Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Tragic Death of Hillel Slovak
Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Tragic death of Hillel Slovak
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#hillelslovak #rhcp #anthonykiedis
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
Founding Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Hillel Slovak would die at just 26 in 1988. Prior to his death, Slovak was struggling with addiction, while on the cusp of a critical and commercial breakthrough with the band’s third album. But over three decades since his passing, Slovak would be regarded in shaping not only the band’s early musical direction, but their continued success to this day. This is his story.
Hillel Slovak was born on April 13th, 1962, in Haifa, Israel and would move to the United States with his family, initially to Queens, New York and then settling in Los Angeles, California five years later. Slovak took interest in painting as a child, but focused more on music in his teens, when he got his first guitar as a bar mitzvah present. By the time he attended Fairfax Highschool, Slovak befriended Michael Balzary, better known as Flea, and drummer Jack Irons, both of whom would become his future bandmates. In the meantime, Slovak found his footing as a hard rock and metal-based lead guitarist, taking note from Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Kiss. He’d form his first band in the late 70s with friends from school - Irons would be on drums, Alain Johannes (alan yo-hanis) on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Todd Strassman on bass. The band started out as Chain Reaction, then as Anthem, and later, Anthym with a ‘y.’
These days, fans can now get a good idea of what Anthym sounded like, thanks to the recent discovery of a few of their demo tapes. On October 6th, 2021, Johannes, who had later achieved fame in the 90s as the frontman for the band Eleven, unveiled one of Anthym’s early demos through his Instagram page, an eight-track tape from 1979 called Paradox. On his post, he writes, “Found this cassette deep in a box…can’t believe it still kinda plays.”
Two weeks after that post, it was revealed that another Anthym demo, this time from 1980 called Forever Love, was discovered by Blast Music Management owner Aaron Jacoves, who had obtained it from Total Annihilation Studio. Between the two tapes, you can sense the fluidity in Slovak’s approach, as he moves from the straight-ahead blues rock of Black Sabbath to the arena rock of early 70s-era Rush.
By the early 80s, Anthym would compete in Battle of the Bands contests, and also manage late night gigs in the local bar scene, even though all its members weren’t of legal age. After one of those performances, Slovak met another Fairfax High student, Anthony Kiedis, in the audience, who was a budding actor at the time. Kiedis recalled the experience in his 2004 autobiography, Scar Tissue, saying,
“I usually felt like the leader in most of my relationships with kids my age…but I immediately knew that Hillel was at least my equal, and in fact knew a lot of things that I didn’t.”
“He understood a lot about music…was a great visual artist, and…had a sense of self and a calm about him that were just riveting.”
Once Kiedis was in the picture, the group became fast friends, and would bond over music and casual drug use. Kiedis acted as Anthym’s roadie, as well as their hype man for live gigs. Eventually, the band changed their name to What Is This, switched their sound from hard rock to new w
Sources:
“Interview with Hillel Slovak, Alain Johannes (What Is This).” KZread, 5 Oct. 2019, • Interview with Hillel ... . Accessed 6 Nov. 2021.
Kiedis, Anthony, and Larry Sloman. Scar Tissue. Hachette Books, 2004.
Mensah, Jenny. “RHCP's Flea Visits ‘Beloved Brother’ Hillel Slovak's Grave.” Radio X, Radio X, 8 Jan. 2019, www.radiox.co.....
Owen, Matt. “Alain Johannes Digs out Another Anthym Demo from 1980, Featuring Pre-Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons.” Guitarworld, Guitar World, 21 Oct. 2021, www.guitarworl....
Parker, Matt. “Alain Johannes Unearths 1979 Demo of Pre-Red Hot Chili Peppers Band Anthym Featuring Flea, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons.” Guitarworld.com, Guitar World, 8 Oct. 2021, www.guitarworl....
Slovak, James. Behind the Sun: The Diary and Art of Hillel Slovak. Slim Skinny Publications, 1999.
Thompson, Dave. Spin Magazine, Aug. 1993.
Пікірлер: 329
You forgot to add that kiedis did not attend the funeral, having been dealing with his own addiction issues. He visited his grave later and regrets not being there.
@CP-kb1du
5 ай бұрын
Unbelievable
@DravenCruz
4 ай бұрын
@@CP-kb1duNo, it’s understandable.
