Flea is using his musical talents to help bolster music education programs. The longtime bass player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers has announced on Twitter that he will release a new a solo EP, called Helen Burns, and the money raised from the release will go towards helping the next generation of musicians.
As for what to expect from the set, it’s not going to be orthodox. Flea tweeted that the tracks on the EP are made up of “obscure, arty, mostly instrumental music,” and that at least one of the songs will have Patti Smith on vocals. The songs on the EP, he explained, were recorded after the Peppers wrapped up their Stadium Arcadium tour back in 2007.
All the profit from the disc’s sales will go to charity, and Flea says he’ll take “any price you want to pay” to download to the songs. Those willing to pay $75, though, will get the hook-up with an autographed vinyl version packaged with “a piece of a bass string that I have played in concert.” The EP’s proceeds will benefit the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit music education organization co-founded by Flea.