Michael Peter Balzary, better known as Flea, is an Australian-American musician and actor, best known as the bassist and founder of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His playing is energetic, unpredictable, and almost acrobatic, yet always imbued with feeling. Born in Melbourne and raised in Los Angeles, Flea discovered music through his stepfather, a jazz musician. Between jam sessions and jazz clubs, he learned trumpet and drums and spent hours replaying records by Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Later, he embraced funk and rock, learned to play bass, and, along with friends, found his place in the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His love of jazz and improvisation always remained a driving force. His first solo album, Honora , due for release in 2026, is therefore not a new direction, but a return to his roots. On the album, he plays bass and trumpet, provides vocals, and is backed by a group of exceptional jazz and improvisational musicians: drummer Deantoni Parks, bassist Anna Butterss, guitarist Jeff Parker, and saxophonist/producer Josh Johnson. Together, they form "The Honora Band" live.