Netflix has released the trailer for its upcoming documentary exploring the life and legacy of Hillel Slovak, the founding guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Titled ‘The Rise Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel’, the film will have its world premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on Friday, March 13, and is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on March 20.
The documentary focuses on Slovak, who played on the band’s first three studio albums before tragically dying from a drug overdose in 1988 at the age of 26. He was later replaced by John Frusciante. Directed by Ben Feldman, the film examines the band’s early, formative years and features interviews with Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Frusciante and friends of Slovak. Although the band members appear in the documentary, they have emphasised that it is not a full Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary.
In a statement, they said, “About a year ago, we were asked to be interviewed for a documentary about Hillel Slovak. He was a founding member of the group, a great guitarist, and friend. We agreed to be interviewed out of love and respect for Hillel and his memory. However, this documentary is now being advertised as a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary, which it is not. We had nothing to do with it creatively. We have yet to make a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary. The central subject of this current Netflix special is Hillel Slovak and we hope it sparks interest in his work.”
Reflecting on Slovak’s enduring influence, Kiedis told NME in 2022, ahead of what would have been the guitarist’s 60th birthday: “The energy of Hillel Slovak has never truly faded. I wish Hillel hadn’t missed out on that first recording [the self-titled debut]. We did some TV shows in 1984 and I look at them now and think: ‘Damn, I wish Hillel would have been there for that. He was the creator of the band. That was his baby.’ Anyway, it was meant to be the way it was meant to be and it all fleshed out the way life goes. Hillel’s still there in our hearts, whether it’s 30, 40, 50, 60 or even 100 years.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers released two albums in 2022, ‘Unlimited Love’ and ‘Return Of The Dream Canteen’, following the return of ‘Frusciante’ in 2019.
Outside the band, Flea recently released a jazz cover of Frank Ocean’s ‘Thinkin Bout You’ ahead of a new solo album, while drummer Chad Smith has appeared as a substitute music teacher.
