Flea on Bass at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Tribute to Sly Stone, Featuring Stevie Wonder, Beck & More

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame opened its 2025 ceremony with a tribute to Sly & the Family Stone and the bass chair was in ferocious hands. Flea locked to Questlove’s pocket and carried the medley with slap soaked hits and rubbery melodic glue. It was the kind of low end that still points straight to Larry Graham.

Flea was not the only bassist on stage, Tony Russell is helping to carry the low end through the whole show.  His tone is fat and full with his 5 string P bass and EBS amp setup.  You can often find Tony pulling bass duties and music directing with Kendrick Lamar.

The lineup was stacked. Stevie Wonder sparked the set and traded leads with Beck on “Dance to the Music.” Maxwell steered “Everyday People.” Jennifer Hudson closed with a gospel fueled “Higher.” Through every handoff Flea kept the center of gravity, popping accents on the upbeats and dropping into round singing lines when the vocals left space.

For bass watchers “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” was the money shot. Flea nodded to Graham’s thumb and pluck DNA.  Beyond the fireworks the tribute underlined Sly’s rhythm section legacy. These bass parts are not under the song. They are the song. On “Everyday People” Flea eased the attack and laid a warm vocal friendly cushion that kept the floor moving. A concise lesson in serving the tune without losing personality.