@mitchellmtb7202
2 ай бұрын
Funerals are for the living.
Hillel's playing was fantastic, such a shame he died so young. Also sad that John Frusciante would also go down for years with his own battle with heroin. It looked for a while like John would suffer the same fate as Hillel, but in the end he did what Hillel sadly couldn't do, which was beat his addiction.
@bobthebear1246
2 жыл бұрын
Exactly.
@Ottophil
2 жыл бұрын
So far, he could always relapse!
@scottudell7202
2 жыл бұрын
@@Ottophil That is true, but he's been clean from heroin for over 20 years now. I think he has a pretty solid grasp on his demons now.
@J0HNJ0RDAN
Жыл бұрын
@@Ottophil Let's think positive!
@SYNYSTARMUSICK
Жыл бұрын
I cant judge anyone,I'm 5 yrs clean
Didn't know that he taught Flea how to bass...mind blown...💥
@Sans28285
2 ай бұрын
Same
This era of the Chilis was the best in my opinion. Special secret song inside and the rest of the guitar work from that record were phenomenal.
Uplift is one of my absolute favourite albums that I still listen to now. RIP Slim
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
Same 💜
@mCblue79
2 жыл бұрын
@@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace I love your name 👍😊🇦🇺
@christopherweise438
2 жыл бұрын
Mark Foster - Same here. At least once a month if not more often for me. It's a perfect record.
When I was a kid around 10 years old. I had a neighbor who was going into college. He was a awesome street skater, in his house he had all these posters, playing record’s all the time and painting. RHCP where very prominent. Uplift Mofo Party was so intriguing at that time. He took me to a show of theirs and it was the only time I saw them with Hillel. I always remember that just amazed by his playing.
'85 - '92 was just an explosive time in music... when alt rock was actually an alternative to the hair metal/glammed-out, synthesized insanity that was "mainstream" at that time. Jesus and Mary Chain... The Cure... Bad Brains... The Smiths.... Pixies... Violent Femmes... Jane's... even the Cult. Anyone remember Love? RHCP was in the middle of the milieu. Best time in music since probably the late 60's and no period since then has even come close, maybe except for the EDM/Trance/House and French Touch scene of the late 90's/early 2000's, if you dig that sorta thing.
@longfellow7271
2 жыл бұрын
Word. 🤙
@phatnana2379
2 жыл бұрын
I would say the shift in the heavy music scene of the early to mid-2000s was just as good! The emergence of Metalcore really changed the game for"extreme" metal by introducing elements of Hardcore in all different kind of metal allowed bands to not have to go to such extremes OR take the heaviness to the next level! It's not everyone's cup of tea but it was HUGE at the time. It really was the very last NEW variation of "Rock" music by a generation. No generation since has their own variant of Rock that is DISTINCTLY theirs
@facelessandnameless
2 жыл бұрын
Add grunge and thrash metal to that and you have an INCREDIBLE era for music 👌
@DaisyCatToo
10 ай бұрын
The dance (EDM) scene started with acid house in the late 80s, followed by the rave/house/trance scene as it progressed through the 90s. I'm from the UK, where was the dance scene was massive and still is.
@RequiemForYourDream940
2 ай бұрын
@@facelessandnamelessPantera alone saved metal in the 90's point blank
Hillel Slovak really was such a GREAT guitar player! At a time when it was all about over-the-top shredding and squeaky clean, polished production, Slovak played dirty, RAW, high-energy, funk/punk/rock riffs! He is a HUGE influence on my own playing and he is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear "RHCP" Its always awkward when I say RHCP is one of my favorite bands because I'm meaning the first 4 albums! 3 of which were written by, and 2 played by Hillel
Freaky Styley still remains my favorite RHCP album. It has it all: Slow funk: "Jungle Man" "If You Want Me To Stay", Manic funk: "Blackeyed Blonde" "Sex Rap", Punk: "Catholic School Girls Rule" "Battleship", Spoken word piece: "Thirty Dirty Birds", Jazz funk: "Yertle The Turtle" "The Brother's Cup". I first bought the cassette in the later 80s, and still get into it all these years later. John Frusciante is a great guitarist, I just much preferred the RHCP songs during the Hillel Slovak-era better.
