Of all the bass players in the world Flea is definitely one of them.
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I remember EXACTLY where I was and what I was doing the 1st time I heard the RHCP in ‘88. Flea is his own thing man. He just is. He is most definitely one of the many artists that have inspired me. Art is not to be debated, but to be experienced and assimilated.
I got another level of respect for Flea when I heard his interview on Marc Maron's podcast and he was talking about how he is very deficient as a soloist, and the steps he was taking (listening, lessons, etc.) to become competent at melodic improvisation in a jazz fusion setting. That's what makes him cool. Any criticism you may have of him, he already knows it and he's been working on it.
Here’s another great Flea moment - he’s hanging with Joshua Redman playing Zeppelin. C’mon man!
Flea - interesting character and great player. If you have a chance to check out his autobiography, especially as a book on tape, I suggest it.
Flea is one of those guys like Jaco, Johnson, and Wooten (etc) who changed how the instrument was approached. People had to learn his style. Flea does what he does, he has his persona and within that he's perfect. . He can be quite sloppy... that's also part of his vibe. Flea doesn't strike me as a particularly flexible player, I don't think he could sit in a Jazz trio or go out on the road with Peter Gabriel al-la Tony Levin. But I could be wrong all we hear is what the band 'sells' us.
I personally think most of the RHCP stuff since BSSM (with notable exceptions) has been, poor. But that's also not on Flea, that's on the band. It speaks a lot for just how influential Flea is, that people blame him for the quality of RHCP's albums. No other 'popular' bassist on earth carries that weight. Ie, No one craps on Mike Inez for an Ozzy Osborne record being weak.
Flea is one of those guys like Jaco, Johnson, and Wooten (etc) who changed how the instrument was approached. People had to learn his style. Flea does what he does, he has his persona and within that he's perfect. . He can be quite sloppy... that's also part of his vibe. Flea doesn't strike me as a particularly flexible player, I don't think he could sit in a Jazz trio or go out on the road with Peter Gabriel al-la Tony Levin. But I could be wrong all we hear is what the band 'sells' us.
I personally think most of the RHCP stuff since BSSM (with notable exceptions) has been, poor. But that's also not on Flea, that's on the band. It speaks a lot for just how influential Flea is, that people blame him for the quality of RHCP's albums. No other 'popular' bassist on earth carries that weight. Ie, No one craps on Mike Inez for an Ozzy Osborne record being weak.
Fun read here !
First with all due respect
I would not put Flea in the category of underated ... He's very talented and gets due credit .
However things as we know are quite subjective ....
Underrated : Not Flea
Overrated : Jaco, Jeff Berlin , the toto guy
Unappreciated : Lemme , MCA ,Sean Hurley
All very talented in my opinion
But subjective to different tastes
Flea in my opinion has just got it going on
Jaco sounds like a bunch of hornets
When you try to knock down the nest
Lemme just tried to break strings
Sean Hurley has tone for days
MCA just rolled with some kind of soul that is just magical
To me music moves your soul
Takes you away and eases pain
But who am I to judge ... I've been playing bass religiously since 87
And still haven't learned how to play it
Lol
First with all due respect
I would not put Flea in the category of underated ... He's very talented and gets due credit .
However things as we know are quite subjective ....
Underrated : Not Flea
Overrated : Jaco, Jeff Berlin , the toto guy
Unappreciated : Lemme , MCA ,Sean Hurley
All very talented in my opinion
But subjective to different tastes
Flea in my opinion has just got it going on
Jaco sounds like a bunch of hornets
When you try to knock down the nest
Lemme just tried to break strings
Sean Hurley has tone for days
MCA just rolled with some kind of soul that is just magical
To me music moves your soul
Takes you away and eases pain
But who am I to judge ... I've been playing bass religiously since 87
And still haven't learned how to play it
Lol
I've never seen them live, I'm talking about studio recordings - though I would imagine live would likely be worse rather than better. I don't think I'm exaggerating, but I know it doesn't bother everyone, and if you're fine with it, great, I'm not trying to talk you out of enjoying it.
Anyway, back on topic: my favourite Flea bass part is probably Bust A Move. They should've paid him much more for his contribution.
That's sorta odd, but I guess if you aren't actually listening to their music much then you could reach that conclusion.
He plays finger style most of the time, not slap. He's extremely melodic in the softer songs and is the most interesting musician in the band, imho, most of the time. He improvises constantly and rarely plays the same thing the same way in each verse/chorus, as he's trying to do exactly the opposite of "everything sounds the same".
When he does slap, it's muscular and heavy... not all poppy and speedy.... heavy slap is a good thing, imho, for a heavy funk band. It's kind of the genre, after all. Considering his background is jazz brass, the improv and groove fall into place very naturally.
In addition, his time/rhythm/feel are bar none. Absolutely amazing.
And I'm not even particularly a fan - I just respect the man as a musician and player and performer. I rarely listen to them, but when I've covered their songs... the bass is the tough part. and I mean TOUGH, if you are going to do it note for note like the recording.
this is AWESOME... I love Flea's finger style funk... such incredible rhythm
These are all great stories and valid opinions but none of it gets to whether or not Flea is "over-rated". Like anyone else, his fans will tend to over-rate him and people like me, that don't like the RHCP or Flea's tone or playing, will under-rate him. He's a recording pro with years under his belt. What I think or how I rate him is unimportant.
Nobody has to like Flea’s music, but the man is a skilled and knowledgeable bassist with experience on other instruments too. He has also shown himself capable in settings very different from RHCP. Acknowledging his skill and liking his music are not the same thing.
Don't cherry pick, Doc. I mention his tone AND his playing but it still doesn't address the question at hand, how he's rated as a bass player. His horn playing doesn't have anything to do with it.
I don’t believe I was cherry picking, but if that is how you see it, that is how you see it.
When I mention not liking his music, his tone, and his playing and you ask me to acknowledge his skill and knowledge it kind of is but, ok.
I was not trying to talk past you. I think I said it was ok not to like his music, but his knowledge and skill are quantifiable. Heck, I think Hadrien Feraud is Superman on bass, but the original music I see him associated with does very little for me.
I heard Jaco play a solo on Sly and the Family Stones “I Wanna Take You Higher,” and it was full of great Jaco licks, but Jaco is no Larry Graham.
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At my advanced age, I've come to feel that technique is kind of a "red herring" when it comes to "greatness."
To me, the great ones have a strong personality which comes through their instrument, and they play with love and strength. They're not merely twiddling their favorite toy, but playing with their life force behind it. I think Flea has all of that.
In those ways, he sometimes reminds me of Jack Bruce.
To me, the great ones have a strong personality which comes through their instrument, and they play with love and strength. They're not merely twiddling their favorite toy, but playing with their life force behind it. I think Flea has all of that.
In those ways, he sometimes reminds me of Jack Bruce.
