Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers has book deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has embarked on a "sacred" mission: writing a memoir.

The 51-year-old bassist has a deal with Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group. Grand Central announced Tuesday that the book, currently untitled, would be a window into Flea's "intense and dynamic life." He will cover his years with singer Anthony Kiedis and his "tumultuous" path with the Red Hot Chili Peppers over the past three decades. The band has sold more than 80 million records and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

In a statement released through the publisher, Flea says he regards books as "sacred" and that they had helped shape his identity.

No release date has been set for his memoir.