@Sam-tr4ic
2 жыл бұрын
Definitely their most underrated effort. It’s one of my favs too
@bh-zj4yt
2 жыл бұрын
My favorite RHCP album. Saw then in San Diego around 87
I had the privilege of seeing him twice . He had a presence physically and sonically. When he died I was bummed and pissed. I was critical of his replacement. John Fruciante is about as close you could get.That is probably the reason for they fall back on John . After hiatus . Slovak a unique player and individual. A gem. I am so glad I saw this line up of The Peppers. And John has a connection to the energy IMO through respect and Love for the guitar.
@jjdogg0
2 жыл бұрын
That's interesting as hell...can you/will you tell us more?
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
Really awesome you saw him play live. I watch the Pinkpop 1988 concert all the time.
@Uglysub5
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome man, awesome.
Best Chili Peppers era. I love John's work on BSSM, and I think it's one of the best guitarist performances on a record but Uplift Mofo is easily my favourite album from them.
@illuminitos
Жыл бұрын
Frusciante is overrated. Your vocals are better than your guitar. Hillel is a much more interesting guitarist, and Navarro is the best that passed on the band.
@poindextertunes
11 ай бұрын
@@illuminitosone hot minute is my favorite album of theirs
Not sure posting Stevie Wonders lyrics was the best example of the chili peppers more introspective lyrics.
@dbs5212
2 жыл бұрын
Thought the same...
@twistoffate4791
2 жыл бұрын
I understand your point, but I have always loved Red Hot Chili Peppers' coverage of Higher Ground. Just me.
@dbs5212
2 жыл бұрын
@@twistoffate4791 yes it is an amazing version. But saying that the lyrics on the album are connected to Hillel and then point out the cover on the album is a bit weird:)
@twistoffate4791
2 жыл бұрын
@@dbs5212 True enough.
His solos on Uplift Mofo Party Plan are truly out of this world! RIP
@666Havers
2 жыл бұрын
Best album!
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
Very true. Although I'm not really a fan of the lyrics in "Special Secret Song Inside", that song has some of Hillel's most magnificent tunes.
@jlobiafra
11 ай бұрын
He sounds like Eddie hazel, I'm sure he was an influence
Slovak had one hell of a picking hand. Great technique.
@dmoore0079
2 жыл бұрын
Aside from that, he was unique. He didn't quite sound like anyone else - especially back in the mid-late 80's.
Uploft MoFo Party Plan is an Amazing Album. Early Peppers were so much Fun back in the day. Slovak is a Legend.
I like RHCP, but the Slovak era was really unique. Great video!
Heroin is no joke. I’m at 2 and half years sober, but that first year was not easy. I was lucky enough to have my parents and friends along with professional help. I often think about Kurt, Bradley, and Hillel a lot. As a guitar player, part of you truly believes drugs help the song writing process. I wrote a song a month into a sobriety that really summed up how I felt during addiction. It got 51K listens on Spotify. It’s weird…would I have gotten that without the heroin use?
Freaky Styley and Uplift Mofo reminds me so much of high school. I still remember the day my friend Chuck telling me that he had died. This video really got to me.
Kudos my man! You dug deep for this one. A lot of this I have never heard before.
In a way he was kind of like to the Chili Peppers what Syd Barrett was to Pink Floyd.
@J0HNJ0RDAN
Жыл бұрын
Or Bon Scott, maybe to a lesser extent.
@cody8804
11 ай бұрын
Brian jones and The Rolling Stones
@leof2497
11 ай бұрын
Frusciante fits better in this place
@ElCanaldePerfil1
6 ай бұрын
Not a big fan from Metallica, but I think that Cliff Burton also.
@valencetanahan7799
4 ай бұрын
Def Leppard first guitarist too. Forgot his name
This is the era I loved about the Chilli's. Very unique. BSSM was great but went downhill from there.
@scottudell7202
2 жыл бұрын
Californication was pretty damn good, though. I also enjoyed By The Way. More mainstream, yes, but still pretty good.
@Junkiescum
2 жыл бұрын
I feel the same way, up until BSSM was amazing but everything that came after was way too pop oriented. Even tho there’s some good songs in there I can’t listen to it the same way I do the earlier stuff
@jlobiafra
2 жыл бұрын
I think mother's milk is when the peppers started going downhill. Coincidentally when they got sober
@robwalsh9843
2 жыл бұрын
I like One Hot Minute, but a lot of it is a Jane's Addiction album with Anthony Kiedis on vocals instead of being RHCP.
