Hillel Slovak was born in Haifa, Israel on the 13th of April 1962. At the age of 5 Hillel and his family relocated to Los Angeles.

In 1977 Hillel started at Fairfax High School, with Jack Irons, Michael Balzary and Anthony Kiedis. Hillel and Jack Irons became best friends through their love of music; all they ever did was listen to music. Kiss and Led Zeppelin were two of their main influences. Jack played the drums and Hillel played the electric guitar. Ever since he was very young, Hillel was blown by the music of Jimi Hendrix, and he became Hillel's main idol. He would often study Hendrix's extraordinary skills and try and play just like him.

Hillel met a Chilean guitarist, Alain Johannes at Fairfax. Hillel had the idea of starting a band, with Alain, Jack, himself and their friend Tom Strassman on bass, the band was called "Chain Reaction". At the end of the year, Chain Reaction changed their name to "Anthym".

Tom Strassman left Anthym in 1979. Slovak, Irons and Johannes thought Michael Balzary would be good to take his place. He didn't know how to play bass, but he had the right attitude they were looking for. Hillel began to teach Michael how to play bass guitar, and after only a few months Michael, who then had changed his name to Mike B the Flea or just Flea, was ready to join the band.

Anthony Kiedis
was Anthym's biggest fan and he would often do a spoken word act before every Anthym gig. Anthony and Hillel became great friends.

In 1980 Hillel graduated from Fairfax High, as well as Alian and Jack who decided to go to university, but Anthym still stayed together. In 1981 Anthym changed their name to 'What is this?' Anthony was asked by the owner of the rhythm lounge Gary Allen to put together a show. So he enlisted the help of Hillel, Jack and Flea. In April, Anthony, Flea, Hillel and Jack debuted at the Rhythm Lounge under the name "Tony Flow And The Miraculously Majestic Masters Of Mayhem". The performance was so good; they were asked to play again the following night and they got continuously booked at other clubs to perform. They decided to change their name to the 'Red Hot Chili Peppers.'

In 1983 the Chili Peppers were offered a record contract with EMI to start recording their debut album. But Hillel and Jack got signed to a rival label with their band 'What is this?' Hillel and Jack decided to leave the Chili Peppers and stick with What is this?

Hillel returned to the Chili Peppers in 1984. He began to experiment with many drugs, and he eventually became a heroin addict.

In 1985 the Chili Peppers released their second album, Freaky Styley, which was produced by funk legend George Clinton. Jack Irons returns to the Chili Peppers for the Freaky Styley tour. During the Red Hot Chili Peppers early years Hillel was the band's heart and soul. In an age when most rock guitarists were only focused on showing off their over the top solos, Hillel was one of the few six-stringers to embrace funk, focusing more on feel than technique.

In 1987 The Chili Peppers released their third album, Uplift Mofo Party Plan. It was an album with a lot of Hillel's brilliant funky guitar solos on it. It became characteristic of the band and gave them great success. In April Hillel's problems with drugs were becoming very serious and so Kiedis, Flea and Irons took into serious consideration the possibility of kicking him out of the band, but finally their bond of friendship prevailed.

Early 1988 saw the release of the Chili Peppers first compilation EP, 'The Abby Road EP'

On the 27th of June 1988, Hillel Slovak died from an overdose of heroin. He was found dead in his LA apartment. After four years of serious drug-abuse Hillel's body just couldn't handle the poison any more. It happened while the band was working on their fourth album, which would have been called "Rockin Freakapotamus". The band had already recorded many songs like Point boy, Blues for Meister, Magic Johnson. The album was never released.

The members of the band reacted differently to the loss of Hillel. The death of Hillel changed the lives of all of them. Flea, who hadn't spent much time with Hillel during the previous year because of his abuse, felt that he could have done more to save his soul mate. Anthony, who himself had been taking heroin, took the death of Hillel very hard and subsequently managed to quit drugs. Later he spent some time in Mexico to mourn his friend. Jack, who had known Hillel the longest just couldn't handle losing him. Jack couldn't possibly carry on; he was very distressed he had to be hospitalized after having several nervous breakdowns. Hillel Slovak was greatest guitarist this world has ever known, and his spirit will live on through the Red Hot Chili Peppers forever, and in our hearts...

Hillel Slovak The Israeli Cowboy who can't be stopped: 1962-1988

Rest in Peace


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BIOGRAPHY

 
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