Founding members of the iconic rock band Jane’s Addiction are suing their frontman Perry Farrell. The suit stems from an onstage fight that occurred during their surprise opening night of the tour in Boston last September. The incident, which escalated from a physical confrontation to backstage violence, has led to a lawsuit alleging emotional distress, negligence, and breach of contract against Farrell.
From the footage shot during the performance, we see an irate Farrell punching and shoving guitarist Dave Navarro. Crew members intervened to restrain him. The altercation reportedly continued backstage, where Farrell threw “another unexpected punch at Dave Navarro, striking him on the left side of the face.” It was that violent incident that spurred Navarro to act. With his bandmates Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins, he’s suing for $10 million in damages.
The lawsuit paints a vivid picture of a pattern of intoxication, destructive conduct and aggression in Farrell’s conduct. Most interestingly, it alleges that his stage presence did noticeably decline throughout the night. “The problems with Perry’s performance would often worsen as the night wore on and he became more intoxicated,” the complaint notes. Furthermore, it highlights that Farrell’s aggression was particularly damaging given Navarro’s ongoing struggles with long COVID-19.
Inspired by the events after the fight, Jane’s Addiction did something important. They pulled the plug on the other 12 shows left on their tour schedule and delayed production on a new album. In previous statements, Navarro has made it clear that he sees no path forward with Farrell. “And there’s no chance for the band to ever play together again,” he stated.
Farrell subsequently released a series of statements apologizing for his actions, admitting fault and accepting full responsibility for the incident. “This weekend has been incredibly difficult and after having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s show,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behavior.”
Although this has never stopped them before, the consequences of this incident weighed heavily on personal relationships within the band. It has caused huge economic devastation. Jane’s Addiction’s first two albums, Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual, both went platinum in the U.S. Their 2003 reunion album, “Strays,” debuted at number five. Unfortunately, the sudden end of their international tour and the postponement of their LP marks a dramatic turn from all that success.
Given all that’s transpired since, we asked Navarro for his reflections on the state of play. He recounted the show that turned out to be the tipping point for the group. “I have to say that’s my least favorite gig, without throwing animosity around and without naming names and pointing fingers,” he remarked.
We don’t know how this lawsuit will play out. It is only just beginning. This legal dispute makes a big difference for Jane’s Addiction and the relationship between its members.