@dr_detroit01
2 жыл бұрын
@@jlobiafra Yea, that was more of a traditional rock and roll style of music imo. There are several excellent tracks on that album though. Higher Ground, a Stevie Wonder song, was fantastic! Knock me down also...I believe was written about Hillel.
He was great. I saw them in…86 I think. It was my first concert and they opened up for X…Pomona Ca. They blew my mind. Also saw them about 5 more times until they went to seated stadiums.
He was a special talent. He fit perfectly w/the Chili Peppers.
@dw89music73
2 жыл бұрын
Although he is nowadays unknown compared to his successor.
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
@@dw89music73 Though mostly unknown to later fans. Most early fans know his work with the Peppers quite well.
@dw89music73
2 жыл бұрын
@@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace Yeah, but that's basically a minority.
@edybocman76
2 жыл бұрын
well he was there since day one
@dvd6708
2 жыл бұрын
@@dw89music73 That really depends on the age-group you are asking.😅
My hero Hillel, thank you for this!! I love you dude!
1. Sid, have you been getting contacts from artists representatives lately; thus the disclaimers at the beginning? 2. Nothing against John Frusciante/Josh Klinghoffer/Dave Navarro; but I still wonder what the albums post Uplift Mofo Party Plan would have sounded like had Hillel not died? 3. Of course, RHCP had temporary replacements for Hillel and Jack before getting John and Chad; D.H. Peligro (who got fired because of his own drug issues; but did get writing credit for 3 songs on Mother's Milk) and DeWayne McKnight (fired after 3 shows because of lack of chemistry. McKnight was so upset he threatened to burn down Anthony Kiedes's house!). Yet both of them were able to record a song "Blues For Meister" which appeared on a later RHCP rarities/outtakes album.
Never been a fan,so to speak,of this band. I mean,they’re okay but,not my exact taste. However,I do admire the fact that they never forgot their band mate and friend. Very touching.
@Lucy-tc5yl
2 жыл бұрын
Thats a lotta commas buddy
@myleslong5584
2 жыл бұрын
@@Lucy-tc5yl Please,(comma) feel free to correct any punctuational errors. I welcome any education that may expand my mind.
@facelessandnameless
2 жыл бұрын
Listen to Californication. My favorite album of theirs 👌
@Lucy-tc5yl
2 жыл бұрын
@@facelessandnameless Freaky Styley is better 👽
@illuminitos
Жыл бұрын
One Hot Minute, Uplift Mofo and Blood Sugar Sex Magik are their best albuns.
My all-time favourite guitarist. Not even necessarily because of technique, but the energy this guy conveyed when playing is just very unique. Alain Johannes is a magnificent artist as well.
Please make more videos about Alain Johannes!!!!! He has worked with so many amazing artist. Crazy how much hes linked to.
@gringo3002
2 жыл бұрын
The lead singer of What Is This.
@jakedemars2964
2 жыл бұрын
@@gringo3002 among many many other projects throughout the years!! I really just started getting into him this past year
One of the saddest Rock and roll stories. RIP Hillel
You did a great job gathering great photos for this. Inspired me to draw a few. Thanks
I couldn’t imagine the Chili Peppers without John Frusciante. The man is the most influential guitarist in the past 3 decades in my humble opinion. Also heroin sucks!! Don’t do it!!
@GrahamPablo
2 жыл бұрын
I wish I could quit
@GrahamPablo
2 жыл бұрын
@@sstaners1234 I used to put in that song when I first started doing it
@stevenmassey7586
2 жыл бұрын
@@GrahamPablo prayers brother you can beat it, you're not the first and won't be the last but you do not have to die.
@badnewsbrown10p
2 жыл бұрын
Your opinion sucks. On guitarists and heroin.
