The Boston concert for the reunited Jane’s Addiction took an unexpected turn on Friday when lead singer Perry Farrell punched guitarist Dave Navarro during the performance.
Footage from the event showed that while playing “Ocean Size,” Farrell became visibly upset for reasons that remain unclear. He approached Navarro and forcefully collided with his back before yelling at him. The altercation escalated, resulting in Farrell landing a punch on Navarro’s shoulder. Navarro was taken aback and questioned, “What the fuck?” as crew members intervened to separate the two musicians. Despite efforts to calm the situation, Farrell attempted to reach Navarro again, prompting even more crew members and bassist Eric Avery to step in and escort him offstage. The concert concluded after 11 songs, falling short of the usual performance length for the ongoing reunion tour.
Reports indicate that tensions had been building since their first tour together in 14 years began in August. Farrell’s lengthy interactions with the audience had frustrated Navarro during previous shows. It was noted that Farrell had consumed a bottle of red wine during the performance.
The conflict reportedly started during “Mountain Song” and continued through “Three Days” before culminating in the punch during “Ocean Size.” Jane’s Addiction has yet to address the incident publicly, and even Avery’s social media remains silent on the altercation. However, Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell, provided insight on social media, suggesting that a buildup of tension among the band members had reached a breaking point.
Etty explained that Farrell had been increasingly frustrated with the volume level of the performance, which he felt was overshadowing his vocals. Additionally, audience complaints about the loudness during the show contributed to his stress. She also revealed that a confrontation occurred backstage between Farrell and Avery, resulting in Avery putting Farrell in a headlock and striking him.
In the aftermath of the onstage incident, Farrell was described as being highly agitated before eventually breaking down in tears. Responses to the fight included commentary from Liam Gallagher, who tweeted criticism of the band’s behavior and shared that he believes he and his brother Noel would handle such tensions professionally if they were to reunite.
The reunion tour is still set to continue in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Sunday night, with a planned conclusion in Los Angeles on October 16. This tour marks the first time in over a decade that the original lineup—Farrell, Navarro, Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins—has performed together following Navarro’s recovery from long Covid.