Meta Description: Discover the connection between Flea and Metallica. Learn how the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist drew inspiration from Metallica’s thrash metal, especially from bassist Cliff Burton.
Flea and Metallica aren’t two names that typically go hand-in-hand. The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, known for blending punk energy with funk dynamics, isn’t associated with heavy music. Despite this, Flea has a deep appreciation for heavy music, particularly thrash metal, and his love for Metallica is a testament to this.
Flea’s Introduction to Heavy Music and Metallica
Flea’s musical background includes influences from hardcore pioneers such as The Germs and Black Flag. Black Flag’s metal-esque textures introduced Flea to heavier guitar sounds and complex dynamics beyond the original wave of punk. When the West Coast thrash scene emerged in 1983 with Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, Flea quickly became a fan of the San Francisco group. He admired their hardcore spirit, chugging guitars, technical brilliance, and catchy melodies.
Flea first heard Metallica in 1984 while on tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the early hours of the morning, he encountered a track on the radio that was unlike anything he had heard before. The violent yet exquisite music blew his mind. The track was ‘Fight Fire With Fire’ from Metallica’s influential 1984 thrash classic Ride The Lightning. The precision, aggression, and intensity of the song impressed Flea, making him an ardent follower of Metallica from that moment on.
Cliff Burton’s Influence on Flea
One aspect of Metallica that particularly appealed to Flea was their bassist, Cliff Burton. Burton pushed the melodic and percussive aspects of the bass guitar to new heights, refreshing it for the decade. In a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone, Flea stated that he believes ‘(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth’ from Metallica’s debut is “one of the great moments in rock history for the electric bass guitar.” He added, “Every Cliff Burton-based solo I’ve ever heard is a soulful, psychedelic, headbanging expression that rocks your world, trips your brain out, and gets the house rockin’.”
Metallica’s Mainstream Success and Flea’s Admiration
Flea also recognizes Metallica’s remarkable achievement in bringing thrash metal to mainstream audiences. Their early music was intended as a rebellion against the political and musical status quo, making their success even more impressive. Flea appreciates how Metallica draws upon pain for artistic inspiration and the escape it offers to their fans. At shows, the band and fans uncoil together, creating a beautiful and unifying experience. Flea confessed, “I bow down to it.”
The Power of Metallica’s Music
Flea concluded by expressing how Metallica’s music makes the world a less lonely place for their fans. He said, “For the people who give it up and get rocked by Metallica, the world is a less lonely place. When a person gets rocking to their music, everything else disappears, and that person is just one with the rock. It is an inexplicable, awesome thing, and I bow down to it. Pain and hurt can be a muse for great art.”