Just lost my older brother to fentanyl overdose this year. I found him on floor dead In his apartment. It’s a hellva hit to your soul. We lost so many……… for the ones gone too soon rest well and we 😢 miss you
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
Genuinely sorry for your loss. Hope you will find some peace within yourself in time. My older brother almost died due to drugs and it was a very heartwrenching time when he was in the grip of addiction. Can only imagine (and don't want to) your pain. All the best to you and your family.🌹
@mattryan6886
2 жыл бұрын
@@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace think you for your kind words. I’ve made my peace with it. My brothers fight is over and he is at rest now. His death was fast and painless and I’m comforted by that fact. I dint wish this psin on anyone. I wish for more treatment, understanding and empathy for those who struggle with addiction. I hope we can save more lives by harm reduction strategies and save more lives in the future. Many of these deaths are unnecessary, we can do more to help prevent them. I volunteer my time for organizations that help homeless/addicted/hopeless people in my community so that I can hopefully help spare someone and their families this pain. Thsbk you and be well!!!
@Revelator2025
2 жыл бұрын
Sorry for your loss 🙏🏻♥️
@Deetroiter
2 жыл бұрын
Fuck man, sorry to hear about it. Fen is really getting so many people. Wonder when they’re going to declare fen the REAL pandemic. How many more have to die from this bs
@mattryan6886
2 жыл бұрын
@@Deetroiter thank you for your kind words. I hope no one has to experience similar. We can’t arrest our way out of problem, changes in policy can make safer changes and choices for individuals who have opiate addictions. Safer access and harm reduction can save millions of lives , incarceration does not help, a more humane approach and treatment is possible.
Great video. So sad. Also, Flea comes-off as a true friend and a real sweetheart. I guess I didn't really know too much about it their early history, other than knowing that Hillel Slovak was their original guitarist and that he died from a heroin overdose in 1988. I had no idea that he taught Flea how to play bass guitar, and by now of course Flea is one of the all-time greatest bassists. Pretty amazing. I guess when you got musical talent, it comes-out eventually.
@ZyxthePest
2 жыл бұрын
I don't listen to RHCP anymore, but Flea and Kiedis have my eternal respect. Flea just seems like an overall fantastic human being and outside music, I could read anything Kiedis writes.
@carmengrisham1748
Жыл бұрын
Both Acid for Children by Flea and Scar Tissue bu Anthony are great reads.
RIP Hillel Slovak.
I got into.RHCP.around the time of ' ' mother's milk" album, then went back & played all the early albums to death, I know the guys are prob tired of playing that early stuff, but it's my fav era for this band . Lots of people have no idea about those first 4-5 albums ! Thnkx for the music, slim
Thank you for sharing this...
It's heart breaking but im 52 and jammed the peppers since the late 80's and never knew that they dedicated my favorite album from them to hillel.✌️cool for school.
Not so much a comment about Hillel, but i read Anthony's 'scar tissue' about 10 years ago and it totally turned me off him. Incredibly self centred individual just like his dad. Flea on the other hand is a true good human being.
@tim3334
2 жыл бұрын
That's interesting. I couldn't stand the chili peppers, after reading scar tissue I developed I new respect for Anthony, not just for what he's been through, but the love and support he gives to those around him. Seems like a kind, caring guy to me. No doubt he had his moments (who doesn't)
@RPI79
2 жыл бұрын
@@tim3334 Fair enough, everyone takes from it what they see. I do think the Chilli Peppers are overrated tho. There's probably only 2 or 3 songs i enjoy listening to but i'm not a huge funk rock kind of guy anyways. Tool are more my thing.
@preston_4824
2 жыл бұрын
@@RPI79 Complete opposites, yet I enjoy both bands aswell
@capnphuktard5445
2 жыл бұрын
@@tim3334 He gave lots of love on Epstein Island...Look it up
@LordStompyHarpLoonyTunes
2 жыл бұрын
I liked early RHCP until I read that damn book, Anthony is a narcissistic creep, a typical Hollywood brat.
Everyone in LA is a budding actor…
@beeragainsthumanity1420
2 жыл бұрын
Hollywood
RIP... Wow... never knew this story
I’m in a RHCP tribute band. Were called the Green Mild Bell Peppers. I would describe our sound as “Medio-core”
He was so unique. Such a tragedy but at least on the bright side someone as amazing as John frusciante eventually replaced him
I love hillel so dearly
I always forget that Flea played in FEAR. One of the best punk bands ever, imo. 12341234
If you read Scar Tissue you would see how fragile and talented this guys was. I really love his work on TUMPP.
