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Acid For The Children - The autobiography of Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers legend

By Flea
4.08 goodreads logo

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( 29,168 ratings, 2,642 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Acid For The Children is a vibrant autobiography by Flea, the legendary bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The book delves into Flea's unconventional childhood and his wild journey towards musical stardom. Filled with tales of mischief, self-discovery, and creativity, it captures the essence of a tumultuous yet inspiring artistic life, setting the stage for his iconic role in the music world.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by rock and roll history and want a candid, often humorous peek into the life of a music legend from his wild childhood through his rise to fame. It offers a raw and heartfelt journey that explores the boundaries of art, life, and music with an unfiltered voice that fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers would particularly appreciate.

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Flea, the iconic bassist and co-founder, alongside Anthony Kiedis, of the immortal Red Hot Chili Peppers finally tells his fascinating origin story, complete with all the dizzying highs and the gutter lows you'd expect from an LA street rat turned world-famous rock star.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Flea, the iconic bassist and co-founder, alongside Anthony Kiedis, of the immortal Red Hot Chili Peppers finally tells his fascinating origin story, complete with all the dizzying highs and the gutter lows you'd expect from an LA street rat turned world-famous rock star.

Michael Peter Balzary was born in Melbourne, Australia, on October 16, 1962. His more famous stage name, Flea, and his wild ride as the renowned bass player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers was in a far and distant future. Little Michael from Oz moved with his very conservative, very normal family to Westchester, New York, where life as he knew it was soon turned upside down.

His parents split up and he and his sister moved into the home of his mother's free-wheeling, jazz musician boyfriend - trading in rules, stability, and barbecues for bohemian values, wildness, and Sunday afternoon jazz parties where booze, weed, and music flowed in equal measure. There began Michael's life-long journey to channel all the frustration, loneliness, love, and joy he felt into incredible rhythm.

When Michael's family moved to Los Angeles in 1972, his home situation was rockier than ever. He sought out a sense of belonging elsewhere, spending most of his days partying, playing basketball, and committing petty crimes. At Fairfax High School, he met another social outcast, Anthony Kiedis, who quickly became his soul brother, the yin to his yang, his partner in mischief.

Michael joined some bands, fell in love with performing, and honed his skills. But it wasn't until the night when Anthony, excited after catching a Grandmaster Flash concert, suggested they start their own band that he is handed the magic key to the cosmic kingdom.

Acid for the Children is as raw, entertaining, and wildly unpredictable as its author. It's both a tenderly evocative coming of age story and a raucous love letter to the power of music and creativity.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Acid for the Children is praised for its rhythm and style, mirroring Flea's unique bass playing. Reviewers appreciate his honest, jazzy prose that reveals insecurities and virtues alike, resulting in a memoir that is both enlightening and resonant, even for those unfamiliar with his music. The book is noted for its charm and vulnerability, often compared to works like Patti Smith's Just Kids, offering a wild yet honest tale of his journey. The work is lauded for its electric and moving narrative, capturing Flea's formative years with a sense of openness and vibrant storytelling.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472230836

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 October 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Headline Book Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 400

About the Author

Flea is an Australian-American musician and actor best known as bassist and founding member of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Flea is also the co-founder of Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit music education organization founded in 2001 for underprivileged children.

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