RHCP Bassist Flea Talks New Group ‘Rocket Juice And The Moon’

Red Hot Chili Peppers bass-man Flea has joined forces with Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen to form an unusual collective called Rocket Juice and the Moon.

The band is currently rehearsing for a few live shows and have already recorded a debut album, Flea explained to Mojo Magazine how the three piece came together:

"We met on a plane in 2008. The three of us were going to Lagos as part of Damon’s Africa Express Collective. I’m a huge Fela Kuti fan and Tony [Allen] is one of my favourite drummers, so to get to talk and play with him was phenomenal. The way I approach rhythm and groove is very similar to the way he does, and I feel with him a special something that is hard to put into words… but it’s a beautiful thing."

Rocket Juice and the Moon's self-titled debut is due for release in March and is described by the band as a funk album. This will mark one of two non-Chili Peppers releases from Flea this year -- Atoms for Peace, his supergroup featuring Thom Yorke of Radiohead, has a finished album that is expected this year as well.