Through tragedy, drug addiction, and mass success, alt-rock titans Red Hot Chili
Peppers rose from the strip bars of Hollywood to become free-spirited,
stadium-filling superstars. Inspired by the fearsome LA punk scene, their
breakneck collision of funk psychedelia and full-throttle rock 'n' roll quickly
built a loyal live following, and they were soon snapped up by EMI. Working with
funk legend George Clinton on second album Freaky Styley (1985) helped to refine
their unique sound, but when guitarist Hillel Slovak died from a heroin overdose
in 1988, the school friends were forc...