Citizendia

Hillel Slovak
Also known as Slim
Slim Bob Billy
Huckleberry
Born April 13, 1962(1962-04-13)
Haifa, Israel
Died June 25, 1988 (aged 26)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre(s) Alternative rock, Funk rock, Funk metal
Occupation(s) Musician, Songwriter
Instrument(s) Guitar
Years active 1980 - 1988
Label(s) MCA, EMI
Associated acts Red Hot Chili Peppers
What Is This?
Website redhotchilipeppers.com
Notable instrument(s)
Fender Stratocaster
Fender Telecaster
Gibson Les Paul

Hillel Slovak (Hebrew: הלל סלובק) (April 13, 1962 – c. Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Haifa (חֵיפָה; حَيْفَا) is the largest City in Northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country with For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Funk rock (also typed as funk-rock) is a music genre that fuses Funk and rock elements Funk rock (also typed as funk-rock) is a music genre that fuses Funk and rock elements A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Events January January 1 - The year starts off with a strong Disco backlash which causes the majority of musicians to abandon the use of real instruments This is a list of notable events in Music that took place in the year 1988. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music MCA Records was an American -based record company owned by MCA Inc The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Red Hot Chili Peppers are What Is This? (known prior to 1980 as Anthym) was a Rock band that originated in Fairfax High School in California and would play numerous shows along The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as the Strat, is a model of Electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares The Fender Telecaster, also known as the Tele (pronounced Telly is typically a dual-pickup solid-body Electric guitar made by Fender. The Gibson Les Paul is a solidbody Electric guitar originally developed in the early 1950s Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. June 25, 1988) was an Israeli American guitarist. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres He was best known as being the original guitarist for the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Red Hot Chili Peppers are

Contents

Biography

Early years

Hillel was born in Haifa, Israel and his family moved to America when Hillel was four. Haifa (חֵיפָה; حَيْفَا) is the largest City in Northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country with For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. His parents were Holocaust survivors of Polish-Jewish (mother) and Yugoslavian-Jewish (father) descent. The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, "completely" and kaustos, "burnt" also known as Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ See also Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Hillel and his family moved to Queens, New York, and then to California in 1967. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Hillel attended Bancroft Jr. High School in Hollywood where he met future bandmates Jack Irons and Michael "Flea" Balzary. Jack Steven Irons (born July 18 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Drummer. Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16 1962 more commonly known by the Stage name Flea, is an Australian-born American Bassist, Trumpet player The three would graduate to Fairfax High School. Fairfax High School can refer to Fairfax High School (Fairfax Missouri Fairfax High School (Fairfax Virginia Fairfax While at Fairfax, Hillel learned how to play guitar and he, Jack, and Flea met future bandmate Anthony Kiedis. Anthony Kiedis (kiːdɪs "kee-dis" (born November 1 1962 is an American musician and the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hillel formed a band with Jack Irons on drums and two other high school friends, Alain Johannes and Todd Strasman. Jack Steven Irons (born July 18 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Drummer. Alain Johannes (born 1962 in Chile) is a Guitarist and along with his partner Natasha Shneider and drummer Jack Irons, a founding member of They called their band Chain Reaction and changed the name to Anthym after their first gig. Chain Reaction was a band formed in 1976. The band was founded with members of Red Hot Chili Peppers who then moved on to a band called What Is This? What Is This? (known prior to 1980 as Anthym) was a Rock band that originated in Fairfax High School in California and would play numerous shows along Hillel became dissatisfied with Todd's bass playing and eventually taught Flea to play bass. Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16 1962 more commonly known by the Stage name Flea, is an Australian-born American Bassist, Trumpet player Flea quickly surpassed Todd in bass skills and took over bass duties in Anthym.

After graduating from high school they changed the name of their band to What Is This? (which was a question often asked by people who heard the band play). What Is This? (known prior to 1980 as Anthym) was a Rock band that originated in Fairfax High School in California and would play numerous shows along Flea left Anthym around this time because he was offered a job playing bass in the prominent L. A. punk band Fear. Fear is a Punk rock band from Los Angeles California that formed in 1977 and is still a band today What Is This? continued on and performed many shows along the California coast. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

One night, a man named Gary Allen (who was apparently friends with Anthony Kiedis) suggested that Anthony, Hillel, and Flea form a "one-off" band and open for his own band. Hillel and Flea were skeptical, but Gary thought Anthony would make a good vocalist because of his rowdy style and partymaniac attitude, so the three of them decided to do it. For the gig, they enlisted Jack Irons as their drummer and wrote the song "Out in LA," a city which Anthony apparently knew well because he had been hitting the Hollywood club scene since he was 12 years old. They dubbed themselves "Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem". They were a hit with the club audience and the owner asked them to come back the next week.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, c. 1988. Jack Irons, Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak
Red Hot Chili Peppers, c. 1988. Jack Irons, Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak

