Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea rocks out at Aussie nursing home

One of the world’s most famous rock stars has been spotted playing a surprise gig at an unassuming Aussie venue.

A famous US rock star has played a special surprise gig at an Australian nursing home during a visit Down Under.

This time last year, iconic rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers were gearing up to play multiple sold out stadium shows to hundreds of thousands of fans across the country.

Now less than 12 months later, the group’s beloved bassist Flea – also known by his real name Michael Balzary – has made a trip to our shores once again for a far more exclusive gig.

Posting to Instagram, the 61-year-old rock legend shared a heartwarming picture of him playing to a small group of around seven elderly residents at an Australian nursing home.

Flea played the trumpet to a small group of residents at an Australian nursing home. Picture: Instagram

Trumpet in hand, he was seen giving it his all as he was joined by four more helpers on what appeared to be different instruments and vocals.

It is a far cry from the packed out stadiums and sweaty mosh pits he has been known to entrance with his jams, but no less important to the multi-award winning Rock and Roll Hall-Of-Famer.

“Played my heart out for the fine ladies and gents at this nursing home,” he wrote on the recent post. “Caring for the elderly in Australia this morning.”

Asking what tunes he played for the crowd, Flea replied that he performed jazz hits “misty, on green dolphin street and straight no chaser”.

Despite his American accent, the rocker was actually born in Melbourne back in 1962 and spent the first four years of his life in Australia.

The bassist is also a talented trumpet player. Picture: Instagram / @flea333

Although his family later moved to the US for his father’s job as a customs officer, he has always made his affection for the land down under well known.

“I left Australia when I was four-years-old but I feel like the connection is so deep and it awakens something in me that doesn’t exist when I’m in America.

“It’s something that’s so alive and so much a part of who I am and I don’t even really understand it,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald back in 2019.

Red Hot Chili Peppers pic.twitter.com/EMhKbFQ3YH

— Classic Rock In Pics (@crockpics) January 22, 2024

“The idea of being there and hearing those voices and smelling that saltwater and everything about it, appeals to me wildly.

“I yearn for it. The smells, the colours, the big sky, these things that just touch me in a way that nowhere else does.

“I feel a deep, deep connection to the place and I’m not sure that I understand it, but I know that I love it and I know that it means everything to me.”

Fans in the comment section of his post were touched by his no-frills performance at the nursing home.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1990 🌶️

📷 William Hames pic.twitter.com/n1DGryXdZx

— Nicolas Diaz (@NickSqueeze) January 16, 2024

It is not known exactly where in Australia the nursing home is located or why the musician is in Australia.

However, it is understood that he still has many relatives living around the country.

“If all of us musicians did this once a month at a local nursing home … what a win and way to give back to the ones who came before us,” one shared.

“I’m nobody but I play at the home my mom (sic) was in, a gift that gives both ways. Don’t just applaud Flea guys, give it a try … you don’t need to be famous or talented.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Picture: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

“Nursing homes are a fun audience to play for, and good for the soul. Excellent, Flea!” another said.

“I work with the elderly a lot as a medic. Thank you for doing this,” a fan posted.

“Too many of these people feel very lonely and depressed. Nothing like the gentle touch of music to heal the soul.”

Flea has been an original member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since the Los Angeles band formed in 1982.

Comprised of vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, the group first found major success after the release of their 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, produced by Rick Rubin.

The group has released 13 studio albums over the years and have shown no sign of slowing down, with the Chili Peppers still as popular as ever judging by their sold out gigs worldwide.