Flea (musician)
Flea | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Flea performing with Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Peter Balzary |
| Born | October 16, 1962 Burwood, Melbourne, Australia |
| Genres | Funk rock, experimental rock, punk rock, alternative rock, hardcore punk, jazz, psychedelia |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, actor |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, trumpet, guitar, keyboards, vocals |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Warner Bros. Records, EMI |
Flea (Michael Peter Balzary) is an Australian-American bassist. He was born on October 16, 1962, in the city of Melbourne, Australia. He plays in the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has been with the band since its beginning in 1983 along with vocalist Anthony Kiedis. He is also known onstage for wearing weird costumes that largely appeal to the audience.[1][2]
Flea is known for his unique bass style. He uses a wide range of bass guitar techniques, mainly popping and slapping and changing the speed of his tempo during songs and his quick improvisation. Flea is also a skilled trumpet player. Flea was responsible for getting John Frusciante back into Red Hot Chili Peppers.[3]
In September 2009, it was announced that Flea would be playing with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, to perform some of Yorke's material.[4]
Flea is generally regarded by the public as the greatest rock bassist of all time, among similar artists such as Les Claypool and Victor Wooten.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "VH1 Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows". VH1. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ "Flea & Haden". 2008-01-29. Archived from the original on 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ "Rain Phoenix's LaunchLeft to Honor River Phoenix's 50th Birthday with Digital Singles Series". FLOOD. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ Tim Jonze (2009-09-29). "Thom Yorke and Flea form supergroup". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- 20th-century American musicians
- 21st-century American musicians
- 1962 births
- American bass guitarists
- American punk musicians
- American rock guitarists
- Australian guitarists
- Australian rock musicians
- Bassists
- Living people
- Musicians from Los Angeles
- Musicians from Melbourne
- Musicians from New York (state)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers members
- Warner Bros. Records artists