How did Flea get his name?

Flea got his nickname Flea during his school years due to his restless, energetic behavior and small stature, and the nickname stuck and became his professional stage name. According to Flea himself and band biographies, when he was in high school at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, his classmates and friends called him Flea because he was always jumping around, unable to sit still, and had boundless energy like a flea, and also because he was small and wiry. Another version says his bandmates in early punk bands gave him the name because of his flea-like hopping on stage while playing bass. He was originally called Mike B the Flea in early Red Hot Chili Peppers days, but shortened to Flea. He has said in interviews that he initially did not like the nickname but grew to embrace it as it captured his personality and stage presence, characterized by high energy jumping, dancing, and acrobatic bass playing. The name also fit punk scene where nicknames were common. Over time, Flea became his legal professional name, though his real name is Michael Peter Balzary. He has kept the name throughout his career with Red Hot Chili Peppers for over 40 years, and it is now iconic in rock music, representing his energetic, funky bass style and distinctive personality.