Hillel Slovak Biography

Hillel Slovak was an American musician and songwriter best known as the founding member and original guitarist of the Los Angeles- based band, Red Hot Chili Peppers. With the band, he released several albums, such as ‘Freaky Styley,’ ‘The Uplift Mofo Party Plan,’ ‘Mother's Milk,’ ‘Out in L.A.’ and ‘What Hits!?’ During his career, Slovak developed a serious heroin addiction. Although he tried to quit the drug several times, he eventually succumbed to his habit, dying of an overdose in 1988 at the young age of 26. After his death, the musician was replaced by the guitarist John Frusciante. Till date, many Red Hot Chili Peppers tracks have been written as tributes to Hillel Slovak; these include ‘Knock Me Down,’ ‘Otherside’, ‘My Lovely Man,’ ‘Feasting on the Flowers’ and ‘Dosed.’ As a member of Red Hot Chili Peppers, the late American musician cum songwriter became a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2012, with his brother accepting the honour on his behalf.