Michael Peter Balzary, better known as Flea, was born on October 16, 1962, in Melbourne, Australia. At the age of four, his parents divorced, and he, his sister Karen, and his mother Patricia moved to New York, later settling in Los Angeles in 1972. His stepfather, Walter Urban Jr., a jazz musician, introduced him to the world of music.
Flea's early life was marked by a passion for jazz, which set him apart from his peers who were more into disco and dance music. He began playing the drums and later the trumpet, often sitting in on jam sessions with his stepfather and other musicians. He counts meeting his idol, Dizzy Gillespie, backstage at one of his concerts as one of his greatest childhood memories.
In high school, Flea's musical interests diversified, and he discovered funk music, becoming a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix. It was during this time that he met Anthony Kiedis, who would later become his bandmate in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea's musical talents were soon recognized, and he was recruited for a band called Anthym, playing the bass for the first time. He quickly developed his own unique style, which would later make him one of the most famous and talented bass players in the world.
After Anthym disbanded, Flea joined the L.A. punk band Fear and even landed a small role in the film Suburbia. When John Lydon of PIL asked him to join his band, Flea instead decided to rejoin his friends, and they formed the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea was married to Loesha Zeviar in 1985, and they have a daughter, Clara, born in 1988. He is also the co-founder of the Silverlake Conservatory Of Music, an organization that provides affordable music lessons to children and encourages their musical education.
Throughout his life, Flea has been known for his mischievous antics and his passion for music, which has led him to become one of the most iconic and influential musicians of his generation.
