Members of Jane’s Addiction have filed a lawsuit against lead singer Perry Farrell, claiming his on-stage assault during a Boston concert last September derailed their reunion tour and upcoming album. Guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins are seeking $10m in damages from the 66-year-old singer.
According to the legal complaint, Farrell punched and shoved Navarro during a gig at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion, footage of which showed the singer being restrained by crew and escorted off stage. The band allege that Farrell knew Navarro was still recovering from long Covid, making the attack particularly painful. They claim Farrell continued the assault backstage, striking Navarro on the left side of the face.
Hours after the band’s lawsuit was filed, Farrell responded with his own 30-page complaint, accusing his bandmates of years of bullying and harassment. He alleged that the onstage altercation occurred because his bandmates played their instruments at a volume that prevented him from hearing himself sing without unsafe in-ear monitor levels, a recurring issue. Farrell also claimed that Navarro assaulted him and his wife backstage.
The altercation led to the cancellation of the remaining 12 shows on the tour, which had been well-received and marked Avery’s first time in the lineup since 2010. It also delayed production of a new album, the first with the classic lineup since 1990, resulting in significant financial losses. The band members are suing Farrell for emotional distress, negligence and breach of contract.
The band’s lawsuit further alleges that Farrell was often intoxicated on tour, with performance quality deteriorating as the night went on. In his counter-suit, filed in a Los Angeles court alongside his wife and a company, Farrell claims his bandmates launched a “years-long bullying campaign” and used him as a “scapegoat” to cancel the tour, subsequently publishing defamatory statements about him.
Navarro, Avery and Perkins previously released a statement citing Farrell’s “continuing pattern of behaviour and mental health difficulties” as the reason for ending the tour, expressing hope he would find help. Farrell later apologised, calling his actions “inexcusable” and taking “full accountability”. The legal battles continue as both sides seek damages.
