FleaBesprekingen

I feel like you have to be a hardcore Flea fan (not necessarily a RHCP fan), or thoroughly enjoy learning things you can’t unlearn to genuinely enjoy this book. Had no feelings in either direction on the first count, and know where I stand in the second. So ya. This wasn’t for me.

I'm actually not a Red Hot Chili Peppers fanatic so came to this as a reluctant reader. The book recounts Flea's (RHCP bassist) unconventional upbringing in 1970s Los Angeles., delving into his early experiences with music, his struggles with addiction, and his professional journey in the music world. Flea's frank and introspective writing style makes for a compelling and inspiring read.

Fun book, a bit ragged and unhinged but that seems right. It definitely wasn’t cleaned up by a ghostwriter. Follows Flea’s rough childhood and his years as a young musician/druggie in late 70s early 80s LA (where he went to JR and Sr high school. Stops just at the formation of RHCP, so we don’t get to hear about them taking over the world.

First I'm not a the fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers and till I picked up this book had't ever heard of him. This was recommended to me and an exceptional read, better even on audio. So I listened, I was quickly brought into a familiar world of growing up the 60's and 70's. These were wild, dangerous, crazy times and "Flea" tested all the offers of the times, and lived to tell the story. Emotionally distant parents, poverty, drugs, drugs, and more drugs, friendships made, lost, found and sadly death.
I walked along the same path as him through many of the 60's and 70's, Los Angeles was a wild place to grow up. As I listened to his heart opening story I learned somethings about myself as well as weeped with his pains. I loved this touching story not of a rock star but a boy, a man, in transition every moment with no known destination.½

Awful.

Dull ramblings. RHCP die hards will like it, though.

My review of this book can be found on my Youtube Vlog at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvGD-9NzznE

Enjoy!

So like most musician biographies, this was filled with sex, drugs and rock and roll. Usually the drugs/drinking part really bums me out because I don't feel like I can relate to them at all (been straight edge all my life) and it usually ends badly or there are these horrific periods of their lives. With Flea it was different, he partied hard and spent a lot of time in the book describing the drugs, but he's been clean for a long time and isn't boasting about it. He talked a lot about how lucky he was not to have completely ruined his life.

Lots of entertaining, funny and sad stories along with the meanderings of a poetic soul. He's someone I feel like I could really get along with and who would be really fun to hang around. I LOVE that he narrated the book himself.

There was a surprising lack of talk about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, so if you're reading this to find out about them you'll be sorely disappointed. He did hint at a "book 2", but not sure if that was a joke or not because he did it in a hilarious way.

Possibly the most random memoir I have ever read. Well, listened to, since I have it on audiobook.
Flea, the bassist from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, always seemed to me like a cool, laid back guy. I don't have any music from the RHCP in my collection, but when I saw this book n the store I just knew I had to read it. This is the story of his childhood, teen years and young adulthood pre- Chili Peppers. Much of the book goes like this: When I was this age I lived here and these were my friends and these are the things we did. As Flea and his family move and age he becomes involved in petty crime, drugs and music. There is a section near the end about his time in the band Fear but nothing about the Chili Peppers.½