Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell apologized to bandmates and fans for ‘inexcusable behaviour’ after reports emerged that the second half of the band's reunion tour was cancelled following an on-stage altercation on September 13.
In a short statement shared with Variety by a representative, Farrell said: ