Flea
Flea is the bassist and co-founder of Red Hot Chili Peppers, a trumpeter exploring jazz on his solo album Honora, and the author of Acid for the Children.
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Latest
Flea’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Nonesuch
Grand Central Publishing
Warner Records
Warner RecordsOverview
- Name
- Michael “Flea” Balzary
- Roots
- Australia, then New York and Los Angeles
- Instruments
- Bass guitar and trumpet
- Breakout
- Blood Sugar Sex Magik with Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1991
- Beyond the band
- Solo artist, memoirist and music school co-founder
Mini bio
How it started.
Before the bass, there was trumpet. Flea grew up hearing jazz played live in his living room and admired Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Clifford Brown. At sixteen, his friend Hillel Slovak asked him to learn bass and join his rock band.
Finding his sound.
As a founding member of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea helped build a sound that mixed funk, punk and rock. Blood Sugar Sex Magik became their commercial breakthrough in 1991, with “Give It Away” and “Under the Bridge.” Californication followed in 1999, bringing songs including “Scar Tissue” and “Otherside.”
Making room for others.
In 2001, Flea and Keith “Tree” Barry founded Silverlake Conservatory of Music in response to cuts in public school arts education. The school offers lessons and scholarships. His 2019 memoir, Acid for the Children, follows his youth from Australia through New York to Los Angeles, with a foreword by Patti Smith.
Returning to trumpet.
Approaching sixty, Flea committed to practicing trumpet every day for two years. That work led to Honora in 2026, his first full-length solo album. He plays trumpet and bass with a band led by producer Josh Johnson, with guest vocals from Thom Yorke and Nick Cave.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2026HonoraSolo artist, trumpet, bass and composer
- 2013AMOK, Atoms for PeaceBassist and band member
- 1999Californication, Red Hot Chili PeppersBassist
- 1991Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Red Hot Chili PeppersBassist
Books
- 2019Acid for the ChildrenAuthor
Awards
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2012Inducted with Red Hot Chili Peppers in the Performer category.
- GRAMMY Awards, 2007With Red Hot Chili Peppers: Best Rock Album for Stadium Arcadium and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Dani California.”
- GRAMMY Award, 1993With Red Hot Chili Peppers: Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal for “Give It Away.”
Quotes
I just wanted to get the honest beauty of the melody because it’s a great song.Flea, statement on “Thinkin Bout You” via Shore Fire Media
He explained his approach to reinterpreting Frank Ocean’s song on trumpet in February 2026.
Trivia
- Trumpet was his first instrument, before Hillel Slovak introduced him to bass.
- Honora takes its name from a beloved family member.
- Patti Smith wrote the foreword to Acid for the Children.
- Clara Balzary directed the video for “A Plea.”
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