold on, and that is an important access for me.Without music I will get a lot of trouble and there are lots of kids like me out there just want to try to give something like I get. "Flea feels the school system commonly very less expose children to music by drastically reducing, and sometimes eliminating, programs related to art.
In September 2005, Chili Peppers performed "Under the Bridge" at ReAct Now: Music & amp; Benefit of a retained aid to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. $ 30 million raised during live broadcasts broadcast worldwide across various television networks and online.
In October 2008, Flea (along with her daughter Sunny Bebop) appeared in a Vote for Change advertisement voicing her support for Barack Obama for the US president in the upcoming election.
On March 20, 2011, Flea runs LA Marathon to raise money for the Silverlake Music Conservatory via Crowdrise. Flea was also featured in Runner's World magazine which discussed her preparations for the race.
Chili Peppers performed a free concert in downtown Cleveland, Ohio on April 15, 2012, to support President Barack Obama's reelection campaign.
On May 11, 2013, Chili Peppers performed a special concert in Portland, Oregon for the Dalai Lama as part of the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit. According to a press release, "The musical elements of the event are intended to showcase the celebration of excitement and inspiration for future generations to take care of our planet.Red Hot Chili Peppers has been a major supporter of Tibet's cause, His Holiness, Dalai Lama Holiness, and the need to work protect and preserve our environment. "
On August 19, 2014, Flea posted a video to her Twitter page where she received the Ice Bucket Challenge. Chad Smith paid homage to pour the trash of water ice into Flea.
In May 2015, Flea reached out to fans to help contribute to the Special Olympics. Two lucky fans will be chosen to be flown to meet Flea for private bass lessons. Other prizes such as exclusive T-shirts, private videos from Flea, tickets to Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts and various items signed by Flea are available.
Flea took to her Facebook page angrily talking about the May 19 Santa Barbara oil spill that pumps 100,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. Flea was on the beach with his little daughter when she stepped on a tar ball. Flea wrote, "Honey, all American pipelines, my daughter just stepped on the beach for a few minutes, where we live about 75 miles from the Santa Barbara oil spill you're causing.He gets your oil product all over her feet." Flea declares he can no longer surf there or bring his daughter to the beach further says "Some children in tents who make mistakes selling drugs will go to jail and his life is ruined but you, your lying bastard will escape with just fine does not mean anything to you.You can just turn off the valve but you also save some cash there.you are the worst kind of man, i am angry you make me disgusted. "
Flea has been very vocal against guns and gun violence, sometimes talking about it during the Chili Peppers show. He often expressed his anger on his Twitter page. In 2013, he said, "Why would anyone want to have an automatic weapon that I will never understand.This is a useless and useless concept for the sick.Automatic, semi-automatic, I do not care.... Melting them all into the statues is not necessary for them on earth.In many countries, the police do not have weapons and they do well.No civilians are allowed to have weapons, do not think the police should have weapons as well. constitution ". Following a racially motivated Charleston church shoot in June 2015, Flea again voiced his anger at gun violence saying, "You're kidding.This is too much, humans are too tall, sick. God help us." and "American land where sick madmen can easily get guns, disgusting, sad, untrustworthy."
In August 2015, Flea added the maintenance of the bees in its backyard which includes three beehives and over 200,000 bees in its backyard in an attempt to restore the honeybee population. Flea commented on his new obsession with beekeeping by saying "Deep inside a super nesting organism, I like my bee, Flea Bee."
Flea took part in the concert Pathways to Paris in December 2015. The all-star event aims to raise awareness about the urgency of climate action and coincides with the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.
On September 18, 2015, Flea and her colleagues at Chili Peppers were among more than 120 entertainers and celebrities to announce that they will vote for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election for the President of the United States.
Chili Peppers performed at a fundraiser on behalf of the non-profit San Diego Foundation on September 27, 2015. All the money was donated to ARTS - Reasons to Survive, Heartbeat Music Academy, San Diego Young Music Academy, and the Silverlake Music Conservatory
Flea along with bandmate Anthony Kiedis held annual benefits for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music on October 17, 2015. The event, which costs $ 2,500 and is limited to 300 tickets also includes dinner and a silent auction. Chili Peppers featured a rare acoustic set and John Legend held the event.
