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- From shy kid to streetwise teen: the roots of a restless musician
- How a Fairfax High friendship turned into a lifelong partnership
- Lineup and the early L.A. scene that shaped their identity
- Wide-ranging influences: jazz, no wave, funk and classic rock
- Survival instincts became musical advantages
- Stories, memoirs and practical tips from the road
Flea, the founding bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has been reflecting on the unruly days he spent on Los Angeles streets with childhood friend Anthony Kiedis. His memories of growing up in the city in the 1970s read like a coming-of-age tale crossed with a survival manual. Those chaotic years, he says, left a mark on the band’s sound and spirit.
From shy kid to streetwise teen: the roots of a restless musician
Flea remembers arriving on the West Coast as a reserved youngster. The move from the East Coast and a turbulent family life pushed him toward a rougher existence. He calls those years “feral,” a time marked by aimless roaming and brushes with trouble.
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He tells stories of being unsupervised and taking risks. Such early hardships forced him to learn how to fend for himself. Those lessons later showed up in his music and stage persona.
How a Fairfax High friendship turned into a lifelong partnership
In 1976, Flea met Anthony Kiedis at Fairfax High School. Their connection was immediate and intense. The two became inseparable companions in mischief and music.
- Shared background: Both grew up with limited resources and lived day-to-day.
- Mutual daring: Their willingness to flout convention made them natural collaborators.
- Early bond: That teenage alliance ultimately became the core of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Lineup and the early L.A. scene that shaped their identity
The band’s first formal line-up formed in the early 1980s. Flea and Kiedis joined with friends who brought different musical interests.
- Hillel Slovak — guitar
- Jack Irons — drums
- Flea — bass
- Anthony Kiedis — vocals
Those formative gigs were rooted in an eclectic Los Angeles underground. The city’s mix of grit and creativity gave the group fertile ground to experiment.
Wide-ranging influences: jazz, no wave, funk and classic rock
Artists and movements that shaped their sound
- Avant-garde and jazz figures like Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis
- No Wave and downtown New York acts, including the Lounge Lizards and James Chance
- Funk and fusion players, such as Jaco Pastorius and Weather Report
- Classic rock icons like Led Zeppelin and The Who
Flea has said the band didn’t limit itself to funk. They soaked up sounds from many scenes. That broad palate helped define the band’s signature L.A. funk-rock blend.
Survival instincts became musical advantages
Growing up without steady money forced Flea and Kiedis to become resourceful. They worried about where their next meal would come from. Those pressures taught them resilience.
Grit and hustle translated into a relentless work ethic once the band formed. Living on the edge made them fearless in the studio and on stage.
Stories, memoirs and practical tips from the road
Flea expanded on these memories in his 2019 memoir, Acid for the Children. The book recounts the early years and the bond that fueled the band’s rise.
He also shares lighter, practical advice from his youth. Short on cash, he learned ways to see live shows without paying. His tip: try slipping in unnoticed. One trick he jokes about is entering a venue backwards to avoid attention. It’s a cheeky reminder of the resourcefulness that marked his adolescence.
Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
