Jane’s Addiction
Numerous bands, with their best days long behind them, set aside long-standing disputes and regroup to record and tour. It offers a chance to perform again and score a paycheck. Usually, these efforts garner some attention and enthusiasm but very little in the way of headlines. An exception happened in September of ’24.
Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, who was suffering emotional distress, assaulted guitarist Dave Navarro during a (9/13) concert at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA.
The incident occurred late in the band’s set, near the end of the song “Ocean Size” (a track from ’88’s “Nothing’s Shocking”).
Farrell aggressively bumped shoulders with Navarro and got in the guitarist’s face and swore at him. A confused Navarro asked what was going on before he stopped playing and put a hand up to Farrell’s chest.
At this point, the singer appeared to throw a punch at Navarro before being held back by a roadie and bassist Eric Avery as the road crew surrounded Farrell and forced the singer offstage. Navarro, who appeared upset by the altercation, threw a pick into the crowd before leaving the stage.
As a result, the remaining dates on the reunion tour were cancelled. It was another chapter in the band’s volatile history.
Jane’s Addiction formed in L.A., by Farrell (vocals), Avery (bass, acoustic guitar), Navarro (guitar) and Stephen Perkins (drums), in the mid-80s as New Wave was in its death throes and Glam Metal was riding high (thanks to MTV).
Jane’s Addiction was one of those bands that built a large cult following but never reached the masses. Maybe they were better for it.
Incorporating Metal, Progressive Rock and Folk with a heady dexterity Jane’s Addiction created sprawling vistas provided by Navarro’s guitar and Farrell’s progressive lyrics.
Never one to rehash Rock cliches, Farrell expanded the lyrical horizons taking shots at the current philosophical trends with “Pigs In Zen” or tapping into those moments that everyone has but can never articulate, “Standing In The Shower…Thinking.” Both songs, plus the band’s best-known song “Jane Says,” were on the group’s ’88 premier effort “Nothing’s Shocking.”
Two years passed before the release of the band’s last studio album with the original line-up, “Ritual De Lo Habitual.” Farrell launched Lollapalooza in ’91 as a traveling festival. Ironically, it turned out to be a Jane Addiction (short-term) farewell tour.
In ’97, Jane’s Addiction re-formed with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea on bass for “Kettle Whistle” which contained unreleased/new material. A tour followed. They returned in ’03 amid much hoopla (a Rolling Stone article and Spin cover) with their album “Strays.” Bassist Chris Chaney was the only non-original member.
Jane’s Addiction was awarded the Godlike Genius Award for Extraordinary Services to Music at the NME Awards in L.A. At the ’08 ceremony, the original line-up performed for the first time since ‘91.
The following year, Jane’s Addiction embarked on a joint tour with Nine Inch Nails. The tour had a mishap out of the gate. Farrell tore his calf muscle onstage in Atlanta during the concert’s first song. He performed the rest of the set before he was taken to a hospital in an ambulance.
When Jane’s Addiction returned to the studio things seemed to take a positive turn. “Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses is in the band now, so we had a real creative burst over the past few months working with a new guy and having an all-new energy on board,” said Navarro. “I’m really excited about it.”
Well, after that over-the-top praise it was inevitable that McKagan wouldn’t last – and he didn’t. Citing creative differences, McKagan left. TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek signed on – though he still remained in TVOTR. “It’s a completely different direction for Jane’s Addiction,” Navarro said. “However, it still sounds very much like Jane’s Addiction.”
Navarro called Sitek a “stabilizing force” in the studio. Drummer Stephen Perkins added that Sitek “opened up (his) eyes to a lot of new ideas as a drummer.”
After all the turmoil, Jane’s Addiction finally released their fourth studio set, “The Great Escape Artist.” Chaney, who had worked with the band previously (see above), stepped in for Sitek when Jane’s Addiction toured.
A short time later, word spread that Jane’s Addiction was working on a musical titled “Kind Heaven.” However, with the band on hiatus, the project turned into a Farrell vehicle.
Five years later the band’s classic line-up reformed again for the tour that ended with the Boston incident. But just a week after the onstage scuffle Jane’s Addiction released a previously scheduled single “True Love.”
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