Legendary American rock band Jane's Addiction have officially announced their permanent split, bringing an end to a tumultuous year marked by a violent onstage confrontation and a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
The Final Curtain: A Band Fractured
The group, formed in Los Angeles in 1985, confirmed their dissolution in a statement shared on their Instagram on Wednesday. This announcement followed closely behind a second public apology from frontman Perry Farrell, 66, for his role in an explosive onstage altercation with guitarist Dave Navarro.
The fateful incident occurred during a performance in Boston in September 2024. Midway through the song 'Ocean Days', tensions that had been simmering throughout the night boiled over. Farrell marched across the stage and punched Navarro, sparking a brawl in front of shocked concertgoers that required intervention from crew members and bassist Eric Avery.
A Year of Woes: From Brawl to Courtroom
The immediate fallout was severe. Jane's Addiction cancelled the remainder of their U.S. tour following the Boston bust-up. However, the deeper fractures within the band were soon laid bare in a legal battle.
In July 2024, it was revealed that band members Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins were suing Perry Farrell for a minimum of $10 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed over the singer's public outburst, cited emotional distress, negligence, and breach of contract.
Farrell's legal team countered, calling the suit a "baseless" attempt by the group to "isolate and bully" the frontman, and claimed it was filed in retaliation after they learned of impending legal action from Farrell's side.
Apologies and a Final Farewell
In his recent apology, Farrell expressed regret for his actions. "I've reflected on it and know I didn't handle myself the way I should have," he wrote, addressing fans and his bandmates. "I apologise... for losing my temper and for disrupting the show."
Yet, just minutes after this message was posted, the band's final statement appeared. In it, they acknowledged making "inaccurate statements about Perry's mental health" after the Boston show, which they regretted. The statement clarified they had come together "one last time to resolve our differences" to protect the band's legacy.
The band confirmed they would now focus on "separate creative endeavours", drawing a line under nearly four decades of influential but often chaotic music history. True to their reputation, Jane's Addiction's final act was as dramatic as their career, which was punctuated by multiple break-ups and reunions. Their legacy, as they stated, will forever "live in our hearts."
