Flea: I've Considered Quitting Red Hot Chili Peppers 'A Million Times'

The bassist reveals...

Jason Gregory
14:55 18th August 2011

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has revealed that he has considered quitting the group in the past.

Flea said he had pondered his future on several occasion, most recently when former guitarist John Frusciante quit in 2009.

“Oh, I've considered pulling the plug a million times. That’s nothing new for me,” he told Guitar World magazine.

“Things get to be a bummer and I start going, 'Mmm, this is kind of a drag.' And I just couldn't imagine doing it without John. When he did up and leave, though, some time went by and I just started feeling this deep love for the band and wanted to continue it. Plus, I missed Anthony. So we got Josh."

Red Hot Chili Peppers release their new album 'I'm With You' at the end of this month.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Through The Years

The only original members still in the Red Hot Chili Peppers are Anthony Kiedis and Flea.
Anthony Kiedis owns a pet wolf called Howlin' Wolf.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have had 6 guitarists in its career including Hillel Slovak, Dave Navarro and John Frusciante.
They were famous in the early days for appearing onstage naked except for sports socks over their genitals.
Album 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' was made into a documentary. The video was filmed in a house where the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix once lived.
'Under The Bridge' was written about Anthony's battle with drug addiction.
Guitarist Flea has been in a number of films. Including Surbubia made in the mid 80s about a bunch of punk rockers. As well as The Big Lebowski and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have sold more than 55 million albums as of 2010.
Flea's real name is Michael Balzary.
The group has won seven Grammy awards. Four of the Grammys were for the 2006 album 'Stadium Arcadium'.
The band have released two live albums, nine studio recorded albums and three compilation albums.
There have been thirteen members who could, at one point in time, been a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fourteen, if you count John Frusciante's return for their 2009 album 'John Frusciante'.
The band formed in the early 80s by Michael 'Flea' Balzary, Hillel Slovak, and Jack Irons, under the name 'Anthym'.
Anthony was a child actor. With appearances on several TV shows and movies. He plays Sylvester Stallone's son in the movie F.I.S.T..
'Transcending' was written about River Phoenix.
Flea can also play the trumpet. He played with the L.A. junior philharmonic.
At one point, the band were Chily Willy and the Red Hot Peppers.
Former member Hillel used to paint. One of his works can be found in the Mother's Milk album booklet.
In 2009, the band became first time nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame but did not make the final cut for the class of 2010.
Their cover of Ohio Players "Love Rollercoaster", was featured on the Beavis and Butthead Do America soundtrack, and was released as a single.