Perry Farrell slaps his Jane's Addiction bandmates with lawsuit hours after they sue him
More drama in the world of Jane's Addiction
10 months on from the on-stage fracas that caused the band’s demise, there has been more drama in the world of Jane’s Addiction over the past 24 hours.
Back on 13th September 2024, Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell appeared to punch guitarist Dave Navarro onstage at the band’s show at Leader Bank Pavillion in Boston before being wrestled off the stage by security.
Following the very public bust-up, which hit headlines around the world thanks to fan-filmed videos, Navarro said “goodnight” to Jane’s Addiction in a social media post, and the band cancelled all future activities.
On Wednesday (16th July), Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins filed a lawsuit at Los Angeles County Superior Court claiming the band had lost $10 million (£7.5 million) from the tour’s cancellation.
Navarro’s lawsuit sues Farrell for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract.
"(Jane’s Addiction) can no longer function as a result of the Defendant’s conduct, including his sudden, violent outbursts and demonstrated inability to serve as the Band's frontman and vocalist," the lawsuit read.
"The physical, emotional, and financial harms Defendant has wrought have deeply impacted the Plaintiffs, their families, and their loved ones, and it is time for Defendant to face the consequences of his actions and be held accountable."
Citing Farrell’s alleged alcohol consumption as the reason for his inability to perform live, the lawsuit went on: "Plaintiffs (and others in attendance) had observed during the Tour that Perry regularly appeared onstage in an advanced state of intoxication.
"He would often drink wine onstage and slur his speech. Perry frequently went on long, rambling discursions between songs for no apparent purpose other than for his own amusement. The problems with Perry's performance would often worsen as the night wore on and he became more intoxicated."
Hours after the lawsuit was filed, Perry Farrell launched his own legal proceedings, alleging he was bullied and harassed by his band mates over many years.
In his 30-page complaint, Farrell also accused Navarro of assaulting him and his wife Etty Lau Farrell backstage in Boston last September.
As exclusively obtained by Variety, Farrell’s lawsuit says: “As a founding member and creative force behind Jane’s Addiction, Perry Farrell has always prioritized the band’s legacy and its supporters, which is why the events of September 13th, 2024 in Boston and the resulting fallout was so devastating.
“Without warning or consultation and using Perry as a scapegoat, Dave Navarro and the other band members took it upon themselves to abruptly cancel the remaining tour dates—violating contracts and disregarding all professional obligations. Perry was blindsided by not being allowed to vote and be heard, leaving him unable to plead his case to continue the tour for their fans. If that was not harmful enough, Dave Navarro then intentionally and publicly blamed Perry for the cancelled tour dates effectively destroying Perry’s reputation and causing him irreparable harm.
“Despite this continued bullying perpetuated by Navarro, Perry’s dedication to Jane’s Addiction and the preservation of its positive impact on the music industry remains unshaken. He is actively exploring ways to address the situation and ensure accountability.”
It continued: “Navarro, Avery and Perkins apparently decided that Jane’s Addiction’s decades of success should be jettisoned in pursuit of a years-long bullying campaign against Farrell involving harassing him onstage during performances, including, among other tactics, trying to undermine him by playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing without blasting his own in-ear monitors at an unsafe level.
“This harassment escalated on September 13, 2024 to physical violence by Navarro and Avery against Farrell onstage during the Boston show and the assault of both Perry and Etty Lau Farrell backstage by Navarro.
“These altercations precipitated the decision by Navarro, Avery and Perkins to both call off the rest of the band’s North American tour. Without warning or consultation and using Perry Farrell, as a scapegoat, Navarro and the other band members took it upon themselves to abruptly cancel the remaining tour dates — violating contracts and disregarding all professional obligations — and apparently break up the band for good.”
Claiming Navarro assaulted him, Farrell’s suit adds: “Navarro now falsely claims Farrell hit Navarro with a ‘sucker punch’. What actually happened was that it was Navarro who menacingly charged at and aggressively assaulted both Farrell and his wife Etty Lau backstage, shouting, ‘What the f--- was that, you mother---er?!’ Farrell took a defensive stance and shouted, ‘Get the f--- out of here!’ to which Navarro replied, ‘I am never working with you again!'”
Rock bands named after real people:
Pink Floyd
Rock legends Pink Floyd took their moniker from the given names of two Piedmont blues artists that Syd Barrett had in his record collection, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.
Pink Floyd - Pink Anderson and Floyd Council
Photos of Pink Anderson and Floyd Council at the Pink Floyd exhibition Their Mortal Remains at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2017.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd are named after high school gym teacher Leonard Skinner who taught Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, and Bob Burns at Robert E. Lee High School in Florida in the 1960s. Skinner was reportedly notorious for enforcing the school's policy against boys having long hair, and the Lynyrd Skynyrd band name was seen as an act of rebellion against him.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Leonard Skinner
A high school yearbook photos of Leonard Skinner in 1969. He died in 2010 aged 77.
The Yardbirds
The influential British band's name was partially inspired by the nickname of American jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker. It's also the name given to rail yard hobos in Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel On the Road.
The Yardbirds - Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker
Jazz musician Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker in 1955 – the year of his death aged just 34.
