Michael Peter Balzary, known as Flea, was born on October 16, 1962, in Melbourne, Australia. Raised in a turbulent household, he developed an early love for music, particularly jazz. After moving to Los Angeles, Flea learned trumpet and later bass, inspired by punk rock. He co-founded the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1983 with Anthony Kiedis, evolving their funk-rock sound. The band gained acclaim with albums like Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991), Californication (1999), and Stadium Arcadium (2006). Alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea explored side projects, including Atoms for Peace and Rocket Juice & the Moon, and acted in films such as The Big Lebowski. In 2001, he co-founded the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. Flea’s innovative bass style earned him critical praise, contributing to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2012. He released a memoir, Acid for the Children, in 2019, detailing his formative years. In addition to many collaborations, he released his debut solo EP, Helen Burns, in 2012. Following a collaboration with John Frusciante on "Not Great Men" in 2021, Flea released the solo single "A Plea", followed in 2026 by his debut album Honora, featuring Thom Yorke and Nick Cave.
