Chaos erupted at a Jane’s Addiction concert in Boston last night when frontman Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro got into a physical altercation onstage.
UPDATE 16/09/24
Perry Farrell has shared this apology.
Dave Navarro has updated his Instagram with the following message.
Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to discontinue the current US tour.
Our concern for his personal health and safety as well as our own has left us no alternative. We hope that he will find the help he needs.
We deeply regret that we are not able to come through for all our fans who have already bought tickets. We can see no solution that would either ensure a safe environment on stage or reliably allow us to deliver a great performance on a nightly basis.
Our hearts are broken.
Dave, Eric and Stephen
UPDATE 15/09/24
Looks like Dave Navarro may have quit.
Official Instagram post from the band.
We want to extend a heartfelt apology to our fans for the events that unfolded last night.
As a result we will be cancelling tomorrow night’s show in Bridgeport
Refunds will be issued at your point of purchase – or if you purchased via a third-party reseller (StubHub, SeatGeek, etc.), reach out to them directly.
Thank you
Jane’s Addiction
Jane’s Addiction Onstage Fight
The incident occurred during the band’s 11th song, “Ocean Size,” abruptly ending the set with three planned tracks remaining.
Fan footage captures Farrell yelling insults at Navarro mid-solo, followed by a verbal tirade directed at other band members. After the solo concludes, Farrell throws a punch at Navarro’s chest before being tackled by the band’s guitar tech, Dan Cleary.
A brief struggle ensues, and Farrell is escorted offstage by crew members.
Nothing’s Shocking
The audience reacted with boos as drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery remained onstage to thank the crowd. Perkins, celebrating his birthday that night, shared a hug with Navarro before they both exited.
Cleary took to Instagram after the show, posting a photo of the venue with the caption, “The calm AFTER the storm. Thank you Boston. Sorry Boston.”
The cause of the altercation remains unknown, and no official statements have been released by the band.
UPDATE – Etty Lau Farrell issues statement on Instagram
Rather than speculating, I thought to post a first person account of what happened on stage with @janesaddiction last night at the @lenderpavilion in Boston.
WHO: Perry Farrell & Dave Navarro
HOW: Clearly there had been a lot of tension and animosity between the members.. the magic that made the band so dynamic. Well, the dynamite was lit. Perry got up in Dave’s face and body checked him.
WHY: Perry’s frustration had been mounting, night after night, he felt that the stage volume had been extremely loud and his voice was being drowned out by the band. Perry had been suffering from tinnitus and a sore throat every night. But when the audience in the first row, started complaining up to Perry cussing at him that the band was planning too loud and that they couldn’t hear him, Perry lost it.
WHEN: The band started the song Ocean before Perry was ready and did the count off.. The stage volume was so loud at that point, that Perry couldn’t hear pass the boom and the vibration of the instruments and by the end of the song, he wasn’t singing, he was screaming just be to be heard.
SO WHO WON THE FIGHT:
Why, Eric Avery of course. While Dave was keeping Perry at arm’s length to de-escalate the situation. Dan rushed over to de-escalate as well by holding Perry back. Dave walked away to take his guitar off. Eric walked up to Perry, upstage, in the dark, behind Dan, put Perry in a headlock and punched him in the stomach three times. Kevin, crewmember with a long hair with long hair pulled Eric away. Then Eric nonchalant walked off to the front of the stage to apologize to audience for the show ended early.
WHAT WAS THE AFTERMATH?
Dave still looked handsome and cool in the middle of a fight. Perry was a crazed beast for the next half an hour – he finally did not calm down, but did breakdown and cried and cried. Eric, well he either didn’t understand what descalation meant or took advantage of the situation and got in a few cheap shots on Perry.
Well, that’s is my first person account narrative of what happened. Take a look at the video yourself.
Jane’s Addiction has a history of internal conflicts, with Navarro once giving away his Ibanez guitars in retaliation for a physical altercation with Farrell at a Lollapalooza show in 1991.
