Waters removed Flia from the final version

In his quest for the perfect sound and complete control over the final form of the album, Roger Waters did not hesitate to include unexpected collaborators in the project, nor to later change or discard their contributions if they did not fit his vision.

Especially on the album “Amused to Death”, which he built as a carefully designed conceptual whole, and every segment of music, arrangement and atmosphere had to serve a larger idea. That is why Waters often returned to the beginning of songs if he was not satisfied with their tone or dynamics. His approach was almost cinematic, with a clear narrative structure in which no detail was allowed to spoil the overall impression.

Because of this, collaborations with other musicians were carried out under strict criteria, and contributions that at one point seemed part of the final version could later be completely removed or replaced if they did not fit the intended atmosphere of the album. Such a creative process, which balanced between experiment and complete control, also included unexpected guests such as Flia from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Flea is known for his funk-rock style, but also for his influences from jazz and artists like Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins, which made him technically prepared enough for Waters' complex arrangements.

He recorded parts for the song "It's a Miracle", but Voters ultimately decided that the performance did not fit the tone of the album's finale. He felt that the song needed a more subtle approach, so he decided to remove Flio's parts from the final version entirely and re-record the song with a simpler arrangement.

"We recorded 'It's a Miracle' three times. One version was really fast and Flea played bass, and he played great. But when we were putting the album together, that version didn't fit the overall dynamic. We ended up re-recording the song with just Pat Leonard and me at the piano," explained Waters.

While many would have been surprised if a musician like Flea ended up not making the final cut, it turned out to be a decision that was in keeping with the album's concept. A faster, more upbeat version wouldn't have suited the song's dark theme of human alienation, and Waters' minimalist approach served the song's atmosphere better.

Ultimately, although Flea has the freedom to play extremely energetic and playfully in his band Red Hot Chili Peppers, in this case he needed a much more restrained and subtle role.