In February 2016, the Chili Peppers appeared on the "Feel the Bern" fundraiser to support presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Flea said, "Bernie Sanders is the only plausible candidate for the President of the United States."
In August 2016, Flea visited to see Koko gorilla and also raised awareness for The Gorilla Foundation. The foundation says Flea's visit "One of Koko's favorite musicians, Flea of ​​the Red Hot Chili Peppers came in. Koko is delighted with his soft voice and jamming session followed by Koko picking Flea bass!"
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Bass guitar
Flea has used a variety of bass during his career with several different exclusions, such as Music Man, Modulus, Fleabass own brand, and Fender Jazz and Precisions.
Currently, the main stage bass is Custom Shop Fender Jazz Bass, modified with Modulus Lane Poor pickup.
According to the Flea Bass Rig video he uses the following for many years in order of appearance.
- Musicman Cutlass 1 (No longer in production)
- Fender Precision (In black directly seen in 1989)
- Kramer Spector NS2-JA (Seen in "Fight Like A Brave")
- Spector NS-2 (Seen in "The Pain Taste)
- Delray Tiesco NB-4 (Used in the video for "Plateau", not used for recording)
- Wal Mk 2 (Seen in "Suck My Kiss")
- Musicman Stingray 4 (Visible on "Plane")
- String Musicman Stingray 5 (Visible on "Under The Bridge")
- Alembic Epic (Visible in "My friends")
- Modulus signature bass (see below)
- 1961 Fender Jazz (Pre CBS)
- FleaBass (Bass's own bass brand)
Flea Bass Module Signature
Flea Californication tour record with signature Modulus Flea basses (later renamed Modulus Funk after ratification). He is seen with several designs during this time.
- Blue Sparkle
- Silver Sparkle (4 and 5 string versions)
- Aboriginal Pattern
- Sunburst
- Black (Lakers flea-style on fingerboard)
- Punk-Rock Rogue Circle
FleaBass (Multi-Color Deluxe Spin Bass Guitars)
In 2009 Flea founded the FleaBass company with the aim of creating a quality bass budget for beginners. Although Flea did not do with his own FleaBass production model, it uses a custom model created by British artist Damien Hirst.
"Damien really made me a bass, butterfly bass, that's a wonderful thing." It's not just the artwork to hang on the wall. My new album. The bass is a bit heavy for live - I do not play Fender that much live - but it's beautiful ".
Custom FleaBass is built with Lane Poor active pickup, Graphite neck and 18 volt preamp Aguliar OBP-1.
Seen in the music video for "The Getaway" album.
50 of these basses were made and auctioned for Fleas's music school, The Silverlake Conservatory of Music at a typical Ã, Â £ 50,000 auction price.
Fender Custom Shop
From the world tour "The Getaway" from June 2016. Flea back on the road with three Custom Shop Fender Jazz bass.
- Silver Jazz (Sticker of the Helmets on the body)
- The pink Jazz road
- Lakers Jazz (Purple with Lakers sticker on body)
The basses have Jazz style bodies, Lane Poor Legacy pickups, 18 volts of Aguliar OBP-1 preamp and graphite reinforced necks made by Fenders Jason Smith. The Silver Jazz is the # 1 main bass, replacing Modulus bass in the process.
Bass Recording
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Musicman Cutlass 1
- Freaky Styley: Musicman Cutlass 1
- Proposed Mofo Party Plans: Spector NS2-JA
- Mother's Milk: Spector NS2
- Blood Sugar Sex Magik: Wal MK2, Musicman Stingray 5: Under the Bridge
- One Hot Minute: Alembic Epic, Musicman Stingray: Airplane, Sigma Acoustic: Pea
- Californication: Fleabass Module (now Funk Unlimited), Taylor Acoustic: Road Trippin
- By Road: Module Fleabass (now Funk Unlimited)
- Arcadium Stadium: '61 Fender Jazz Bass, Modulus Fleabass (now Funk Unlimited): Storm in Tea Cup, Martian Death
- Me With You: '61 Fender Jazz Bass, (MAY) Modulus Funk Unlimited (Unknown Song)
- The Getaway: '61 Fender Jazz Bass
Some of the songs mentioned have been recorded with different bass determined by ear, by experienced and knowledgeable bassist, as there is no official information.
