The sports and entertainment world was sent into shock and sadness on Sunday afternoon when news began to break that former N.B.A. star Kobe Bryant was one of the five people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA on Sunday morning.
One of the noted musicians who was quick to pay tribute to Bryant via social media was Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist and avid Lakers fan, Flea. The Chili Peppers have been associated with the Southern California music scene since the early 1980s, and there are few musicians who can claim to be a bigger fan of the Lakers than Flea.
As fans and friends will spend the next few weeks looking back on Bryant’s legacy, music fans can revisit the time when Flea was on hand at the STAPLES Center to help Bryant close his remarkable career during his final home game at the Los Angeles arena in 2016. The bassist opened the game with a performance of America’s National Anthem solely on bass. Reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s famous rendition at Woodstock, Flea thoroughly impressed everyone in attendance and watching at home with his instrumental.
Revisit the performance from Bryant’s last home game on April 14th, 2016 below.
Flea – “Star-Spangled Banner” [Kobe Bryant’s Final Home Game] – 4/14/16
[Video: Matheus Moreira]