5 Most Inventive Rock Bassists
4. Flea
Throughout the 70's and 80's, the world had become used to guitar heroes who innovated the six string with remarkable ease. When the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit the LA scene towards the mid 80's, Flea became one of the first full-fledged bass heroes.
His exotic blend of funk mixed with punk aggression made for some of the most adventurous rhythms that have ever been committed to tape. However, that does not necessarily mean that Flea was always a fretboard madman. His low end is always about following the muse that is present in any Chili Peppers song.
If you are looking for outrageous bass showstoppers, the lines on songs like "Give it Away" and "Aeroplane" have got you covered. Even in the moments where the Chili Peppers take it down a notch, Flea still pulls out ideas from left field like implementing chords to fill out the sound on songs like "Snow" or the nimble fretwork in "Under the Bridge."
Above all, Flea has spent the past 30 years honing his craft and devoting his life to lifting people's spirits through the power in his music. As the journey continues, more mind-blowing basslines from the Peppers are bound to follow.