Star Wars is one of the oldest and most storied franchises in entertainment history. Since its debut in the 1970s, the franchise has unleashed classic movies, excellent TV shows, and some infamous specials that have a unique place in pop culture history.
Out in a galaxy far, far away, many performers have made an appearance in some capacity. The new Obi-Wan Kenobi series is off and running, and some fans noticed that Flea, the iconic bass player from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, made an appearance on the show. Many, however, are unaware of how clever his appearance was.
Let's take a look at the show and the deeper meaning behind Flea's cameo!
'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Just Debuted On Disney+
May of 2022 marked the debut of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the third live-action Star Wars series to debut on Disney+. There was an unfathomable amount of hype surrounding the hype from day one, and knowing that the show was bringing back classic actors in their iconic roles only made the hype grow.
So far, the show is sporting a whopping 87% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which shows that professionals love what they've been seeing. This, sadly, is not drawing as much attention as it should, largely because the franchise's notoriously awful fans have been bashing the show left and right, with some even attacking series stars Moses Ingram with racist remarks. This, unbelievably, is nothing new for what should be one of the most celebrated franchises in history.
Awful fans aside, Obi-Wan Kenobi's first few episodes have laid the foundation for what should be a fun series. Will it be perfect? No, but it is still setting itself up to be a thrill ride for fans of all ages. We still have several weeks to see how it all plays out, and after getting the Darth Vader tease at the end of episode two, fans cannot wait to see characters, both old and new, collide in what should amount to an insanely entertaining finale.
Among the new characters that we were introduced to was none other than Vect Nokru, who was played by Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea From The Red Hot Chili Peppers Appeared On The Show
For many, Flea is known as one of the greatest bassists in rock history, but a closer look at his career will reveal that he's quite an accomplished actor.
Prior to appearing on Obi-Wan Kenobi, the legendary musician had appeared in movies like The Outsiders, Back to the Future Part II and Part III, The Big Lebowski, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Inside Out, Toy Story 4, and even Baby Driver.
Still not impressed? He also voiced the iconic Donnie on The Wild Thornberrys, which was one of the best animated shows of its era.
While he might not pop up in projects often, it's always great to see him acting. This is precisely why people collectively lost their minds when they realized that the musician was playing the villainous Vect on Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It's great to see that Flea made his way to a galaxy far, far away, but his place on the show has a deep connection to his band's music, something causal audiences might not know.
The "Californication" Connection
So, where does the deep connection come from? Well, Star Wars fans got to watch Flea's character. Vect Nokru, kidnap a young Princess Leia on her home planet of Alderaan. This, interestingly, harkens back to one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' biggest hits.
In the hit song "Californication," Anthony Kiedis singers, "Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement. And Cobain can you here the spheres singing songs off Station to Station? And Alderaan's not far away, it's Californication."
Make no mistake about it: Flea's character kidnapping Leia on Alderaan was very intentional, and for fans of the franchise and the band, this was an amazing moment that left that happy.
Surprisingly, there is another connection that Flea's appearance on the show has. Earlier this year, the band, which brought back legendary guitarist John Frusciante, unleashed their latest studio album, Unlimited Love. The album's debut single was "Black Summer," a chart-topping hit with that unmistakable Chili Peppers sound. The song's music video was directed by Deborah Chow, who, you guessed it, directed the Obi-Wan Kenobi Series.
Flea's character met an untimely end, but his inclusion on the show was still a delight for fans to see, especially with the unique connection to one of his band's greatest works.
