Jane’s Addiction’s concert in Boston came to an abrupt halt on Friday when lead singer Perry Farrell struck guitarist Dave Navarro onstage during a performance.
Footage from the event shows that during the song “Ocean Size,” Farrell appeared to become frustrated for reasons that remain unclear. He approached Navarro and knocked into him, then proceeded to verbally confront him. The situation escalated with Farrell delivering a punch to Navarro’s shoulder while a crew member attempted to intervene. Navarro, confused, reacted by asking, “What the fuck?” as additional crew members and bassist Eric Avery stepped in to separate the two and escort Farrell offstage. The concert concluded after 11 songs, falling short of the usual set length for the reunion tour.
Reports indicate that tensions had been brewing throughout their current tour, which features the band’s original lineup for the first time in 14 years. Observers noted that Navarro had appeared increasingly frustrated with Farrell’s lengthy interactions with the audience during previous performances. Further complications arose earlier in the week during shows in New York, leading up to the Boston incident.
Etty Lau Farrell, Perry’s wife, took to social media to clarify the circumstances surrounding the altercation. She described a buildup of tension within the band, particularly highlighting Perry’s frustrations regarding the stage volume, which he felt was obscuring his vocals. Contributing to the stress, audience members had expressed dissatisfaction about not being able to hear him.
Etty also mentioned an altercation backstage where Avery and Perry got into a physical confrontation, suggesting that tensions were running high. According to her, Perry reacted strongly to the stress and emotions from the situation.
In response to the incident, Liam Gallagher commented on social media, remarking on the negative dynamics within the band. The ongoing Jane’s Addiction reunion tour is set to continue with a performance in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Sunday, wrapping up on October 16 in Los Angeles.