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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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