The reunion concert of Jane’s Addiction in Boston was abruptly cut short on Friday after a physical altercation occurred between singer Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro while they were performing.
During the song “Ocean Size,” Farrell appeared to become agitated and approached Navarro, shoving his shoulder into the guitarist’s back. The incident escalated as Farrell began shouting at Navarro, ultimately throwing a punch that struck Navarro’s shoulder. Crew members quickly intervened to separate the two, as Farrell attempted to approach Navarro again. With the situation intensifying, several crew members, along with bassist Eric Avery, restrained Farrell and took him offstage. Navarro also exited the stage, and the concert concluded after 11 songs, falling short of the usual 14 to 15 songs typically performed.
Reports suggest that underlying tensions between the bandmates had been building since the start of their first tour together in 14 years back in August. Farrell’s lengthy interactions with the audience had reportedly frustrated Navarro in previous shows. Observers noted that Farrell had been consuming red wine during performances, which may have contributed to the atmosphere.
According to JamBase, the confrontation started during “Mountain Song” and escalated through “Three Days,” culminating in the punch during “Ocean Size.” Jane’s Addiction has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident. However, Etty Lau Farrell, Perry’s wife, elaborated on the situation on social media, indicating that Farrell felt overwhelmed by the band’s volume, affecting his performance due to tinnitus and vocal strain. She mentioned that Farrell had lost his composure after audience members complained about not being able to hear him.
Etty also recounted that a separate altercation occurred backstage between Farrell and Avery, which led to further physical confrontations. She described Farrell’s extreme emotional reaction following the incidents.
Commenting on the dispute, Liam Gallagher weighed in on social media, criticizing the band’s dynamics but maintaining that his own band, Oasis, is more professional now.
The tour is expected to resume in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Sunday, with its final show scheduled for October 16 in Los Angeles. This outing marks the first time in over a decade that the complete lineup—Farrell, Navarro, Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins—has performed together, following Navarro’s earlier health struggles with long COVID.