After teasing his first full-length solo album with the early December single “A Plea,” Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has unveiled its title and release date. The 10-song Honora will arrive March 27 from Nonesuch and includes latest track “Traffic Lights,” a visualizer for which is out now. It was co-written by Josh Johnson and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, the latter of whom also contributes vocals, piano and synths.
Beyond Yorke, with whom Flea played in the side project Atoms for Peace, other guests include Nick Cave and Bright Eyes’ Nate Walcott. The repertoire comprises six Flea originals plus covers of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You,” George Clinton and Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain,” the Jimmy Webb-penned “Wichita Lineman” and the Ann Ronell-written “Willow Weep for Me.”
Flea is backed on Honora by some of the top players from the left-of-center jazz world, including bassist Anna Butterss, Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker, drummer Deantoni Parks, longtime David Byrne percussionist Mauro Refosco, flute player Rickey Washington, trombonist Vikram Devasthali and vocalist Chris Warren.
“Deantoni and I played what became ‘Traffic Lights’ the first day,” the 63-year-old Flea recalls. “Something about it reminded me of Atoms for Peace, so I sent it to Thom. Just knowing him, I thought it would be a rhythm and a sensibility that he would relate to. And I was right, he did. [It has] a gorgeous melody and words about living in the ‘upside down’ and how you make sense of things when we’re getting all this fake shit and real shit? Everyone has their ways of dealing with the world, but he’s just the warmest, free flowing, jamming motherfucker.”
Flea will support Honora with 10 spring shows, beginning May 7 in Chicago. He is also expected to appear at some summer U.S. music festivals that have yet to be announced. “They were all the most genuinely supportive people, moving me deeply and daily with their generous spirits,” Flea says of his collaborators. “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.”
The musician’s only prior solo release was the 2012 EP Helen Burns, proceeds from which benefited the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. Outside of the Chili Peppers, he’s contributed his talents to recordings by Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Warren Zevon, Joe Strummer, Alanis Morissette and the Mars Volta, among many others.
Here is the track list for Honora:
Golden Wingship
A Plea
Traffic Lights
Frailed
Morning Cry
Maggot Brain
Wichita Lineman
Thinkin Bout You
Willow Weep for Me
Free As I Want to Be
Here are Flea’s tour dates:
May 7 – Chicago – Thalia Hall
May 9 – Toronto – The Opera House
May 10 – Montreal – Théâtre Beanfield
May 12 – New York – Webster Hall
May 13 – Washington, D.C. – Black Cat
May 16 – Los Angeles – The Fonda Theatre
May 21 – Berlin – Heimathafen
May 22 – Amsterdam – Paradiso
May 26 – London – Koko
May 28 – Paris – Alhambra