(LOOTPRESS) – California funk-rock/alternative legends Red Hot Chili Peppers are coming off an enormously eventful 2022, with the release of two full-length double LPs and the launch of a world tour all having occurred within mere months of one another.
Famously flamboyant founding bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary took time Monday to sound off on the topic of his top vocalists of all time.
Responding to a general prompt on Twitter regarding personal picks for top all-time singers, the musician delivered an assortment of picks in genres spanning from jazz, soul, and r&b to classic rock, country, grunge, and everything in between.
Notable choices included musical prodigy and soul legend Stevie Wonder, whose astonishing five-album run during the early 1970s – Music of My Mind through Songs in the Key of Life – is yet to be matched.
Innovative jazz pioneer Billie Holiday garnered a mention, as did Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Joni Mitchell, and Al Green.
On the heavier side of the spectrum Germs vocalist Darby Crash, Black Sabbath frontman and solo star Ozzy Osbourne, and Nirvana singer/songwriter/guitarist Kurt Cobain were acknowledged.
Wailers founder, reggae pioneer, and cultural icon Bob Marley saw inclusion as well, as did classic rocker Janis Joplin.
Traditional blues saw representation through the likes of Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins, while the country genre was acknowledged through greats such as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.
Notably, one final entry on the list was “[AK]”, likely referring to Red Hot Chili Peppers lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis, whose vocal performances on the band’s two 2022 albums have been highly lauded by both Flea and guitarist John Frusciante (the latter of whom recently announced an upcoming solo project) on recent episodes of Rick Rubin’s Broken Record Podcast.
The full list of Flea’s top singers as indicated on Monday can be seen below. Additional LOOTPRESS pop culture coverage can be found here.
Billie Holiday
Stevie Wonder
Joe Williams
Johnny Hartman
Bob Marley
Keith Morris
Marvin Gaye
Kurt Cobain
Bessie Smith
Joni Mitchell
Patti Smith
Donny Hathaway
Mississippi John Hurt
Darby Crash
Gregory Isaacs
Janis Joplin
Ozzy Osborne
Al Green
A to the [redacted] K
Sam Cooke
Whitney Houston
Johnny Cash
Nick Cave
Lightin Hopkins
Hank Williams
Nick Drake
Joe Strummer
