Think the Jane’s Addiction onstage breakup was wild? Let me tell you some stories
On Friday, Sept. 13 — auspicious, I know — Jane’s Addiction was 11 songs deep into their set at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston when singer Perry Farrell apparently snapped.
He began screaming at guitarist Dave Navarro, getting right into his face before giving him a forearm shot to the chest. Roadies and security appeared onstage and dragged Perry away. The fight apparently continued backstage with Perry punching Dave in the face.
The initial story was that Perry was frustrated with the onstage monitor mix and couldn’t hear his vocals, a struggle exacerbated by his tinnitus. Within 36 hours, the rest of this reunion tour was cancelled, refunds were issued, and apologies and mea culpas appeared on social media.
Perry was off to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist as well as a neurologist. If I had to guess, I’d say that Jane’s Addiction is done.
Onstage bust-ups and break-ups like this are as old as rock ‘n’ roll itself. And what the audience saw in Boston earlier this month is nothing when compared with other conflagrations.
The Kinks were extraordinarily volatile right from the beginning. Not only was there constant tension between brothers Ray and Dave Davies, but other parts of the band were known to melt down on too many occasions.
The first notable brawl happened at the Capital Theatre in Cardiff, Wales, on a night in 1965. Drummer Mick Avory was seething at Dave Davies over insults laid upon him the night before regarding his drinking. Avory wanted to exact revenge.
After two songs, Davies turned to Avory and insulted his playing, suggesting that he’d sound better if he used a particular part of his anatomy instead of drumsticks. That did it. Avory leapt out from behind his kick and knocked Davies cold with
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