The concert of the reunited Jane’s Addiction in Boston came to an abrupt end on Friday night after lead singer Perry Farrell hit guitarist Dave Navarro mid-performance.
During their rendition of “Ocean Size,” Farrell’s agitation escalated for unknown reasons as he approached Navarro and shoved him in the back. An irritated Farrell then confronted Navarro, eventually throwing a punch. Navarro responded, “What the fuck?” as crew members intervened to separate the two. As Farrell attempted to reach Navarro again, additional crew members and bassist Eric Avery helped escort him away from the stage. The concert concluded after 11 songs, falling short of the typical setlist for the ongoing reunion tour.
Reports indicate that tensions had been building during the tour, which marks the first time in 14 years that the band’s original lineup has performed together. Previous shows had seen Farrell’s lengthy interactions with the audience visibly frustrate Navarro. Farrell reportedly consumed a bottle of red wine during the performance, which might have contributed to the atmosphere.
Issues reportedly started during the song “Mountain Song,” escalating through “Three Days” until the altercation during “Ocean Size.” Despite these incidents, Jane’s Addiction has not yet released a statement regarding the onstage fight. However, Farrell’s wife Etty provided insights on social media, explaining that Farrell had been dealing with mounting frustration about the loud volume of the performance and his own vocal difficulties.
According to Etty, a backstage confrontation between Farrell and Avery resulted in Avery putting Farrell in a headlock and hitting him multiple times. She described Farrell as being in a heightened emotional state afterward, breaking down in tears. Etty also hinted at confusion or opportunism from Avery during the incident.
Liam Gallagher, commenting on the altercation, expressed disapproval of the situation, while also assuring fans that he and his brother Noel would maintain professionalism during any potential Oasis reunion.
Currently, Jane’s Addiction’s tour is set to continue in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with plans to conclude on October 16 in Los Angeles.