The best Peppers guitar player!
@gringo3002
2 жыл бұрын
Probably the best What Is This guitar player, too.
Rhcp one of my all time fav artists
Every other video has tragic in the title
Grate and fasinating vidios man!!! I adored chilli peppers from childhood.....never knew this story about ther friend hilel.... and his from israel, my land.... so sad.... tears in my eyes.... 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks Syd for another great video!
Been waiting for this
I started my rolling Stone magazine and the mid-80s and one of the interviews was about Red Hot chili peppers blood sex magic even prior to that and they talked about Slovak the first thing I heard on American bandstand was true men don't kill coyote the very weird but good. magic song
I miss the funk of RHCP I get evolving your sound but since the 2000's I have not enjoyed them as much
@edybocman76
2 жыл бұрын
same i enjoy them when i was a kid but in my middle 20s i never go back to listen the 2000s era stuff i still like californication , but i think bssm was they best and i really enjoy freaky style
Actually, D.H. Peligro played drums for RHCP between Jack Irons and Chad Smith. He just didn't play on any RHCP albums.
Eterno Hillel💔
Excellent job. How about Fishbone? They introduced me to RHCP.
@williamz7011
2 жыл бұрын
Fishbone is the best!
@Revelator2025
2 жыл бұрын
Fishbone Family
Thanks for making this interesting video
Hey, I have to point this out: @ 7:00 those lyrics that you showed aren't about Slovak, it was from their cover of the Stevie Wonder song "Higher Ground"
introspective lyrics...shows stevie wonder lyrics...
Excellent one. Great job.
Don't rest in peace. Rise from the grave and rejoin the band. That way RNRTS can do a video about it
I loved his playing.
The song lyrics on the screen at 7:00 are from "Higher Ground" which was not written by the Chili Peppers, but Stevie Wonder.
Struggling with addiction, how many times have we heard that??? so sad!
I remember seeing this lineup in Daytona Beach..... what a hell of a show. I met them all. I had some good grass.
underrated genius i love hillel...and these guys helped rock emerge from the horrible hair metal era
Mother's milk was the 🌶's best album!
@joeymorvant161
2 жыл бұрын
To me, it's a close second to BSSM.
Will Ferrell on drums ?
CO-rrection: Alain Johannes played lead guitar. Slovak played rhythm.
Not that it invalidates your point, but you mention the more introspective lyrics on Mother's Milk, but then you show lyrics written by Stevie Wonder.
@Ottophil
2 жыл бұрын
Stevie was inside anthony ? Gross
@dw89music73
2 жыл бұрын
Knock Me Down is an example of the more introspective lyrics, as it was written about Slovak's death.
Can we get Episode on why Muzz Skillings left Living Color?
@joeymorvant161
2 жыл бұрын
I've always wondered that.
Wait…a rock musician had a drug addiction? Weird. They almost never die from drugs.
Awww cmon man why tragic everything ?
How did Slovak hook up with Keith Levene or vice versa to do the single they did shortly before Hillel's death?
They couldn't have gotten a better guitarist after the death of Slovak with Frusciante
@dw89music73
2 жыл бұрын
Slovak was the reason Frusciante got turned onto RHCP, and how Frusciante got to be in the band after Slovak's death.
Whats the story behind the new disclaimer???????
Rest in peace hillel
More stories about rhcp please 🙏🏻
@rnrtruestories
2 жыл бұрын
there's a few more coming
Just another talented musician who od'd on drugs. The list is long.
7:00 Those lyrics are by Stevie Wonder, from the RHCP cover of Higher Ground
Please make a video about Alain Johannes!
Why no mention of Space Grass????? That’s a great tune. Back home that got a lot radio play and sounds like nothing else they recorded.
Hillel is severely underrated. You can hear the Adrian Belew and post-punk influences in the solos he did. The OG Chili Peppers style is like RATM in 1983, and you can hear Hillel play around with kill-switch/turntable effects on Freaky Styley and Uplift Mofo. His bootlegs tell a different story, his playing with What is this shows that he was just as capable as Frusciante when it came to unusual chord progressions and crafty guitar parts. In a perfect world, he wouldn't have died and Frusciante would have came into the band anyways. (and isn't the intro to Rocket Queen by GnR supposed to be Slash doing a Hillel impersonation? They went to school together and played in the same LA scene, and I know that the band outright admitted that Rocket Queen was a Chili Peppers homage...)
