Netflix has released the trailer for a new documentary about late Hillel Slovak, the founding guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
View this post on Instagram
Titled The Rise Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel, the film premieres March 13 at SXSW in Austin before landing on Netflix March 20.
Directed by Ben Feldman, the documentary explores the band’s early days and Slovak’s role in shaping their sound. Slovak played on the group’s first three albums before dying of a drug overdose in 1988 at age 26. He was later replaced by John Frusciante.
The film features interviews with Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Frusciante, along with friends of Slovak.
Despite appearing in the documentary, the band says it had no creative involvement in the project.
“About a year ago we were asked to be interviewed for a documentary about Hillel Slovak,” the band said in a statement. “We agreed out of love and respect for Hillel and his memory.”
They added that the film has been promoted as a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary, which they say isn’t accurate.
“We had nothing to do with it creatively,” the statement said. “The central subject is Hillel Slovak, and we hope it sparks interest in his work.”
The Chili Peppers last released music in 2022 with the albums Unlimited Love and Return Of The Dream Canteen, both recorded after Frusciante returned to the lineup in 2019.
RHCP official documentary or not, I am stoked to see this! You?
