‘What Is This’, originally named ‘Chain Reaction’, was an American rock band that originated in Los Angeles. The band members were guitarist Hillel Slovak, drummer Jack Irons, vocalist Alain Johannes, and bassist Todd Strassman. Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons are two of the founding members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers who left RHCP to focus on ‘What It Is’ but eventually returned to the Peppers. Members of the band would go on to perform with a number of other wellknown bands such as Eleven, Chris Cornell, Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age and Pearl Jam,
Hillel Slovak left the band in 1985 midway through the recording of their only full length album, ’What Is This’ and decided to rejoin the Red Hot Chili Peppers. At this point the band was a trio. On this self titled album a cover of The Spinners hit ""I'll Be Around"", which was produced by Todd Rundgren, who also played Fairlight Synthesizer on the record. ""I'll Be Around"" was released as a single and video; it peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.