Flea (musician)

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.

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.

In September 2009, it was announced that Flea would be playing with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, to perform some of Yorke's material.

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 

Category:20th-century American musicians
Category:21st-century American musicians
Category:1962 births
Category:American bass guitarists
Category:American punk musicians
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:Australian guitarists
Category:Australian rock musicians
Category:Bassists
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians from Los Angeles
Category:Musicians from Melbourne
Category:Musicians from New York (state)
Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers members
Category:Warner Bros. Records artists