Ramones
New York punk trailblazers Ramones were named by Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin) after Paul McCartney's briefly adopted pseudonym Paul Ramon in his Silver Beetles days in 1960.
Ramones - Paul Ramon with The Silver Beetles
Paul McCartney (aka Paul Ramon) performs with The Silver Beetles in 1960. John Lennon and George Harrison were also in the group.
The Hollies
The Hollies' co-founder Graham Nash revealed in a 2009 interview that they coined their band just moments before they were due to step on stage at the Oasis Club in Manchester in December 1962. The name comes from their admiration for Buddy Holly.
The Hollies - Buddy Holly
Rock legend Buddy Holly in the late 1950s who inspired The Hollies band name. He died aged just 22 in the 3rd February 1959 plane crash that also claimed the lives of Ritchie Valens, "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson and their pilot Roger Peterson. It was later known as 'The Day the Music Died.'
Tesla
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Tesla - Nikola Tesla
An 1890 photo of 34-year-old inventor Nikola Tesla. He lived until he was 84 and was famously portrayed by David Bowie in the 2006 movie The Prestige.
Jethro Tull
With Ian Anderson struggling to settle on a name for his band in the late 1960s (names included Navy Blue, Ian Henderson's Bag o' Nails, and Candy Coloured Rain), a member of the band's booking agent's staff christened them Jethro Tull after the 18th-century agriculturist.
Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull, who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. What a guy!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
In 1967 the band toyed with renaming themselves Muddy Rabbit, Gossamer Wump, and Creedence Nuball and the Ruby, however they settled on Creedence Clearwater Revival with the 'Creedence' a nod towards guitarist Tom Fogerty's friend Credence Newball.
Crazy Horse
Formerly known as The Rockets, the American band became known as Crazy Horse in 1969 when they first teamed up with Neil Young. The band was named after the 19th Century Sioux Tribe leader Crazy Horse.
Crazy Horse
The Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Work began on the sculpture in 1948 and it's still unfinished.
ZZ Top
Billy Gibbons took direct inspiration from blues artists BB King and ZZ Hill as he liked the way the initials sounded in their stage names. He was initially going to call his band ZZ King but became concerned it sounded to similar to the original artist. Gibbons ultimately settled on ZZ Top as he remarked the "king is at the top."
ZZ Top - BB King and ZZ Hill
Late blues icons BB King and ZZ Hill.
Greta Van Fleet
The retrogressive rockers are named after a bluegrass musician called Gretna VanFleet, who hails from their home town of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Although Greta Van Fleet didn't initially ask her for permission, the 93-year-old subsequently gave them her blessing.
Molly Hatchet
Just like their fellow Jacksonville rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet were named after a real person. Molly Hatchet's moniker is more steeped in history, however, as they're named after an infamous 17th-century axe murderess dubbed 'hatchet molly'.
Kasabian
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Kasabia - Linda Kasabian
Linda Kasabian at a press conference in 1970. She passed away on 21st January 2023 aged 73.
Mookie Blaylock (Pearl Jam)
Huge fans of the New York Jets basketball player Mookie Blaylock, the Seattle rockers decided to name their band in his honour. After playing a series of shows as Mookie Blaylock, they renamed themselves Pearl Jam in October '90 after signing to Epic Records.
Mookie Blaylock (Pearl Jam) - Mookie Blaylock
Basketball player Mookie Blaylock when he played for Golden State Warriors
Franz Ferdinand
Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand are named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria whose assassination in Sarajevo in June 1914 sparked World War I.
Franz Ferdinand - Archduke Franz Ferdinand
A portrait of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
Dead Kennedys
The politicised punk rockers' somewhat controversial name references the deceased members of the Kennedy family, including the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Guitarist East Bay Ray said they weren't trying to insult the Kennedys. "The assassinations were in much more poor taste than our band," he argued. "We actually respect the Kennedy family. When JFK was assassinated, when Martin Luther King was assassinated, when RFK was assassinated, the American Dream was assassinated. Our name is actually homage to the American Dream."
Dead Kennedys - John F Kennedy
The 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in November 1963.
Kings of Leon
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The Brian Jonestown Massacre
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The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Brian Jones
Late-great Rolling Stones guitarist, founder and original leader Brian Jones in 1964.
Jimmy Eat World
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The Dandy Warhols
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The Dandy Warhols - Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an artist and experimental filmmaker and one of the founders of the Pop Art movement.
Melvins
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James Gang
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James Gang - Jesse James
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The Dillinger Escape Plan - John Dillinger
Bank robber John Herbert Dillinger in a colourised photo from 1933. He was shot dead while running from police the following year aged just 31.
Hootie and the Blowfish
In 1986, American soft rockers Hootie and the Blowfish named themselves after the nicknames of two friends from college – 'Hootie' was Ervin Harris, and 'Blowfish' was Donald Feaster. ·
Van Der Graaf Generator
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Van Der Graaf Generator - Robert J. Van de Graaff
Robert J. Van de Graaff with a spherical atom-bursting terminal in 1933.
Jane’s Addiction
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Dropkick Murphys
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The Marshall Tucker Band
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Frankie Goes to Hollywood
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Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Ol' Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra in 1945.