Their name changed to Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Anthony began writing more lyrics. Jack Steven Irons (born July 18 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Drummer. Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16 1962 more commonly known by the Stage name Flea, is an Australian-born American Bassist, Trumpet player Anthony Kiedis (kiːdɪs "kee-dis" (born November 1 1962 is an American musician and the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Red Hot Chili Peppers are The lyrics would eventually become songs such as "Green Heaven" and "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes". " True Men Don't Kill Coyotes " was the first song the Red Hot Chili Peppers ever released as a single Over the course of the next six months, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played many shows in L. A. clubs and became something of an underground hit. They scored a record deal with EMI after just that short period of time and were set to record their first album. Flea left Fear, which was a very well-established L. A. punk band, to pursue the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unfortunately, What Is This? had also gotten a record deal. Since Slovak considered the Chili Peppers to merely be a side project and not a serious commitment, he left them to concentrate on What Is This?.

During the recording of the second What Is This? album, Hillel became frustrated with the band. He contacted Flea about rejoining the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This came at an opportune time, as Kiedis and Flea were both dissatisfied with Hillel's replacement Jack Sherman. Jack Sherman is a Los Angeles studio guitarist and was also a replacement guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers when Hillel Slovak quit to pursue his other After the culmination of the promotional tour for their first album, Sherman was fired and Hillel rejoined the band.

Hillel returned to the Chili Peppers for their second and third albums, Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. Freaky Styley is the second Album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, released in 1985 through EMI America. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the third studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, produced by Michael Beinhorn and released in 1987 through EMI America With Hillel back on board and contributing his guitar playing, and with Jack Irons rejoining for the third album, the Chili Peppers recorded The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the third studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, produced by Michael Beinhorn and released in 1987 through EMI America The songs "Skinny Sweaty Man" and "No Chump Love Sucker" from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan were written about Hillel. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the third studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, produced by Michael Beinhorn and released in 1987 through EMI America He was nicknamed "Slim Bob Billy", "Slim", or "Huckleberry", and throughout the albums Anthony calls him by these nicknames before he starts a guitar solo.

Death

Hillel and Anthony developed serious heroin habits early in their careers that ultimately led to Hillel's death. During the European tour supporting The Uplift Mofo Party Plan album, suspicions of his drug problems began to haunt the band. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the third studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, produced by Michael Beinhorn and released in 1987 through EMI America Hillel was temporarily fired for his drug use. Unfortunately, these suspicions came to public light when Hillel relapsed, resulting in erratic behavior and botched performances. Slovak was found dead of a Speedball overdose on June 27, 1988, shortly after the band returned from the Europe tour. Speedballing (alternatively known as snowballing) is a term commonly referring to the Intravenous use of heroin or morphine and Cocaine together in Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) He was twenty-six years old. Hillel is interred at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California. Mount Sinai Memorial Park is a Jewish Cemetery located at 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles California. The Hollywood Hills, an unofficial designation of part of Los Angeles, California, United States, are part of the eastern section of the low transverse California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.

His last recording, a cover version of the Jimi Hendrix song "Fire", would later appear in Mother's Milk. James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter " Fire " is a song written and originally recorded by Jimi Hendrix and released on the 1967 Are You Experienced album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience Mother's Milk is the fourth studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Remembrance

Hillel's work was one of the major contributing factors to the Peppers' early sound. Hillel was also a huge influence on a young John Frusciante, who would later replace him as guitarist in the band. John Anthony Frusciante (pronounced) (born March 5 1970 is an American Guitarist, singer songwriter and record producer Frusciante based a lot of his playing style on Slovak's work. The songs "Knock Me Down" (from Mother's Milk) and "My Lovely Man" (from Blood Sugar Sex Magik) were written as tributes to Hillel, as is "Dosed" from By The Way, and many others. " Knock Me Down " is a single from the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Mother's Milk. Mother's Milk is the fourth studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by American Alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24 1991 By the Way is the eighth studio album by American Alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on July 9 2002 on Warner Bros

Also, on the track "Otherside" Kiedis references Slovak. " Otherside " is a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, released in 2000. The song is about Anthony's addictions, and he sings "Heard your voice through a photograph, thought it up and brought up the past, once you know you can never go back". While some suggest this represents Slovak's death serving as a reminder to Kiedis to "never go back" to heroin, others see it as a more straightforward reference to never being able to go back to the past represented by the image. Heroin ( INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from Morphine, a derivative

Hillel's brother James recently started a site for sales of Behind the Sun, a book featuring writings from Hillel's diaries, Hillel's paintings, and hand written notes from Kiedis and Flea.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers also hosted a user-made music video contest for the song "Charlie" (from Stadium Arcadium) in which the winning entry includes a dedication at the end, partially to Slovak. " Charlie " is a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It is the third track on the first disc of their double album Stadium Arcadium. Stadium Arcadium is the ninth studio album by the Rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on May 5, 2006 via Warner Bros

Discography

With What Is This?

With Red Hot Chili Peppers

References

External links

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