The summer of 1985 found Perry Farrell searching for a bass player to help him keep his then current band Psi Com alive. Perry was hoping this new bassist would keep Psi Com moving, but he was considering forming a new band as well. Bass player Eric Avery had been playing the same L.A. circuit as Psi Com had, with his band Flower Quartet. Following the demise of that band, Eric continued on with one former member of Flower Quartet in a new group entitled Scrunge. In 1985, Scrunge eventually came to end as well, and Eric was left without a band.
It was following this that future Ethyl Meatplow and Geraldine Fibbers vocalist Carla Bozulich, first introduced Eric Avery to Perry. Perry needed a bassist, and Eric needed a band. For a short time Eric did join Psi Com, but the band was already on its last leg, and they officially broke up before even performing live with Eric. Eric and Perry agreed though that they would continue on as a duo for the time being.
They performed a few times under the name Illuminotics, (or Illuminati) with just bass and vocals, primarily just jamming. Soon they changed their name to Jane’s Addiction. It has been said that this name was chosen based on a roommate named Jane the two shared in a rather large flophouse. The addiction part of the moniker is said to have come from Jane’s infatuation with Perry and Eric’s music, although oddly enough none of this has ever been officially verified.
Needing a guitarist and drummer, the pair then recruited Chris Brinkman from Eric’s previous band Scrunge on guitar, and drummer Stephen Perkins was introduced to the band by Eric’s sister, whom Stephen had been dating.
Following a handful of live performances, Perry gave Chris the boot, as Perry was reportedly unhappy with his playing. Carla Bozulich once again introduced Perry to a friend of hers as a possible member for his band, whose first name Ed, is all that is known. Like Chris, Ed did not last long in the band. Interestingly enough, it is said he was kicked out of the band for being a junkie. It was then that the most famous Jane’s Addiction lineup came about, when Stephen Perkins introduced Dave Navarro to the band. Dave and Stephen had previously played together in a metal band named Dizastre.That line up began playing out quickly and often, and started writing the vast majority of Jane’s Addiction’s catalogue of songs.
As the end of 1986 approached, Jane’s Addiction continued playing shows and were starting to attract a large number of fans, as well as record company execs. With all of the focus and pressure of numerous record companies on them, the band decided to record their own album, live at the Roxy in Los Angeles. Perry did this to show that Jane’s Addiction was not an easy sell, and would do things their way before anyone else’s. The band had been playing a number of shows already in which they would play an acoustic set to start the evening, have an opening band play, and then close out the evening with an electric set. It was this format that the band chose to use at the Roxy show in which the album was recorded. The record was released on Triple X records of Los Angeles to much critical acclaim, and the major label bidding war that was previously beginning to brew, was now at full boil.
Eventually, due to their willingness to allow Jane’s Addiction more artistic freedom than other labels, Warner Bros records signed Jane’s Addiction to a deal. It was with this artistic freedom that Perry chose the album art for the bands first Warner Brothers release, Nothings Shocking. The much discussed album cover featured a Siamese twin statue modeled after Perry’s girlfriend Casey Niccoli, with her respective heads on fire. Thus began the controversies that would highlight the career of Perry Farrell.
Many record outlets banned the album, and Jane’s Addiction was the talk of the industry. Nothings Shocking was received to even more critical acclaim then the Triple X release, and Jane’s Addiction were beginning to become one of rocks most respected and formidable bands. Before Nothings Shocking was released, the band had toured the country for the first time opening up for such well respected artists as Love and Rockets, and legendary punk rockers the Ramones. With the band’s first major release on shelves, they now agreed to tour opening for another punk legend, Iggy Pop. One month later the band set out on their first headlining tour.
Nearing the end of 1989, following months and months of touring relentlessly, Warner Bros asked the band to head into the studio and record the follow up to Nothings Shocking. The band was tired and suffering from drug addictions, and asked for a small hiatus so that they may rest.
The beginning of 1990 found Jane’s Addiction returning to the studio to record their new record. All four band members were never together at one time during these recording sessions, and the album took five months to record.
Nearing the end of 1990, Ritual De Lo Habitual was released, and once again the cover art created controversy, leading to yet another banned Jane’s Addiction album. This time, the cover again featured a nude model of Casey Niccoli, joined this time by a nude Perry and a nude Xiola Bleu, a dead friend of Perry and Casey’s. This time though, the public outcry was so loud that Warner Bros requested that Perry offer an alternate cover. Perry obliged, and presented the label with an all white cover adorned only with the first amendment.
Throughout the next year and a half, Jane’s Addiction again toured relentlessly. Despite this, Warner Bros still wanted the band to tour again in the summer. Perry agreed, but only on his terms. The label agreed, and Perry launched the now infamous Lollapalooza tour, featuring Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Ice-T, Butthole Surfers, and many others.
