A scuffle between members of the groundbreaking alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction erupted amid mounting tension and animosity during their reunion tour, according to lead singer Perry Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell. Renowned for their edgy, punk-inspired hits “Been Caught Stealing” and “Mountain Song” from the late 1980s and early 1990s, Jane’s Addiction has been a pivotal force in the alternative rock and grunge movements.
During Friday night’s concert in Boston, tumultuous scenes unfolded on stage. In videos posted on social media, 65-year-old Perry Farrell can be seen singing passionately into his microphone before suddenly lunging at guitarist Dave Navarro. Farrell bumped Navarro with his shoulder and then took a swing at him with his right arm. Navarro responded by extending his right arm to keep Farrell at bay until others on stage intervened and escorted Farrell away. The show concluded prematurely following the altercation.
Etty Lau Farrell addressed the incident in an Instagram post on Saturday morning, explaining that her husband’s frustration had been building over several nights. She revealed that the stage volume had been overwhelmingly loud, causing Farrell to feel drowned out by the band. “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,” she wrote. Farrell has been suffering from tinnitus and a sore throat, which exacerbated his struggle. Etty Lau Farrell disclosed that by the end of the song, her husband was no longer singing, but screaming to be heard. Following the altercation, Perry Farrell broke down in tears backstage.
The band’s “Imminent Redemption” tour, which commenced in early August, still has 15 dates remaining, including a performance in Connecticut on Sunday night. As of now, Jane’s Addiction has not made a public statement regarding the future of the tour in light of the incident.
