The Rise Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers Documentary Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It The documentary The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel explores the early days of the band, focusing on the formative years of its founding members Anthony Kiedis and Flea, alongside the late guitarist Hillel Slovak. Directed by Ben Feldman, the film traces the band’s journey from their 1980s origins in Los Angeles, where they emerged amid a vibrant but competitive music scene shaped by punk, hardcore, New Wave, and early hip-hop. The documentary highlights how Slovak’s creativity and vision were central to the band’s development, even as their rise coincided with personal struggles, including drug addiction and the eventual loss of Slovak to a heroin overdose in 1988. The film features new interviews with Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, George Clinton, and members of Slovak’s family, offering insights into the band’s evolution. It includes rare footage and a 1983 demo tape featuring the track “Get Up and Jump,” which Flea recalls as one of the band’s most significant early works. The documentary also incorporates digitally reconstructed narration of Slovak’s voice, drawn from his journals, to convey his thoughts and reflections on friendship, creativity, and the pressures of fame. Slovak’s influence on the band’s sound and identity is a recurring theme, with Kiedis and Flea emphasizing how his absence left an indelible mark on their music. Despite the band’s continued success, the film underscores the tragedy of Slovak’s untimely death and the enduring impact of his contributions. The documentary also touches on the band’s early years, including their experimentation with drugs and the challenges of balancing artistic ambition with personal demons.#ben_feldman #red_hot_chili_peppers #anthony_kiedis #flea #hillel_slovak