The tour was a resounding success, but the band was falling apart. All members were suffering from severe drug addiction, and the shock of becoming rocks most acclaimed band in a few short years certainly wasn’t helping. All of the pressure had built to a point of no return, and Jane’s Addiction was lit to pop.
Perry is quoted as saying numerous times during Lollapalooza that Jane’s Addiction was coming to an end, but it seemed hard to believe considering the bands new found status at the top of the rock music totem pole. None the less, following two sold out shows in Hawaii in September of 1991, in which Perry and Stephen performed nude, the band called it quits.
In the months that followed, Perry and Stephen went on to form the far less critically acclaimed band Porno for Pyros, which featured Peter Distephano on guitar and Martyn Lenoble on bass, and Dave and Eric formed the well-received Deconstruction. By 1995, Deconstruction was no more. Dave Navarro went on to join the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Eric formed a new band entitled Polar Bear.
In 1996, as Porno for Pyros began recording their second album, Perry decided to ask Dave Navarro and his new Red Hot Chili Peppers band mate Flea to guest on one of the songs on the album. It would be the first time the guitarist had played with former band mates Perry and Stephen since the demise of Jane’s Addiction.
In the ensuing tour following the release, Porno for Pyros would often times play the Jane’s Addiction song Mt. Song to close out their shows. Jane’s Addiction fans that had not heard the song live in years were ecstatic.
In 1996, nearing the end of their tour, Porno for Pyros was asked to record a song for the Howard Stern movie, Private Parts. Perry again asked Dave and Flea to join in the recording of a Porno for Pyros song. Although the first Porno for Pyros song the two played on was a far cry from a Jane’s Addiction track, this song was different. Hardcharger had critics and fans alike hailing it as a rebirth of the Jane’s Addiction sound. Dave and Flea were asked to play at a handful of shows with Porno for Pyros, and as the shows went on they began playing an increasing number of old Jane’s tunes.
As 1997 rolled around, Perry decided to do what so many thousands of fans had been praying for. Jane’s Addiction was back. All was set now with Dave and Stephen accepting Perry’s invitation, but where was Eric Avery?
Supposedly, Perry attended a show by Eric Avery’s new band Polar Bear, in which he invited Eric to have lunch with him to discuss rejoining Jane’s Addiction. During lunch, Eric declined the invitation, and Flea was asked to join the band on tour.
To celebrate the rebirth of Jane’s Addiction, the band and Warner Bros released a live and rare tracks album, entitled Kettle Whistle. The band then launched the first Jane’s Addiction tour in six years.
The tour was less than a month long, and at its conclusion Dave went to work on a solo project, Flea returned to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Stephen and Perry again began work on new music together, this time under the moniker Goabalee. Eventually, Stephen left the project leading it to become a solo project for Perry. It appeared that Jane’s Addiction was once again defunct.
The ensuing years were quite a dry spell for fans of Jane’s Addiction and its respectful members, with Eric Avery being the only former member releasing new music.
As 2000 rolled into 2001, Jane’s Addiction fans were once again given a pleasant surprise when the band announced they would headline the Coachella festival in Indio, California. Rumors abounded that this would be a one off show, and fans across the country scrambled to find a way to attend.
As the April date approached for the show though, the band announced intent to tour in the summer. As the months rolled on though with no dates announced, many were left to wonder if Jane’s Addiction would indeed tour. Perry was quoted in interview after interview, as saying Jane’s would indeed tour, this time as part of a festival entitled Jubilee.
As mid summer came, the Jubilee tour dates were finally announced, and unlike 1997, it was a full-fledged endeavor. The festival idea was canned, but no one really cared, as Jane’s Addiction were about to begin their first full on tour in ten years.
Eric Avery once again declined the bassist invitation, and Flea was busy with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, so ex-Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn Lenoble was brought in to fill the spot. As the tour launch neared, both Dave and Perry finally released their solo works.
Despite playing to less than full capacity at a number of shows during the Jubilee Tour, Jane’s Addiction felt the tour was a success. So much so, that they headed into the studio to finally record the follow up to 1991’s Ritual De Lo Habitual.
As the album progressed, Martyn Lenoble was fired from the band for as of yet undisclosed reasons, and replaced with Chris Chaney. Chris had played with Stephen Perkins in the Tommy Lee band Methods of Mayhem, and was well respected in the L.A. music community.
The new album was given the tentative title Hypersonic, and fans have since waited with baited breath to see if Jane’s Addiction would finally unleash another masterpiece onto the world. At this time, the album is said to be recorded and awaiting release in a couple of months. Perry has stated that he would be bringing back the Lollapalooza festival in the Summer of 2003, and Jane’s Addiction fans have much to be happy about. Fortunately, the book of Jane’s Addiction has not yet seen its final chapter.