Effects
According to an article at uberproaudio.com, Flea uses this securities unit for its distinctive voice:
- BOSS ODB-3 Bass Overdrive
- MXR Micro Amp
- Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron
- Dunlop 105Q Crybaby Bass Wah
- Wind Quail D1
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Amplifiers
Flea supports bass amplifiers made by Gallien-Krueger.
Music styles
Flea has featured many techniques over the years, ranging from the initial use of slap and popping to the more traditional methods he used since the Blood Sex Blood Sugar . Greg Prato of Allmusic writes that "by combining funk-style bass with psychedelic, punk, and hard rock, Flea creates an original playing style that has been copied over and over". Flea stated in an interview, that he was strongly influenced by Louis Armstrong. Flea has been regarded as one of the greatest bassists of all time, with Greg Tate of Rolling Stone saying "if there is the Most Valuable Bass Player award given in rock, Flea could have claimed that bitch was ten years running". Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan recalled, that when he first saw the Chili Peppers in 1984, "Flea played so aggressively that he had put a hole in his thumb and he actually screamed in pain among the songs because his illness was so bad. Someone keeps coming out and pouring the crazy glue into the hole. "Flea's voice was also determined by what kind of instrument he was playing. Before Californication, he did not believe the real bass holds much significance: "what matters is how you hit them [basses] and your emotional intentions, and I still think that's the point." Flea had the 1961 Fender Jazz Bass, which appreciated him for his "old wooden voice".
Considered one of the best bass rock players of all time, in 2009, Rolling Stone Readers put Flea as the second best bassist of all time in their top ten. poll, ranking behind only John Entwistle and in front of Paul McCartney. In the 2010 poll, conducted in BBC Two series I am in Rock 'n' Roll Band! Flea was crowned bassist in major fantasy bands with Freddie Mercury on vocals, Jimi Hendrix on guitar and John Bonham on drums.
Technique
Flea bass play has changed a lot throughout the year. When he joined Fear, his technique largely centered on the punk rock bass line; However, he must change this style when the Red Hot Chili Peppers are formed. He began to incorporate a "slap" bass style that was heavily influenced by Bootsy Collins. However, this technique caused Flea to receive attention from the music world and was often copied, and therefore, felt the need to virtually erase the slap-bass style of his repertoire following Mother's Milk (1989). As a result, Sex Blood Sugar Blood (1991) saw a prominent style change as it featured fewer signature techniques and more styles that focused on traditional roots and melodies. His intellectual beliefs about how to play the instrument were also changed: "I try to play only on Blood Sugar Blood Sugar because I have played too much before that, so I thought, 'I am' I really need to relax and play half of a lot of notes.As you play less, it's more interesting - there's more room for everything.If I play something busy, it stands out, instead the bass becomes a constant attack of records.
During the writing and recording of One Hot Minute (1995), Flea integrates several uses of slap-bass development, but continues to center its techniques around "more or less" philosophy rather than complexity: "I can not even think of anything I play the complicated [in the record], even the slapping things are simple.This sounds original, and I'm proud of it - but what I play is more of a matter of aesthetic choice. "This caused Flea to change the way she wrote music with playing alone, not a jam session that will determine how the band contains the song: "[ One Hot Minute ] is our most clock-oriented recording" "I mean, we're really stuck on ideas, but there's only one groove across the album that comes from jam, 'Deep Kick'. The rest comes from me sitting with a guitar or a bass. "
Flea became interested in electronica during the era of Californication (1999) and he tried to emulate the same atmosphere that the synthesizer released into his bass game: "I find the most interesting music going on is electronica, without a doubt." He finally decided against this, admitting that, other than Frusciante, the band did not move in the same direction.
