Not every band gets to have a great swan song, and Jane’s Addiction may be proof.
Guitarist Dave Navarro spoke to Guitar Player and confirmed there is no chance the long-time alternative band will ever reunite again after the onstage altercation he had with lead singer Perry Farrell in September 2024.
Before that September night in Boston, the band’s tour was the first time in 14 years that the original members had all played together. Bassist Eric Avery rejoined the band in 2022. Navarro stated that everything was great up until the 2024 gig in Boston.
“I’ll just say that the experience prior to that [Boston] gig, when we were in Europe and gelling, really, for the first time — because at our ages, in our 50s and 60s, everybody’s done what they’re gonna do, and we weren’t competitive with each other — we were getting along,” said Navarro. “There was no ego issue; it was just four guys making great music, just like we did in the beginning. I was just us on a stage, with people going f—ing crazy.”
Unfortunately, it would all come to a screeching halt on September 13, 2024, when an agitated Farrell punched Navarro at the end of the band’s performance of their 1988 song, “Ocean Size.” The band then canceled all remaining dates of their reunion tour and attributed it to Farrell’s “mental health difficulties.” In the interview, the guitarist confirmed the Boston tour date was “the least favorite gig” he has ever played.”
“There was an altercation onstage, and all the hard work and dedication and writing and hours in the studio, and picking up and leaving home and crisscrossing the country and Europe and trying to overcome my illness — it all came to a screeching halt and forever destroyed the band’s life. And there’s no chance for the band to ever play together again.”
Since the breakup, Navarro, Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins have been working on new music separately from Farrell.
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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com
