Red Hot Chili Peppers’ original drummer (and former Pearl Jam drummer) was Jack Irons while the lineup also included guitarist Hillel Slovak. Interestingly enough, neither of the two participated in the recording of the band’s debut album. On the other hand, both eventually rejoined and the original lineup finally had an official release with 1987’s “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.”
Jack Irons recently opened up on Hillel Slovak
In a recent interview with VWMusic, Iron looked back on Chili Peppers’ old days and what it was like working with them back in the day. Asked about the songs he co-wrote for the debut album and eventually not being a part of it, he said:
“The original 1983 lineup that Hillel and I were part of wrote some of the earlier tunes that RHCP recorded for their first album, with Jack Sherman and Cliff Martinez replacing Hillel and me.
“We did perform those songs live in clubs in 1983, and the original demo versions came out on compilation records like ‘Out in L.A.’ In 1986 the opportunity to return and play drums for RHCP presented itself, and it was the right time for me to come back.”
He further spoke about the “energy and studio presence” in the band’s early days. He recalled:
“The camaraderie of being young in a band with friends I grew up with is a lot of what I remember. That was a special experience.
“It was all part of the times as well, coming from the ’70s and how rock music was made, being in a band, and playing in garages and bedrooms; that was all part of it. I would say RHCP was a high energy give it your all, no matter what type of band.”
Asked how he remembers guitarist Hillel Slovak, he replied:
“He was a very close friend that I met when we were 13. It was our friendship that ultimately started our path in music. We made a lot of music together from ages 13-25, and he was a very important part of my life and a big musical influence.”
