Died On This Date (June 25, 1988) Hillel Slovak / Red Hot Chili Peppers
themusicsover Hillel Slovak
April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988
Hillel Slovak was the founding guitarist of Los Angeles Alterna-Funk-Metal gods, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and by some accounts, their true heart and soul. Thanks in part to Slovak’s passion for funk, the band were able to create an alchemy of sonic power that married the best of funk, punk rap and metal into something that has since been imitated but never equaled. It should also be noted that Slovak actually taught Chili Peppers’ Mike “Flea” Balzary how to play the bass and the world would never be the same. Meeting in high school, the band was formally launched in 1983 and quickly hit the local stages. Their super high energy sound and shows quickly launched them to the top of the local scene and secured them a deal with EMI Records. It was around this time that Slovak began to experiment with heroin which lead to turmoil within the band as the drug began to adversely affect his playing. He was in and out of the group over the next few years, but to fans, he was and will always be as much a part of RHCP as anyone. Sadly, Slovak died of an heroin overdose on June 25, 1988.
What You Should Own
Sky Saxon began his musical career as a doo-wop singer in the early ’60s. While living in San Francisco in 1965, Saxon formed the Seeds, a psychedelic garage rock band that would eventually reach cult status. Though never considered a great vocalist in the traditional sense, Saxon and his band had hits with “Can’t Seem To Make Me Mine” and “Pushin’ To Hard” which was later covered by the Monkees. In recent years, Saxon teamed up with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins for some new recordings while appearing in the Pumpkins’ video for “Superchrist.” Saxon died of what is suspected to be an infection of his internal organs. No actual cause of death has been released.
Along with his wife, 
Johnny Mercer was a popular songwriter whose many songs made stars out of their singers during the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. He gave us such standards as “Days Of Wine And Roses,” “P.S. I Love You,” “Jeepers Creepers,” “Day In, Day Out,” and “Hooray For Hollywood” to name just a few. Mercer moved to Hollywood in 1935 and became one if the most in-demand songwriters in film. In 1942 he along with Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs started Capitol Records where I used to work. In 1975, Mercer learned he had an inoperable brain tumor which lead to his death on June 25, 1976.
