Following a shocking onstage fight between Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and bassist Eric Avery over the weekend, the alt-rock veterans have formally canceled the rest of their reunion tour. The band are citing the vocalist’s struggles with mental health as the key reason for placing themselves on hiatus.
A short statement from Jane’s Addiction was posted through the band’s social media accounts this morning (September 16th), which explained that the quartet are taking a break, with all remaining tour commitments now canceled, and refunds being offered to fans.
They wrote: “To all the fans, the band have made the difficult decision to take some time away as a group. As such, they will be cancelling the remainder of the tour.”
A second statement shared shortly thereafter on Navarro and Avery’s Instagram profiles — signed by both musicians, as well as drummer Stephen Perkins — added that the group are stepping aside so Farrell can take care of his mental health.
“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.”
The hiatus arrives hot off the heels of a strange altercation that abruptly ended the band’s Friday night (September 13th) concert at Boston, Massachusetts’ Leader Bank Pavilion. During a performance of Nothing’s Shocking classic “Ocean Size,” Farrell appeared agitated and began barking at Navarro, ultimately stepping towards the guitarist and attempting to throw a punch at him.
Navarro seemingly tried to diffuse the situation by pushing away the aggressive frontman, who was then held back by members of the crew and bassist Eric Avery. Farrell’s wife Etty later claimed in an online statement that Avery “put Perry in a headlock and punched him in the stomach three times.”
The band apologized to fans over the weekend through their Instagram stories, initially only canceling last night’s (September 15th) tour stop in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Obviously, they’ve now dropped off all of their dates with Love and Rockets, which would have run into October.
The original lineup of Jane’s Addiction played their first show together in 14 years this past May in London, U.K., and soon after released comeback single “Imminent Redemption.”