The Netflix documentary “The Rise Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel” portrays guitarist Hillel Slovak – also with the help of AI.
The topic of artificial intelligence has become an integral part of today’s world. The possibilities are almost endless. However, what also brings with it dangers such as deepfakes can also bring back long-dead rock stars. This is now proven by a documentary about the Californian band Red Hot Chili Peppers. What does this have to do with the AI approach?
Netflix documentary about Hillel Slovak
A new documentary about the band Red Hot Chili Peppers is currently streaming on Netflix. This is entitled “The Rise Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel” and, as the title suggests, puts the band’s first guitarist, Hillel Slovak, in the foreground. He worked on the band’s first three studio albums before he died of an overdose in 1988 at the age of 26. AI-generated voiceover from the musician can be heard in the documentary.
Close environment of the guitarist in the documentary
In the documentation, the deceased’s closest entourage reports about his person and his life. In the film, released on March 20, those closest to the musician give interviews about him during his lifetime – including his bandmates Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Jack Irons as well as John Frusciante, who replaced Hillel Slovak at the time, and his then-girlfriend Addie Brick.
However, through the use of AI, the artist also has his own say. This is how technology brought his diary entries to life. It is made clear early in the film that AI was used to integrate Hillel Slovak into the documentary.
Statement from the band about the documentation
The members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers gave interviews for the documentary, but did not participate creatively in it. In a statement they said: “About a year ago we were asked to be interviewed for a documentary about Hillel Slovak. He was a founding member of the band, a great guitarist and a friend. Out of love and respect for Hillel and his memory, we agreed to do this interview.”
They added: “However, this documentary is currently being promoted as a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary, which it is not. We had nothing to do with it creatively. We have not made a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary yet. This latest Netflix special focuses on Hillel Slovak, and we hope it stimulates interest in his work.”
