Jane’s Addiction has canceled their tour, and honestly, it’s hard to watch. There’s something unsettling about seeing the bands we idolized in our youth struggle to keep the same energy that made them so iconic. Back in the ’90s, Jane’s Addiction wasn’t just a band—they were something more. They were cool, mysterious, and they didn’t follow the trends of the time, especially the grunge wave. They did their own thing, and that’s what made them stand out.
Fast forward to today, and now they’re falling apart in the most public way possible. Fights on stage, unfollowing each other on social media, an the cherry is Perry Farrell’s wife stepping in to blame someone else for their issues!?!?!? It’s embarrassing. Mottley Crue, yeah sure, but not Janes Addiction, not like this. And yet, I can’t stop watching the same video of their meltdown over and over again, dissecting each angle, as if it’ll somehow be different. I even find myself reading through the endless stream of opinions online, and like an idiot, I still try to have an honest conversation in the comments, thinking the two of us will come together and learn in harmony. Here’s the exact conversation:
Me: “Dave handled it like a pro. You could see that he was confused at first.”
Commenter: “Your a dumb piece of sheet and i look at your profile and your art sucks!!!! foocker!!”
Me: “I feel like you just Perry Ferrelled me” — Did you see what I did there?
Commenter: “Your whats wrong with the web”
Okay, notice how he uses “Your” and not “You’re”, and if I’m being honest, who the hell says “web”, but you see where i’m going.
Back to the Blog
When Jane’s Addiction was at their peak, they weren’t chasing attention. They just played their music. They weren’t doing MTV Spring Break specials or jumping into the mainstream circus. That wasn’t their scene. And now? Now they’re bickering online like some teenage drama. The official Jane’s Addiction Instagram account unfollowed Dave Navarro. Navarro, in turn, posted cryptic messages on his Instagram. Then there’s the bizarre moment when the band wished drummer Stephen Perkins a happy birthday on Facebook, and Navarro comments, “Happy birthday, mine was yesterday.”
Was Navarro trying to show there’s no issues with Stephen, or was he hinting at some unresolved issue? Then, Navarro and Perkins along with bassist, Eric Avery post a group apology on Instagram, but Perry Farrell’s name is nowhere to be seen.
Long are the days where this band would’ve just pushed through the drama, finished the show, and kept us all guessing about what went down? That mystery would’ve only added to their legacy. Now, they’re laying it all bare on social media.
Like the Crüe
Take Mötley Crüe for example, they are a complete joke now. a decade ago, they signed some “final tour” contract that no one even asked for, only to keep touring for years afterward. It’s embarrassing to watch. Mick Mars is either gone or fired, and John 5 is in the mix now, but the new music they’re putting out is just awful. Even when I listen to their older stuff, part of my guilty pleasure hair metal playlist, it doesn’t sound the same anymore.
True, these band could be looking at me and thinking, “Why can’t we just do what we want and you do what you want?” In which case i’d feel like a total asshole, But I can’t help it—Jane’s Addiction was different. These guys were artists, and their music brought me so much joy over the years. I’m rooting for all of them to pull through, even Perry’s wife. Yeah, her rant was full of enabling and finger-pointing, but you know what? She stands by her man, and you’ve got to respect that kind of loyalty.
If you’re not too familiar with Janes Addiction, here are two songs to check out: