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WOFlea and Chad Smith. The engine room of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, alone in a room together.
These two have been locking in since 1988 when Chad joined the band and they are widely considered one of the tightest rhythm sections in rock history. What you’re watching here is not a rehearsal or a soundcheck in any conventional sense. It’s two musicians who have played together for so long that the conversation between them happens entirely without words.
Flea was born Michael Balzary in Melbourne, Australia, grew up in New York, fell into the LA punk scene as a teenager and eventually crossed paths with Anthony Kiedis at Fairfax High School. He studied trumpet formally as a kid, and that foundation shaped the way he hears melody and rhythm on bass in ways that most self-taught players never develop.
Chad Smith grew up in Michigan and came up through the Detroit rock scene before moving to Los Angeles and auditioning for RHCP on a whim. Kiedis almost didn’t let him in the door because of his appearance. He sat down and played and the decision was made before the song was over.
Together they have been the foundation of every record the band has made for nearly four decades. This footage is a reminder of what that foundation actually sounds like when there’s nothing on top of it.
#Flea #ChadSmith #RHCP #BassSolo #RockHistory
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