In By the Way (2002), many of the bass-lines are completely stripped of funk. Flea felt that Frusciante's chord did not support his distinctive technique; furthermore, he does not feel the direction of music from the tape is particularly melodic, but instead "... the result of each of us being who we are.the way we [form the band] form the music is a very communal thing."
Influences
Flea's stepfather was in a bebop band that often stuck in front of him, so he was immediately fascinated by the trumpet. Flea praises his constant interest in music for jazz players like Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Dizzy Gillespie. After Kiedis introduced him to punk and rock, Flea became infatuated with artists like Black Flag, David Bowie, and Defunkt. The early influence of Flea before the Blood Magic Sex is mostly a funk artist. They will be an important aspect of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Voice to Mother's Milk . Initially, Flea was given the impression of punk bands, that one had to play as hard and as fast as possible, but ultimately rejected this philosophy during the Blood Magic Sex : "I'm so crude [...] empty. "At Californication and By the Way Flea attracts the influence of electronica, gothic rock bands such as Cure, Joy Division and Siouxsie and Banshees and new wave music from funk. Flea also praises Neil Young; he wrote an article for Rolling Stone praising Young for consistent originality in his artistry, among others
Film and television appearance
Flea has been pursuing a small acting career since the mid-1980s. His first role was as a young punk Razzle in the movie Penelope Spheeris Suburbia (1984). Soon he starred alongside the Chili Peppers, who played themselves, in the skate drama Thrashin '(1986). He plays a fateful pennope Milo in another Penelope Spheeris movie, Dudes (1987). He also made an appearance in the documentary Bruce Weber about the life and career of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker titled Let's Get Lost (1988). He portrayed the character of Douglas J Needles in Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to Future Part III (1990), although in an interview he referred to > Part II as "multi-million dollar rubbish", saying that he is not happy with the film or his appearance in it.
Flea played a small role in 1991's independent film My Own Private Idaho as a Budd. He played a number of minor roles in films throughout the 1990s, including Son in Law (1993) as a tattoo artist,
In 1991, Red Hot Chili Peppers released a black and white film documenting the recording of Blood Sugar Sex Magik Funky Monks . They have released two video concerts, Off the Map in 2001 and Live at Slane Castle in 2003 - the latter has over eighty thousand visitors.
Flea also appeared on broadcast television with Red Hot Chili Peppers on several occasions. A few months before Frusciante's departure in 1992, the band performed two songs on Saturday Night Live - Kiedis felt the show was embarrassing because of the guitarist; he was convinced that Frusciante deliberately played the song out of harmony and wrong. Later that year, the band appeared in the popular animated comedy The Simpsons on the episode of "Krusty Gets Kancelled". At Woodstock 1994, Kiedis proposed the band perform the first few songs in a metal suit with a giant light bulb placed on their heads. Flea was initially reluctant but eventually agreed: "... when we have to play, energy from everything takes over."
In 2011, Flea appeared in the documentary, Bob and Monster. This film explains the life of musician and drug counsel Bob Forrest.
Flea appeared in the documentary The Other F Word , which aired on Showtime and released via Oscilloscope Laboratories (a company founded by Adam Yauch). The documentary, directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins, focuses on the generation of punk rockers, how they handle the role of fathers, and how they transform from public rebels into domestic rulers. Mark Hoppus, Jim Lindberg, Art Alexakis, and Mark Mothersbaugh were also featured.
The 2014 Low Down movie, which also stars Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning and Glenn Close, marks Flea's first acting role in 14 years. The film was directed by Jeff Preiss, who previously worked with Flea in the 1988 documentary Let i Get Lost. In 2015, he gives voice to Jake's "police mind" in the movie Pixar Inside Out .
In 2015, Flea appeared as himself in the Amazon Prime series, Highston . He also played Eddie No-Nose at the Baby Driver in 2017.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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