Jane’s Addiction guitar tech Dan Cleary has shared Perry Farrell‘s isolated mic track from the performance that saw him have an onstage fight with Dave Navarro.
Cleary – the band’s guitar and bass tech of 17 years – put the footage on YouTube with his narration, and also recently revealed Farrell had punched Navarro in the face backstage after the initial altercation.
“He’s in the wrong spot,” he points out in the clip, in which Farrell’s voice sounds significantly strained. As his frustration mounts, he can be heard shouting: “Fuck these motherfuckers. Fuck them, fuck them. Fuck him.”
Farrell then shoves Navarro mid-performance and the set ends abruptly. Following the incident, Jane’s Addiction subsequently cancelled their remaining dates and confirmed a hiatus, citing the frontman’s “mental health difficulties”.
Fans have taken to the comments section to share how shocked they were at the quality of Farrell’s voice. “It seems like they turned his mic waaaaaay down because he was in no condition to perform, as you can clearly see here, and he took issue with it,” wrote one viewer.
“It’s disastrous how far he’s fallen,” wrote another underneath the video. “That band was a true force of nature in the ’80s/’90s.” Farrell has since apologised, taking to Instagram to address his fans and bandmates after the “incredibly difficult” time.
“After having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologise to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s show,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behaviour, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle the situation.”
Farrell’s wife Etty Lau had also weighed in on the situation, and attributed Perry’s behaviour to him suffering from “tinnitus and a sore throat every night”, which had been compounded by “extremely loud” stage volume and his voice “being drowned out by the band”.
She has since said Farrell was taking time to “reflect and to heal”, and would be seeking help from an otolaryngologist and a neurologist. She also said there was “no need for [her] to address the other false narratives” about the situation.
“With all of your love, kindness, compassion and support, you know, Perry will persevere,” Etty wrote. “He will recover. He will be happy again. He will once again be able to share his music, vision and artistry – unbridled.”
Meanwhile, Porno For Pyros bassist Martyn LeNoble has described Farrell as “the worst frontman I’ve ever worked with” in a scathing series of posts shared on X/Twitter.
“Always a kind word, followed by shitty actions,” he wrote. “The fish rots from the head down. I still don’t understand how he channeled some of those great lyrics & vocals on the first two Jane’s records.”
Dave Navarro and Perry Farrell performing live with Jane’s Addiction. CREDIT: Kieran Frost/Redferns/Getty
He continued: “Perry doesn’t show up for rehearsals, sound checks, writing, etc. He jumps in late with shitty lyrics. Some I had to tell him were terrible. Unprepared, wild eyed, not present, high. Motherfucker does it over and over again.”
At their recently completed UK and European tour earlier this year, NME gave the band a five-star review for their gig at London’s Roundhouse.
“Now back in full swing, fan-favourites including ‘Mountain Song’, ‘Ain’t No Right’ and ‘Been Caught Stealing’ come in thick and fast, and seem to have a new lease of life that push the set to new heights,” it read.
“Not only does Navarro take every chance he gets to showcase a dizzying number of electrifying licks, but Perkins and Avery hold down the rhythm section with enough intensity to put anyone to shame – all while telepathically knowing when to toy with dynamics and take the renditions in sonic new directions.”
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