Hillel Slovak

Hillel Slovak

Hillel Slovak (far right) was the original hard-rocking lead guitarist of the hedonistic funk band The Red Hot Chili Peppers. His improvisational style helped to create the distinctive sound of early RHCP, and he also taught the band’s fourth member, Flea, to play bass. Unfortunately, he and good friend Anthony Kiedis were also major, long-term heroin users. Kiedis eventually managed to kick the drug, but Slovak struggled more with withdrawal, and continued to slide further into addiction and isolation from the band. In June 1988 he OD’d in his house and was found two days later by the police. The guitarist’s death, and Kiedis’ own struggles with drug addiction, would later inspire several Chili Peppers songs, including “My Lovely Man” from the band’s seminal 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.