Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction

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Jane's Addiction

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Jane's Addiction

Jane's Addiction was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1985. The band's best known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Perry Farrell, bassist Eric Avery, drummer Stephen Perkins and guitarist Dave Navarro. Jane's Addiction was one of the first bands from the early 1990s alternative rock movement to gain commercial success.

Founded by Farrell and Avery following the disintegration of Farrell's previous band Psi Com, Jane's Addiction's first release was their self-titled live album in 1987, which caught the attention of Warner Bros. Records. Their first two studio albums, Nothing's Shocking (1988) and Ritual de lo Habitual (1990), received acclaim and grew a cult fanbase. As a result, Jane's Addiction became a significant part of what Farrell dubbed the "alternative nation'" The band's first farewell tour in 1991 launched the first Lollapalooza.

In 1997, Jane's Addiction reunited, with Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers replacing Avery for a one-off tour. In 2001, a second reunion took place, with Martyn LeNoble and later Chris Chaney on bass. In 2003, Jane's Addiction released their third studio album, Strays, before dissolving the following year. In 2008, the original lineup reunited and embarked on a world tour. Avery left acrimoniously in early 2010 as they began working on new material. In 2011, they released their fourth studio album, The Great Escape Artist, with Chaney returning for its recording and tour. For the next ten years, the band toured and performed intermittently.

In 2022, Avery rejoined Jane's Addiction after a 12-year absence. Due to long COVID, Navarro was replaced by Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen and former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on tours in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, a reunion tour with Navarro was cancelled after Farrell shoved and punched him on-stage during a concert on September 13, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. In January 2025, Navarro, Avery and Perkins announced they were working on new music without the involvement of Farrell, with Navarro later confirming that the band would not continue.

Jane's Addiction formed from the remains of frontman Perry Farrell's previous band, Psi Com. In mid-1985, Farrell was searching for a bassist to replace Kelly Wheeler in the faltering Psi Com. He was introduced to Eric Avery by Carla Bozulich (later of the Geraldine Fibbers), and the pair bonded over a mutual appreciation of Joy Division and the Velvet Underground. They began to practice together, although Avery never became a full-fledged member of Farrell's disintegrating group.

The new band was dubbed "Jane's Addiction" in honor of Farrell's housemate, Jane Bainter, who was their muse and inspiration. However, the play on words also seems to be there suggesting that "Jane's" signifies "Chains", being a synonym for addiction (i.e. a corrosive habit). "My girlfriend Casey Niccoli and I were sitting in the car," Farrell recalled, "and we started to think about band names. She threw in Jane's Heroin Experience. I thought it wasn't vague enough. If you want to invite people in, you don't want to put heroin on your door."

In its formative incarnation, Jane's Addiction went through four guitarists and featured Matt Chaikin, formerly of Kommunity FK, on drums.

After Chaikin failed to show up for rehearsals, Farrell sought a new drummer. Avery's younger sister Rebecca suggested her boyfriend Stephen Perkins. Avery was uncertain because of their differing tastes in music, but eventually relented. After Perkins was hired, the drummer and Rebecca promised to get their friend Dave Navarro into the group. Based on Perkins' recommendation, the band auditioned and hired Navarro.

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