#NEWMUSIC: FLEA RELEASES SOLO ALBUM

Flea releases the album he has aspired to make for more than 35 years, Honora, today on Nonesuch Records. After a nearly five-decade (and counting) career as one of his generation’s defining rock bassists, he has returned to his first musical loves, jazz and trumpet. The New York Times says the album’s ten songs “embody a deep pathos.” This first full-length solo record features six original tracks composed and arranged by Flea – including “A Plea” and “Traffic Lights” (feat. Thom Yorke) – as well as interpretations of Frank Ocean and Shea Taylor’s “Thinkin Bout You,” George Clinton and Eddie Hazel’s “Maggot Brain,” Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman,” and Ann Ronell’s “Willow Weep for Me.”

Listen to Honora via Nonesuch Records, watch the new visualizer for “Wichita Lineman” (feat. Nick Cave) and all other album visuals with direction, animation, and illustration by @nespy5euro: HERE

While Flea plays trumpet and bass throughout the album, he is joined by an elite crew of modern jazz visionaries: album producer and saxophonist Josh Johnson, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Anna Butterss, and drummer Deantoni Parks, with special vocal performances from Thom Yorke on “Traffic Lights” and Nick Cave on “Wichita Lineman,” contributions from Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Atoms for Peace), Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes) and more.

This May, Flea and the Honora band embark on a sold-out international tour, playing intimate venues in select cities in North America and Europe. Earlier this week, they made their live debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Watch Flea, Josh Johnson, Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Deantoni Parks and a ten-piece orchestra perform “Thinkin Bout You,” and see Flea discuss his journey to Honora, an early encounter with Dizzy Gillespie and more in his interview with Fallon: HERE

Until Honora, Flea had never been scared of making music before. He worried that the all-star band he had assembled would think he was “a non-playing motherf*cker, charlatan, rock poseur or fan.” But, he says, “It turns out they were all the most genuinely supportive people, moving me deeply and daily with their generous spirits…Sitting in a room and playing the music with them made me feel like I was on drugs. I was buzzing, tripping and floating around the studio. I love them, they truly gave of themselves. I bow all the way down.”

Praise For Honora

“Amid the guest vocal appearances and an impassioned Flea monologue on ‘A Plea’ calling for unity amid the divisiveness of our current moment, it’s the leader’s trumpet work that stands out. On the album’s more reflective moments, his lines embody a deep pathos”

New York Times

“A dynamic listening experience that documents the progressive skill and heart of a musical multi-tasker like no other. It’s intuitive and inspiring”

Los Angeles Times

“A homecoming journey…the emotional and artistic stakes run deep”

DownBeat, April Cover Story

“Flea proves to be a subtly ambitious trumpeter: witness his Chet Bakerish take on Funkadelic’s ‘Maggot Brain.’ But ultimately, he respects the collectivist energies of the LA scene he’s infiltrated”

Mojo * * * *

“Flea has gravitated back to his first instrument – trumpet – and his first musical love, jazz. It’s a sideline he’s taken seriously…Honora is the impressive result”

Uncut, 8/10

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Photo by Gus Van Sant

Honora Tracklist

Golden Wingship

A Plea

Traffic Lights (feat. Thom Yorke)

Frailed

Morning Cry

Maggot Brain

Wichita Lineman (feat. Nick Cave)

Thinkin Bout You

Willow Weep for Me

Free As I Want to Be

The Honora Tour Dates

May 7 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall

May 9 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House

May 10 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield

May 12 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

May 13 – Washington, DC – Black Cat

May 16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre

May 21 – Berlin, DE – Heimathafen

May 22 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso

May 23 – Antwerp, BE – Jazz Middelheim

May 26 – London, UK – Koko

May 28 – Paris, FR – Alhambra

May 29 – Paris, FR – Alhambra

July 11 – Rotterdam, NL – North Sea Jazz Festival 2026

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Official Synopsis:

A laid-back Los Angeles Bowler named Jeff Lebowski, nicknamed The Dude, is beaten up by thugs who let him know that his Wife owes money to Jackie Treehorn. One problem remains; The Dude has never been married and has never heard of Jackie Treehorn. Realizing the situation is a case of mistaken identity, The Dude discovers another Jeff Lebowski living in L.A. This second Lebowski is a Millionaire who throws The Dude out of his house, but not before he gets a glimpse of Lebowski‘s wife Bunny. The next day, The Dude gets a call from Lebowski saying Bunny‘s been kidnapped for a $1 million ransom. Lebowski offers The Dude 20 grand to act as the courier for the money. The Dude agrees, taking along his Bowling Buddy Walter who suggests they blow off the kidnapping and steal the money for themselves. The Dude disagrees, but when Walter hands the kidnappers a bag of laundry, they are in deep. Things only get worse when The Dude‘s car is stolen with the $1 million inside.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI is directed by Joel Coen, who co-writes with Ethan Coen.  It stars: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, Philip Moon, Mark Pellegrino, Peter Stormare, Flea, Torsten Voges, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Jack Kehler, John Turturro, James G Hoosier, Carlos Leon, Terrance Burton, Richard Gant, Christian Clemenson, Dom Irrera, Gerard L’Heureux, David Thewlis, Lu Elrod and Michael Gomez.

Watch the Trailer:

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THE BIG LEBOWSKI screens both Monday, November 25, 2013 and Wednesday, November 27, 2013.

 Click here for Showtimes.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Working Title Films)