Flea is an internationally acclaimed Australian-born American musician estimated to be worth an estimated $150 Million. Perhaps best known as bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers and noted for their restless nature; Flea was born in Melbourne Australia on 26 March 1962.
What shaped his early life?
Flea moved to New York City when he was five years old, prompted by the profession of his father Mick. In 1971, after his parents separated, Flea, Karyn, and their mother Patricia stayed with his mother Patricia. Patricia married a jazz musician and the family moved to Los Angeles. Flea was exposed to many jam sessions and developed a love of music. Flea was raised in an abusive family and started smoking marijuana at 13; through listening to Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie as well as others like them he found his passion for jazz music; soon thereafter he decided to join Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra performances by taking up trumpet playing as soon as he could.
How did Flea begin his music career?
Anthony Kiedis met Flea at Fairfax High School. Kiedis introduced Flea to the world of punk. Flea was able to prove his bass guitar dexterity in 1983. The band initially known as Tony Flow and Miraculously Majestic Master of Mayhem, Flea joined Kiedis. Red Hot Chili Peppers quickly rose to fame following their name change to Red Hot Chili Peppers, although their 1984 debut album wasn’t instantly successful. However “Freaky styley”, released a year later, cemented their place as a music legend. In the 1990s their trajectory took off, becoming a mainstay on MTV. They also began successful world tours.
What are Flea’s notable achievements?
RHCP album sales worldwide are proof of their success. Over 80 million albums have been sold. The album “Californication”, released in 1999, is notable for its 15 million sales. Flea is known for his musical talent; but, beyond this field he also showcases his acting chops by featuring in over twenty movies and television projects like Back to the Future, Big Lebowski and Baby Driver – to name but three!
What has been the evolution of Flea’s musical style over time?
Flea has always had jazz as the foundation of his musical inspiration. As the years passed, funk, punk and rock left a lasting impression on him. In the 1990s, he transitioned from his funk-infused style of slap to more traditional techniques. His versatility was highlighted by his experiments with synthesizers on albums such as “Californication”, “By the Way”, and others. Flea has evolved his equipment, and the Custom Shop Fender Jazz Bass is now his favorite instrument.
What awards has Flea received?
Flea’s contributions to music have long been recognized. Rolling Stone magazine honored him by honoring him with their second best bass player ever award in 2009. Contact Music’s 2011 poll echoed this sentiment. In 2012, his band RHCP was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they also received 16 Grammy nominations and won six of them.
What are the important people in Flea’s life?
Flea and Loesha Zviar had a daughter together, Clara Balzary, in the late 1980s. In 2005, Flea welcomed Sunny Bebop Balzary with his then-fiance Frankie Rayder. In 2019, he married designer Melody Ehsani, another important event in his life.
Flea’s journey to stardom from Melbourne is a testament to passion, resilience and boundless talent. Flea’s solo work or with Red Hot Chili Peppers continues to captivate fans around the world.
