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(NewsNation) — All eyes were on Jane’s Addiction last weekend when frontman Perry Farrell lost it while on stage during a show in Boston and attacked lead guitarist Dave Navarro during the song “Ocean.”
Immediately afterward, the band announced the cancellation of the next show before canceling the tour altogether. And while fingers pointed, and statements were issued, stories varied … but here’s what went down …
According to Etty Lau, Farrell’s wife and former backup dancer/singer, there were pressing issues with the band.
“Rather than speculating, I thought to post a first person account of what happened on stage with Jane’s Addiction last night at the @lenderpavilion in Boston,” Etty Lau Farrell wrote on her Instagram. “Clearly there had been a lot of tension and animosity between the members… the magic that made the band so dynamic. Well, the dynamite was lit. Perry got up in Dave’s face and body checked him.”
Not to mention the punch that Farrell threw next at Navarro, at which point all hell seemed to break loose. (It’s not clear from the video whether the hit actually landed.)
Perry Farrell’s voice being drowned out: Wife
Lau continued by explaining away her husband’s rage as a result of sound issues. “Perry’s frustration had been mounting, night after night; he felt that the stage volume had been extremely loud and his voice was being drowned out by the band. Perry had been suffering from tinnitus and a sore throat every night. But when the audience in the first row started complaining to Perry, cussing at him that the band was planning too loud and that they couldn’t hear him, Perry lost it.
“The band started the song ‘Ocean’ before Perry was ready and did the count-off. The stage volume was so loud at that point that Perry couldn’t hear pas(t) the boom and the vibration of the instruments and by the end of the song, he wasn’t singing, he was screaming just be to be heard.”
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: Dave Navarro performs with Jane’s Addiction at Pier 17 Rooftop on September 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: (L-R) Dave Navarrot and Perry Farrell perform with Jane’s Addiction at Pier 17 Rooftop on September 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images) -
ROSKILDE, DENMARK – JULY 06: Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction performs at Roskilde Festival 2024 on July 06, 2024 in Roskilde, Denmark. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: Perry Farrell performs with Jane’s Addiction at Pier 17 Rooftop on September 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images) -
DUBLIN, IRELAND – JUNE 28: Dave Navarro (L) and Perry Farrell (R) of Jane’s Addiction perform at Trinity College Park on June 28, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Kieran Frost/Redferns)
Jane’s Addiction: Who won the fight?
Etty Lau Farrell then asks the question, “Who won the fight?” — and then answers it by blaming bassist Eric Avery for overreacting and landing blows on her husband.
“Why, Eric Avery of course (won)… While Dave was keeping Perry at arm’s length to de-escalate the situation, Dan rushed over to de-escalate as well by holding Perry back. Dave walked away to take his guitar off. Eric walked up to Perry, upstage, in the dark, behind Dan, put Perry in a headlock and punched him in the stomach three times. Kevin, crew member with long hair, pulled Eric away. Then Eric nonchalant walked off to the front of the stage to apologize to audience for the show end(ing) early.”
Farrell’s wife added: “Dave still looked handsome and cool in the middle of a fight. Perry was a crazed beast for the next half an hour — he finally did not calm down, but did break down and cried and cried. Eric, well, he either didn’t understand what de-(es)calation meant or took advantage of the situation and got in a few cheap shots on Perry.”
Hashtags used by Lau: “A man can only be pushed so far.” “Dave took the high road.” “Cheap shot.” “Mother eagle.”
Perry Farrell’s wife throwing shade?
But some are raising eyebrows that Lau is throwing shade.
“Etty is at the center of the issues with the band,” one spy said. “She’s created an ‘us against them’ vibe with her and Perry against the band. The band did not want her to be a part of the show — saying it’s just the band, no backup dancers or singer … which of course she didn’t like … it’s a very Yoko Ono-like situation.”
A rep for the Farrells didn’t return emails.
Jane’s Addiction bandmates issue statement
Meanwhile, Navarro, Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins issued a statement on Navarro’s Instagram reading: “Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to discontinue the current US tour.
“Our concern for his personal health and safety as well as our own has left us no alternative. We hope that he will find the help he needs.”