Wow, they had the captain beef heart drummer originally. I did not know that.
@joeymorvant161
2 жыл бұрын
Well, Jack Irons was their original drummer. Jack and Hillel were part of The Peppers and What Is This simultaneously. As both What Is This and The Peppers both were recording their debut albums at around the same time, Jack and Hillel were forced to make a choice: Stay in The Peppers or stay in What Is This. They felt that What Is This was the more serious band, with more potential, and that The Peppers were more of a joke, and wouldn't be around for long. (The irony!) They chose What Is This, and Anthony and Flea chose Cliff to replace Jack until he returned.
@manichispanic999
2 жыл бұрын
@@joeymorvant161 what’s funny is rhcp are still a joke band
@joeymorvant161
2 жыл бұрын
@@manichispanic999 Come on.
I love the background music Also Rip to the OG guitarist
I think every musician was in a band called Anthem at one time. Lol.
'"Knock Me Down" was the first RHCP song I ever heard.
I'm surprised you didn't mention "Under The Bridge". I kept expecting you to towards the end.
@joeymorvant161
2 жыл бұрын
Why? By the time they did that, Hillel was gone.
I love the albums he did with them
What warranted that torrid disclaimer??
Can you tell the story behind "under the bridge"???🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
As much as i love the band Slovak is basically their cliff Burton although not that praised his ghost Still haunts the band
@regulardadhere8832
2 жыл бұрын
Shit so like he haunts the studio or goes on tour and haunts the shows?
@janfarkas8953
2 жыл бұрын
@@regulardadhere8832 bruh i laughed so much now
@dw89music73
2 жыл бұрын
Except while Metallica still performs material from the Cliff Burton era live today, as their first 3 albums are hailed as all-time metal classics, Red Hot Chili Peppers, on the other hand, have all but disowned the Hillel Slovak era, hence why they only tease the songs from that era mostly over the years live.
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
@@dw89music73 Frusciante is alledgedly a diva that doesn't like playing songs he didn't write.
@regulardadhere8832
2 жыл бұрын
Why tf would you want to see RHCP live? Music okay, vocals 💩.
Another great episode and another sad tale of addiction. How do we get the word out that regardless of your status or talent or wealth or strength heroin WILL beat you. We can stop with the "set a bad example" method, it ain't working.
@danperez6685
2 жыл бұрын
Great question, we have lost too many talented musicians because of that nasty drug...
@joego7924
2 жыл бұрын
It never will, everybody has to go through the same shit in life, most survive but a few are sacrificed!
@vompukington4029
2 жыл бұрын
Heroin is so good, people are willing to die for it.
@LovelyDisgracefromInnerspace
2 жыл бұрын
@@vompukington4029 More like, people's demons make them think heroine is good when it is actually only taking away their pain and replacing it with much more pain and problems.
Idk I think Hillel was more out there as far as his creativity went vs John. Hillel’s riffs were so interesting
They was great in the kurt douglas movie tough guys from 1986 as the band that kurt and his young girlfriend go to the club to see play.
@tleeg74
2 жыл бұрын
I love that friggin' movie. Such a classic.
You make it sound like JF stayed with the band since 88, yet he bailed twice and spend more years out the band since then lol
@cathridge
2 жыл бұрын
They pretty much suck him off like he was the band's savior. RHCP hire their members based more on chemistry than talent. They obviously get on very well with JF and would rather have him in the band because of their cultivated friendship and connection. I would think that SNL stunt would have gotten him banned from the band.
He was a sacrifice. Success followed shortly thereafter.
Inspiration can come from one note in the wave and last a lifetime
Amazing that they were able to not only survive as a band after losing him, but go on to superstardom. I have no doubt Frusciante would have been a famous guitarist, regardless, but the RHCP was the perfect band to showcase his particular talents, and I wonder if they would have become so famous without him. I love their stuff with Slovak, but it seems maybe they would have stayed underground because his style was a bit too punk rock for radio. Just one of those tragic situations that turn out maybe to be a blessing in one way, but that doesn't mean it's a good thing or should have happened.
@bobthebear1246
2 жыл бұрын
Of course.
Addiction is a hell of a demon.