#11: Michael Balzary (Flea) – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Michael Balzary, known globally as Flea, studied at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, where he was a standout jazz trumpet prodigy. His musical world shifted entirely when he befriended classmate Hillel Slovak, who introduced him to rock music and taught him the bass guitar. In 1983, along with Anthony Kiedis, they formed the Red Hot Chili Peppers, unleashing their signature funk-punk fusion.
