Happy 50^th birthday Michael “Flea” Balzary!

That’s right, Flea can now put 49 years of living “Under the Bridge” and start living his 50^th year the way he does best: with a bass in his hands.

Flea was born in Australia in 1962 and actually grew up as a fan of jazz music, playing the trumpet and following musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.

That all changed in high school when he met Anthony Kiedis, the eventual lead singer of the RHCP.

Flea and Kiedis went on to join high school classmates, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons and the four eventually formed The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The group gained a following throughout LA and became known for their wild stage performances which included performing nude besides a well-placed tube sock, and eventually a nude Flea with nothing but his bass guitar.

Throughout death and shuffling of bandmates, Flea and Kiedis have stayed as the band’s constants. The group finally found commercial success in 1991 with their album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and even more with their 1999 release Californication.

Flea’s antics on stage eventually led him to a different kind of performing: acting.

He appeared in several films and television shows including Back to the Future Part II and Part III, My Own Private Idaho, and The Big Lebowski.

Flea was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, along with Kiedis and the other members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Happy Birthday Flea!

For more on Flea’s life and career click here and check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fames summary of the RHCP at RockHall.com.