The first album Flea ever fell in love with and “connected with as a kid”
Flea has said that The Beatles were the first band he loved and that their self-titled 1968 album, known as The White Album, was the first music he connected with as a child. The record’s experimental, varied style helped shape his early musical interests and offers context for the influences behind his later career.
Flea has praised Paul McCartney’s bass playing for its lyrical, melodic quality. The article also notes that Rolling Stone ranked Flea second among bassists in 2009, ahead of McCartney, and lists several other albums Flea would take to a desert island. The White Album, released nearly 60 years ago, is described as sprawling and sometimes inaccessible, but still inventive.
- The White Album was Flea’s first musical connection as a child.
- The Beatles were the first band he loved.
- Flea has called Paul McCartney a great bass player.
New here? Start with this
Flea is the bassist for the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, known for combining rock, funk and other styles. The Beatles were a British band whose music changed considerably over their career, influencing generations of musicians.
Released in 1968, The White Album is the informal name for the Beatles’ double album, officially titled The Beatles. Its many different songs range from gentle acoustic music to hard rock and experimental recordings, giving listeners a broad view of the band’s musical range.
Bassists provide the low notes and rhythms that help hold a band’s music together, but some also play melodic lines that stand out. The Beatles’ Paul McCartney is widely recognised for this approach, and Flea’s early connection to the album offers background on the music that shaped his own interests.