Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea breaks new ground with debut solo album
Flea is stepping out on his own and returning to his first instrument, the trumpet, on his debut solo record.
Flea is releasing his debut solo album.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist is stepping out on his own for the first time after a career spanning more than four decades in the American rock band.
After decades of anchoring the Chili Peppers’ explosive sound, Flea is rewriting his own story with the announcement of his debut solo album. Rather than leaning on the funk‑rock grooves that made him famous, the bassist is diving headfirst into the jazz and trumpet roots that shaped his earliest musical identity.
The project’s lead track, A Plea, sets the tone: sprawling, unpredictable, and deeply human. Across eight minutes, Flea blends free‑form improvisation with spoken word, creating a piece that feels more like a manifesto than a single. Directed by his daughter Clara Balzary, the accompanying video captures Flea in motion — dancing, unguarded, and liberated from the expectations of stadium rock.
Collaborators from the jazz world, including Jeff Parker and Deantoni Parks, help him push into uncharted territory, while his message of peace and unity underscores the album’s wider ambition.
He said: "I don't care about the act of politics. I think there is a much more transcendent place above it where there's discourse to be had that can actually help humanity, and actually help us all to live harmoniously and productively in a way that's healthy for the world. There's a place where we meet, and it's love."
Further details, including the all-important album title, will be announced early next year.
