Flea

Best known as an integral member of one of the '80s-'90s most popular rock bands, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea (real name Michael Balzary) is widely regarded as one of rock's most talented bassists. By combining funk-style bass (à la Funkadelic) with psychedelic, punk, and hard rock, Flea created an original playing style that has been copied numerous times. In fact, the 'copy cat' syndrome got so out of hand that Flea refused to use his popular 'slap' technique for the Peppers' massive 1991 hit Blood Sugar Sex Magik.