Flea Wishes He Hadn't Smashed All Those Bass Guitars During RHCP Shows
You live and you learn.
Flea has been a part of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since its inception in the 1980s. Over the past four decades, the superstar bassist been an essential part of RHCP's stage presence, and in the band's heyday in the '90s and '00s, he famously destroyed many of his basses on stage during their performances. But he doesn't exactly look back on those antics with pride.
The rock legend reflected on his bass-smashing heyday in a post on X. "[I] feel like such an idiot for smashing my bass to pieces on stage back in the day," he said honestly, adding that the move was "pathetic."
feel like such an idiot for smashing my bass to pieces on stage back in the day, pathetic.
— Flea (@flea333) April 15, 2024
He seemingly found a supporter in Sean Ono Lennon, son of legendary Beatles guitarist John Lennon. "You're in good company though," the musician chimed in.
You’re in good company though.
— Seán Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) April 15, 2024
Fans used the instrument-smashing moments as a prime opportunity to keep a part of Red Hot Chili Peppers history with them. Reddit users have shared photos of pieces of bass guitars that they purportedly got from one of these shows where Flea smashed his bass.
"I got [Flea's Modulus bass] about 20 years ago. It was his main bass (evident by scars and specific mods/repairs) he used from '97–'99. It died at the 1999 KROQ Weenie Roast following a stage trashing after their encore," one user wrote. That bass itself is significant and likely worth a pretty penny. "It was also used during recording of the Californication recording sessions as well," they added. "This one is significant in the RHCP history."
"He killed probably five to 10 of these in this era," the fan noted. "I hate that he did this to these but if he didn’t this bass would be in a museum somewhere and not on my wall."
I have Flea's main Modulus bass from 97-99 (smashed)
by u/timc74 in RedHotChiliPeppers
Another Reddit user shared a photo of a piece of Flea's bass from a show at California's Stockton Auditorium in 1998. Interestingly, it looks like it could be a missing chunk of the Californication bass.
“Piece of Flea’s bass that he smashed at the beginning of show. Cut my hand when I caught it flying into the crowd, but I still have the piece!” they wrote.
9-20-1998 Stockton Auditorium, Stockton CA - piece of Flea’s bass that he smashed at beginning of show. Cut my hand when I caught it flying out into the crowd, but I still have the piece!
by u/N54digking in RedHotChiliPeppers
Even if Flea regrets his bass-smashing days, he was unknowingly creating more Red Hot Chili Peppers history in the process.