OpenTube

Flea is Attracted to Punks and Tough Girls | Fashion Neurosis

Fashion Neurosis

107,746 views

Flea, born Michael Balzary, is a musician, writer and actor. He is one of the founding members and the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Flea is a legend in the musical fraternity. His style, both sartorially and musically is instantly recognizable and brings an emotional charge to everything he is involved with.

Flea met Anthony Kiedis in high school in Los Angeles, and they formed the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1982. The band achieved major mainstream success with their album Blood Sex Sugar Magik in 1991. The band most recently released their thirteenth album, Return of the Dream Canteen, in 2022.

In 2001, Flea co-founded the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, which is dedicated to supporting young people in learning about and performing music
In 2019 Flea released his memoir Acid for Children, which describes his chaotic and turbulent childhood until forming the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Flea has won six Grammys and has just released his first solo album, Honora, which sees him pick up the trumpet once again and includes collaborations with Nick Cave and Thom Yorke.

In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Flea discuss unpredictable parents, finding freedom in music, and the role of the moustache.

Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:22 What are you wearing today?
00:05:10 Collaborating with Nick Cave and Thom Yorke
00:13:45 Masculinity and courage
00:17:35 Flea’s mother and men
00:28:38 Father figures
00:32:30 Flea’s stepfather
00:39:20 Introversion and extroversion
00:43:50 Hair
00:50:35 Moustaches
00:52:57 Trauma and cruelty
01:06:24 Girls clothing
01:14:50 If you fancy someone…
01:22:04 Being a band leader and Honora
01:27:27 Outro

20 Comments

@compassrosewater 2 months ago (edited)

Flea is the coolest. During the pandemic, I was volunteering for a non-profit arthouse movie theatre here in LA, and he showed up for a 35mm screening of Seven Samurai in a batshit crazy delightful outfit, and waited in the long line like everyone else and was kind to all who talked to him. Halfway through, one of the reels literally TUMBLED off the projector, which was almost a relief, because the movie is so damn long and we all needed a break. I still remember this nervous guy in the line, as I was checking his vax card, saying "I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE --- BUT IF FLEA CAN DO IT....I CAN DO IT!" And the even more hilarious thing was that the loser "cool kids" working at the theater thought they were too cool to be nice to volunteers. Flea wasn't too cool (which means he was ACTUALLY cool)! He was a total mensch. Shoutout to the true outcasts who bring beauty and actual punk spirit to this world.

@nancywalter7555 2 months ago

Open, honest, observant, authentic, articulate… what a beautiful soul.

@bbcerise 2 months ago

He is so self aware, so sensitive, smart, lovely, authentic. So full of compassion too. He's been though a lot and you can tell there must have been a lot of inner work to get to that level of emotional maturity. I want to be his friend!

@abrown5526 2 months ago

I love this man so much. If you haven’t read his autobiography Acid For the Children, you must. ❤

@TamaraSerantes 2 months ago

Flea definitely dresses as he feels like it, but the jazz era is bringing this charming, sophisticated, punk suit that is already iconic! Luv u Flea! Forever and always my dude!

@aprilmaynard389 2 months ago

Most people wouldn't want a flea on your couch but what a beautiful Flea to have on the couch, what a touching interview and I've always been fascinated by him and now l know why, he is so very special 💙

@sheilachukwulozie9470 2 months ago

Love that his socks match the lamp 🍊🛋️

@paulgraham4293 2 months ago

delightful guy ... deep and sweet

@VanessaButtino 2 months ago

The way he spoke about being cruel, not to others, but to himself really hit me hard. I'm guilty of doing very much the same thing on an almost constant basis.

@davidcallan7844 2 months ago

I’m 50yrs old, I’ve loved the RHCP since i was 13yrs old.🧠🦄🐝🙏🫈

@dekerhuytel1 2 months ago

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH - THE MOST EMOTIONALLY INTENSE EXCHANGE SO FAR - SO PURE IN THE TRUTH - THANK YOU

@morningbot.1 2 months ago

What a lovely, warm-hearted man he is 🧡

@plumjess 2 months ago

Best session yet! Flea is a sage, a role model, a rolling stone who never stops getting better. Thsnk you for the interview.

@joellenhousego4639 2 months ago

And damn, Bella, you're a good interviewer. Such a good listener, such intelligent questions. I like how you try to synthesize and summarize where someone is coming from- you do it in such a respectful, encouraging, understanding way. I'm sure Flea felt like you really got him.

@ortem000 2 months ago

Flea is such a gem. I should be listening to the news right now to get caught up on the dumpster fire of the day, but I would much rather listen to this conversation.

@elm1230 2 months ago

The portion where they discussed the relationship Flea shared with his sister was so moving. I also view the gift of a sibling as someone who was a witness. And as Bella expounded, having someone there to validate what you experienced can be effective in healing. No one in the world but my sister knows what growing up in that house was like lmao

@4evergogo 2 months ago

the rage at his friend & his friends reaction brought tears to my eyes.
He is a special guy. i started going to the Chili Peppers shows when i was
way too young.. house parties, small clubs. they were just such fun. Flea has
always been such a character & its neat to see how he has grown up & is living his great life.
thank you Bella.

@KatieKamala 2 months ago (edited)

I’ve always considered flea an intelligent, artistic person and it’s interesting to hear the deeper issues of his life I didn’t know about. It’s true how our traumas in early childhood really shape our patterns, especially for relationships great guest I would’ve never thought on this podcast 😊

@raquelcsmcg769 2 months ago

flea is and has been such a luminous, joyous, transparent, radiant child. thank you oh bella for the extended window. thank the budas for letting us live a life that includes flea.

@selqui 2 months ago

Thank you so much. I think somehow we were all reduced to our small, vulnerable selves, our pubescent love selves, our harried selves, our soft selves, our selves who fall in love with who we fall in love with, and our selves who occasionally tell the people we love off bit. Thank you, Flea. Thank you, Bella.