In 2006, Flea revealed that he once again considered leaving the band whilst touring in support of the album, stating that "throughout the "By the Way" tour I would play a show and then go and sit on the end of my bed staring into space." He planned to teach full-time at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, but ultimately decided to remain with the band. Flea later stated that "the most painful part of quitting, and the thing that stopped me, was the idea of telling Anthony."