LA BEAT : Drugs: Just Another Member of L.A.’s Rock Bands?

“It’s the worst thing that ever happened to me,” says Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of Los Angeles’ most colorful and energetic rock groups. “He’s been my friend since I was 12 and now he’s dead because of heroin.”

Flea was speaking about the recent, apparent overdose death of Chili Peppers guitarist Hillel Slovak, 25.

“The saddest thing is that you could call up the guys who sold him the stuff that killed him and they’d be happy to sell you (some more),” Flea continued. “Anybody can get it if they want it, especially in the music community.”

Slovak’s body was found June 27 in his Hollywood apartment. He had been dead two or three days, and police said they found drug paraphernalia--a syringe and a spoon--on the premises. They’re treating the case as an overdose, pending completion of the coroner’s toxicological tests, which is expected later this week.

Slovak’s death came as a shock to the band, even though the guitarist, friends and associates said, had been known to use heroin in the past.

Just back from a highly successful European tour, the Chili Peppers attended Slovak’s funeral on the day they had been scheduled to go into the studio to begin work on the group’s next LP.

“He had a (heroin) problem for a long time and we tried to get him off of it,” said Chili Peppers manager Lindy Goetz. “He was doing fine . . . straight as could be for the last month or so. We thought everything had turned around, but I guess coming home (from the European tour) wasn’t a good thing for him. . . . It was an off and on thing with him . . . but anybody who does it at all has a problem.

“A lot of these kids (fans and musicians on the Hollywood rock scene) should wise up and see who’s dying. They should start helping each other. They don’t see the problem until something like this happens and there’s no doubt there’s a lot of it around.”

Drugs have been a such a strong part of the rock culture that they’re even saluted as the genre’s credo: Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll!

But an increasing number of rock musicians--especially older artists who have seen the damage that hard drugs (and alcohol) have done to many of their peers--are speaking out against drugs. “Running to Stand Still,” one of the most absorbing songs on U2’s Grammy-winning album “The Joshua Tree,” is a despairing tale of heroin addiction.

Yet Slovak’s death--if indeed it was caused by drugs--would be far from an isolated reminder that hard drugs are still a fact of life on the local scene.

Just two weeks before Slovak’s death, guitarist Jesse Ed Davis was found dead of a drug overdose in Venice. Penelope Spheeris’ current film “The Decline of Western Civilization Part II” also suggests a high degree of drug activity on the L.A. heavy-metal scene that it documents. And when you have bands in town with names like China White, it’s obvious that there’s more than a passing acquaintance with hard drugs.

Some industry observers contacted by Calendar suggest drug use on the local scene is actually down from recent years, but others--especially musicians--say it’s up.

Flea, of the Chili Peppers, sees the heroin problem, especially, as widespread.

“It’s all over Hollywood for sure,” he said. “A few years ago, I did it now and again and if I ever wanted to get it it’s pretty easy to find. . . . I can see in a second if someone is on heroin, and I see (those) people out there all the time. . . .”

Susan Clary, a longtime participant in L.A. music and currently West Coast director of publicity at EMI-Manhattan (whose roster includes the Chili Peppers), believes heroin is “out”--at least among older musicians.

“It’s not a problem I see or encounter,” she said. “It’s been years since I’ve been in a situation with people I knew were doing heroin. I don’t even hear it coming up in conversation. It’s even become un-chic to do cocaine.”

Penelope Spheeris, the director who has explored the punk and metal cultures in her two “Decline” movies, agreed--in part.

“I believe in general that kids who are involved with music are using drugs less now. There’s a quote in my film that says you can’t be a musician and a drug addict-- you’re one or the other. . . .”

At the same time, Spheeris said there is a level of musicians who still have a fascination with drugs.

“I had lots of footage of kids who were stoned saying that drugs help you be creative, but I didn’t use that (in ‘Decline Part II’),” she added. “It was great footage and it was hard to leave that out, but I felt a responsibility to keep that thought from kids’ minds.

“I think that among the metal kids who are into drugs--and I don’t mean to say they all are--the mixture of coke and alcohol is pretty popular. I know that heroin is much more prevalent now than in the punk-rock days.”

Jim Martin, guitarist for the band Faith No More, which toured with the Chili Peppers last year, is convinced that both cocaine and heroin use are on the rise.

“I see a lot (more drug use),” he said. “It’s mostly cocaine. Heroin isn’t out in the open, but there are a lot of people using it. I think heroin has actually gotten more popular than a few years ago.”

Rock’s flirtation with drugs has gone through many stages. In the experimental ‘60s, there were those who believed that drugs increased creativity. Others turned to drugs as a way to fight boredom. . . . Or to generate energy during grueling tours. . . . Or strictly for fun.

Flea, of the Chili Peppers, was strongly anti-heroin long before the death of his bandmate.

“I hate the association of heroin and music,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Hey! What a rock star way to go!’ But it’s not. It’s just stupid. It has nothing to do with making good music. Like Charlie Parker or Billie Holiday--anybody that was a great musician . . . the heroin only took from them and made them play worse.”

But he sees how hard it is for musicians, especially young ones, to stay straight.

“You enjoy playing so much, but it’s such a short thing and then it’s over and you’ve got nothing to do,” he said. “You go on tour and come back with 10 grand in your pocket and everyone wants to know you. . . . It can be a vicious cycle. When we play, people offer us drugs all the time.”

Bob Biggs, president of Slash Records, suggests that the environment of underground musicians can also contribute to drug involvement.

“People in bands come from a very specific street background for the most part,” he said. “They don’t intellectualize about being in a band. They’re usually in it because it’s the single best option open and therefore drug use in bands can be a lot (more desperate) than the casual use you might see among people in more normal careers.

“I see (drug use) around, but not at the levels of eight years ago. My role (at Slash) is different from before and I don’t see the desperate sorts as much as I used to and (heroin) is a pretty desperate coping mechanism--more desperate than coke or pot or speed because it’s a complete withdrawal.”

Alain Johannes met Slovak in junior high school and eventually founded the band What Is This with him and Flea in the late ‘70s.

“When we were in our early 20s, (heroin) was a new thing to us and everyone sussed out whether they liked it or not,” said Johannes, now with the pop duo Walk the Moon, saying that his involvement with drugs was limited to having “dabbled” a few years ago.

“As time passed, people realized that it didn’t contribute to the music and makes your health and mental well-being deteriorate. A lot of people I know have totally cleaned up. The whole thing of rock ‘n’ roll and drugs is passe.”

But obviously not passe for everyone.

“I think a lot of people just get mixed up in it and they get lost,” Flea speculated. “Once they get to the point that they’re sick unless they have it, it’s hard to get straight.

“All drug addicts are in the same boat, whether they’re on Skid Row or Keith Richards. Everybody has to deal with pain. It’s just a part of life. I know Hillel didn’t want to die. There’s only three choices that any junkie has--to die, go to jail or get on some program to get straight. It’s a bad way to die and I’ll love him forever.”