Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Flea
Flea performing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the 2016 Rock im Park festival
Background information
Birth name	Michael Peter Balzary
Also known as	Mike B the Flea
Born	(1962-10-16) 16 October 1962 (age 55) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Funk rock, alternative rock, funk metal, jazz, experimental rock, punk rock, jazz-funk, electronica, hardcore punk
Occupation(s)	Musician, actor
Instruments	Bass guitar, vocals, trumpet, piano, keyboards
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Warner Bros. Records, EMI
Associated acts	Red Hot Chili Peppers, Atoms for Peace, Antemasque, Rocket Juice & the Moon, What Is This?, Fear, Jane's Addiction, the Mars Volta, Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, Young MC

Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16, 1962), better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and actor best known as bassist and founding member of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Flea briefly appeared as the bassist for such bands as What Is This?, Fear, and Jane's Addiction. He has also performed with rock supergroups Atoms for Peace, Antemasque, Pigface, and Rocket Juice & the Moon. Flea has also collaborated with artists including The Mars Volta, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, and Young MC. In 2009, Rolling Stone readers ranked Flea the second best bassist of all time, behind only John Entwistle.

Since 1984, Flea has acted in over 20 films and television series such as Suburbia, Back to the Future Part II and Part III, My Own Private Idaho, The Chase, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thrashin', Dudes, Son in Law, The Big Lebowski, Low Down and Baby Driver, in addition to voicing the character Donnie Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys animated television series and films.