This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross. My guest, Flea, co-founded the multiple Grammy-winning band,

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, in 1982. He's a songwriter and the band's bass player,

known for his fast, percussive grooves. They started as an L.A. punk rock band when L.A. and

New York were the punk capitals. Their lead singer initially rap more than he sang.

Flea has just released his first solo album called Honora, and it's a big departure,

various styles of jazz figure into it. Flea's stepfather was a jazz musician,

and listening to his music, starting when Flea was seven, changed Flea's life in ways he's still

grateful for. But Flea's stepfather was also addicted to heroin and alcohol, and that made

home life unpredictable and sometimes dangerous, leaving Flea afraid to go home. He spent as much

time as he could on the streets and with friends, often doing things that could have had serious consequences.

On the new album, in addition to bass,

Flea plays trumpet, the first instrument he learned to play.

The album also reflects how Flea started studying music theory about 10 years ago.

Honora includes original compositions by Flea, as well as covers of songs

by George Clinton and Frank Ocean. Tom York of Radiohead sings on one track. Nick Cave sings

Wichita alignment. The arrangements feature strings, brass, and woodwinds. When I recorded this

interview with Flea last week, we talked about his childhood,

his relationship with his stepfather, the chili peppers, being wild, and how Flea and his music

have changed. He wrote a memoir in 2019 titled, Acid for the Children. Flee, welcome to fresh air.

Congratulations on the new album. So let's get to your music.

I want to compare where you started from in terms of your recordings and where you are now.

So let's start by listening to a brief part of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's first demo record.

...