Jane’s Addiction

The Los Angeles band Jane's Addiction was a major force in the '80s/'90s alternative rock world, and did as much to glamorize decadence as any band in that era. Lead singer Perry Farrell-the former Peretz Bernstein who chose his stage name as a pun on the word "peripheral"-formed the band in 1985 after the demise of his previous group Psi Com; the band's name was a reference to Farrell's housemate who would also be the subject of their song "Jane Says." Drawn to such extreme characters in his lyrics, Farrell's theatrical delivery showed a debut to the Stooges and Velvet Underground, yet the sound of the band-drummer Stephen Perkins, bassist Eric Avery, and above all, riff-slinging guitarist Dave Navarro-made them accessible to classic-rock trained ears (and even to some of its stars, as Robert Plant was fond of praising them in interviews). After a self-titled live debut (which included Stones and Velvets covers), Jane's Addiction signed to Warner Brothers and released their influential studio debut, Nothing's Shocking in 1988. Though initially ignored by commercial radio and MTV (due in part to nudity in the "Mountain Song" video), it became an influential album, with the songs combining the classic-rock sensibility with Farrell's flair for the lowlife. At one extreme, "Mountain Song" recalled Zeppelin at their most cosmic; at the other, "Ted, Just Admit It..." was about serial killer Ted Bundy. With the followup album Ritual de lo Habitual and the single "Been Caught Stealing," Jane's Addiction became mainstream stars; the funky followup single "Stop!" also contrasted the album's darker material. However, by now they were being pulled apart by Navarro's heroin addiction and other inter-band conflicts. Feeling that the band deserved a proper sendoff, Farrell designed a splashy touring package that included Nine Inch Nails, Ice-T, Siouxsie & the Banshees, the Violent Femmes and others. He dubbed the tour Lollapalooza, a concept that would ultimately make Farrell one of the most successful entrepreneurs in rock. Farrell went on to front Porno for Pyros while Navarro briefly joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers and then became a reality-TV fixture. After dodging reunion offers for a few years, Jane's Addiction (without the estranged Avery) accepted an offer to play Coachella in 2001. This led to a full tour and the recording of a new album, Strays with Pink Floyd/Alice Cooper producer Bob Ezrin. Though the album's impact didn't match the early work, Jane's Addiction continued to tour through the 2000s, with Avery rejoining in 2008; they also recorded some unfinished sessions with producer Trent Reznor. After Avery departed again they finished a second reunion album, The Great Escape Artist, which also got a mixed reaction. Though the band still officially existed as of 2019, Perry Farrell toured that year behind a solo album, Kind Heaven.