Flea
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
Born on October 16, 1962 in Melbourne, Australia, Balzary and his family relocated to Los Angeles while he was still a youngster. Unlike other teenagers, Michaels first musical love was jazz (instead of the expected hard rock), as he concentrated on mastering the trumpet while attending Fairfax High School. It was around this time that he met two other Fairfax students who would eventually change his life -- guitarist Hillel Slovak and poet Anthony Kiedis. The trio soon became inseparable, as Slovak taught Balzary (who around this time was rechristened Flea) how to play bass and eventually turned him on to the wonders of rock music via Jimi Hendrix and punk rock. Flea landed the bass playing slot in the confrontational L.A. punk band Fear by the early 80s, but decided to form a band with Slovak on guitar Kiedis on vocals, and another friend, Jack Irons, on drums. The band eventually became the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and automatically attracted a large following in California, with their explosive, high-energy stage show.
The Peppers eventually signed to EMI/Capitol, issuing a string of albums that expanded their fanbase with each subsequent release, eventually leading to their big commercial breakthrough with their aforementioned 1991 multi-platinum hit, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (their first for Warner Bros.) The band didnt have an easy ride however, suffering the drug overdose and death of Slovak in 1988, and a subsequent revolving door of guitarists, but the Peppers have remained one of rocks most popular and enduring bands. In addition to his duties with the R.H.C.P., Flea has dabbled in acting -- including cameos in such popular flicks as Back to the Future Pts. II and III, My Own Private Idaho, The Big Lebowski, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, amongst others. And due to his musical versatility, Flea has also become a much in-demand session musician, appearing on such albums as Mick Jaggers Wandering Spirit, Alanis Morissettes Jagged Little Pill, Johnny Cashs Unchained, Jewels Spirit, and Porno for Pyros Good Gods Urge.
