I'm not a fan of RHCP at all, but there is absolutely no denying that Flea is the most popular bassist ever. Every teenage bass student I've had the last several years all want to learn RHCP songs. The band has been around forever but keeps finding new audiences. His influence on the instrument and on musicians is unquestionable. Yes there are lots of "better" players out there, but I just don't think you can necessarily overrate an individual who holds such a unique level of influence.
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Admittedly, not a big RHCP fan, but I respect him as a player, and have BIG respect for his initiatives for music education, including the student bass guitar he funded.
What I can't figure out is how the white sock never fell off!
What I can't figure out is how the white sock never fell off!
He really hasn’t done the heavy slap thing since Mothers Milk in 1989.
Yeah, it's rained a lot since RHCP sounded like that.
That can be said about pretty much any bass line. I’d like to hear your example of a bass player, or any musician for that fact, who doesn’t reuse musical ideas.
imho, as a trained musicians myself, technique is only wrong if it impedes what you are trying to accomplish as a musician or if it prevents you from continuing to play later in your life (due to physical damage to your body from doing it wrong for so many years).
I see none of that with Flea, so his technique is literally perfect for what he does. This is well demonstrated when considering how accomplished a musician he is, as opposed to someone playing simple lines all the time where we could presume maybe that visibly odd technique might actually impede progress.
Also, the thumb position/shape is extremely different for different people... my thumbs don't bend how many other people's thumbs bend... and I slap just fine (although much much less than I used to, although thanks to modern metal gradually embracing slap more, I may return to it some to see if I can master the more current slap techniques versus the techniques I did in the 80s and early 90s).
Flea knows more about theory and chords and harmony and jazz and musical theater than I bet most members of this bbs know, and has proven time and time again that he can play anything he wants to play.
And hell... he's the most entertaining bassist to watch in the entire world... my subjective opinion. How the hell he plays like that while moving like that completely escapes me.
I see none of that with Flea, so his technique is literally perfect for what he does. This is well demonstrated when considering how accomplished a musician he is, as opposed to someone playing simple lines all the time where we could presume maybe that visibly odd technique might actually impede progress.
Also, the thumb position/shape is extremely different for different people... my thumbs don't bend how many other people's thumbs bend... and I slap just fine (although much much less than I used to, although thanks to modern metal gradually embracing slap more, I may return to it some to see if I can master the more current slap techniques versus the techniques I did in the 80s and early 90s).
Flea knows more about theory and chords and harmony and jazz and musical theater than I bet most members of this bbs know, and has proven time and time again that he can play anything he wants to play.
And hell... he's the most entertaining bassist to watch in the entire world... my subjective opinion. How the hell he plays like that while moving like that completely escapes me.
I'm not a big fan of underrated/overrated. He's a great player and has his own unique style. I'm not really a fan of RHCP, but I can appreciate what Flea does.
Speaking of haters, it's like people ripping on a band for be being just a one hit wonder. As compared to their zero hit band.
When I began touring, it was the same venues as the RHCP. They weren't a known band yet. Small places, indie circuit. They weren't a normal band- they were really weird. Their originality is what got them where they are, and Flea was one of the main reasons- and so followed the culture. He does what he does, and it changed bass playing across the globe. That should be enough for absolute respect. The guy wails on the instrument, and what he does makes it possible to hear the instrument, even in stadiums where bass usually gets lost completely. It is a big reason his playing style has developed the way it has. Got to tour with them in 2001. He is an absolute monster player. He plays from the heart, and that is what really matters. (edit: I should add, I don't listen to them- it's not my thing at all. But there's no denying his type of musicality).
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That makes me think of the number of times I've seen people slam Victor Wooten here on TB. I've even seen several posts suggesting that Victor doesn't groove. Well, what are you going to do? We all have our preferences but come on - you don't have to be in love with a player to be able to recognize the talent.The 1st time i talked to him. On top of handling me telling him he's one FUNKY A$$ White Brother! He was simply down to earth humble cool person. We talked for about 10 minutes about Bass stuff....Bass players and how many sexy women was there at the Rose Bowl that night.I hadn't played regularly in years at that time but we still vibe it out. Cyberspace is full people smack talking about how some popular extremely talented musician sucks...... I've seen dudes slam Hendrix, EVH, SRV,.Wes Montgomery jealousy is a Bit.......
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When I heard Bust a Move i really enjoyed the bass line. Enough so I found out who was playing it. It was Flea. I’d heard RCHP but I was lost in my search for anything blues at the time and had no idea the guy who drove that band also gave the simple but infectious hooky funk to Bust a Move. In my search I found out Flea had an impressive resume of recording credits for a lot of artists/bands. At some point I watched a documentary on Flea and learned he was a child prodigy on trumpet. I can’t recall how he decided bass was his thing or how he wound up in RCHP, but I do remember how impressed I was with his accomplishments and candor, and especially his outlook on life and how that informs his optimistic attitude toward it.
there is also the fact he’s crossed over occasionally to acting, and every role I’ve seen him in was well done. He’s no Di Niro, but I suspect he’s pretty much portraying himself if he was a bumbling henchman, or whatever he’s been cast as.
there is also the fact he’s crossed over occasionally to acting, and every role I’ve seen him in was well done. He’s no Di Niro, but I suspect he’s pretty much portraying himself if he was a bumbling henchman, or whatever he’s been cast as.
His autobiography is a work of art in my opinion.
I have not read the whole thread, but so far glad to see folks giving Flea his props. I have read detractors on here claiming he's good but not all that, and referring to his harmonic simplicity, or the fact that an accomplished bassist can cop his lines easily. What is missed in these criticisms, and in the accolades so far, is his pen.
Flea wrote all of those hits for the Chili Peppers. Sure they write collaboratively, but Flea does the monster share of the heavy lifting, and has assumed more of the composition duties as the band has matured. It's his pen that catapulted the band to its massive success. In this regard, even though he doesn't sing, he's more like Paul McCartney or Sting - it's his song writing and his star power that are his greatest attributes.
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Fleas playing outside of RHCP is amazing, hid work with Atoms for Peace, especially live, really highlights his versatility as a player.
A definite thread with opinionated responses.
As for me..............no comment.
As for me..............no comment.
Most overrated band, perhaps but what do you expect when youve got Will Ferrel on drums?
When we visited Paris, I of course eventually led my wife out into the suburbs. (She always teases me about this...) We ended up in a mall, I quickly found the music store. I hadn't touched a bass in almost a week so I plugged one in and started playing. Two teenage boys came up and asked, first in French, then in broken English, if I knew any Flea / RHCP songs. I tried to tell them about great French bassists, like Hadrien Feroud. They were not having it!
Flea is an international superstar and you are right, RHCP keeps getting new fans.
Music is an art form. I'd say art is a combination of creativity, technique, and expression. You don't have to be a master of every single aspect of those 3 categories. I think a truly great musician has to offer a unique combination of those 3... and Flea certainly does that!
