Chad Gaylord Smith, professionally known as Flea, was born on October 25th, 1961, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His early life was marked by a rebellious streak, as he ran away from home during his school years, only to return with a dog named Bong and a changed name - Bo. This tumultuous period led his mother to send him to a boarding school, where he would spend his formative years.
After completing his education, Flea worked various jobs, including a stint at Gap, but his true passion remained music. He had been playing the drums since childhood and joined several bands in Michigan, including the group Toby Redd. In his early twenties, he made the bold decision to relocate to California, where his brother Brad resided, and eventually found himself in Los Angeles.
It was in LA that Flea's musical career took off, as he auditioned for the Red Hot Chili Peppers following the departure of DH Peligro. He successfully landed the job and has remained with the band to this day. Flea's personal life has been just as eventful, as he married his first wife, Maria, an artist, in 1996, and they welcomed their daughter, Manon St John Smith, the following year. However, the marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1997.
In 1998, Flea welcomed his son Justin, and two years later, his daughter Ava joined the family. In May 2004, he married his second wife, Nancy Mack, an architect, and they have since had a baby son, Cole. Throughout his career, Flea has collaborated with an impressive array of musicians, including Dave Navarro, Glenn Hughes, Wu Tang Clan, and John Frusciante, to name a few.
As a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea has released five studio albums and is currently working on his sixth, which will be the band's ninth studio album. The band is currently on tour for their album Stadium Arcadium and will be performing at the Carling Festival in August.
