10 Greatest Unsung Heroes In Rock And Roll

Every classic band tends to have that one era where they can practically do no wrong. While there might be some songs that are a lot better than others, these are the times where every member is firing on all cylinders and giving you one hit after another. And while the Chili Peppers' classic period probably begins with the arrival of John Frusciante, they wouldn't have gotten to where they were without Hillel Slovak.

While Slovak took a while to get into the studio with the Peppers, he had already been a lifelong friend of Anthony Kiedis and Flea, who knew him back from the days when they were kids in California. In fact, the first version of the Chili Peppers had Slovak behind the fretboard, until his obligation in the band What Is This led him to dip right before the release of their self titled album.

Though the original lineup would get back on the same page for the Uplift Mofo Party Plan, it was to be a short reunion, as Hillel would pass away from a drug overdose and Frusciante taking over on the album Mother's Milk. In the years since, there have been many songs in the Peppers' catalog dedicated to Hillel, like when Kiedis was still grieving over his loss on the smash hit Knock Me Down. John Frusciante may have assumed the guitarist slot, but it's become one of the greatest what if stories in rock and roll as to what would happen if Hillel was there for Blood Sugar Sex Magik.