In 2012, he and the other members of Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2009, Rolling Stone readers ranked Flea the second-best bassist of all time, behind John Entwistle. Flea is also a member of the supergroups Atoms for Peace, Antemasque, Pigface, and Rocket Juice & the Moon, and has played with acts including The Mars Volta, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, Young MC, Nirvana, What Is This?, Fear, and Jane's Addiction.įlea incorporates elements of funk (including prominent slap bass), psychedelia, punk, and hard rock in his playing. In high school, he befriended singer Anthony Kiedis with whom he formed the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1983. After his parents divorced, Flea spent his childhood in the United States and Australia, before settling in California. He is a founding member and bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and, along with vocalist Anthony Kiedis, the only member to appear on every one of the band's albums.įlea was born in Melbourne, Australia his family moved to Rye, New York when he was four. Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16, 1962), known professionally as Flea, is an Australian-American musician and actor.
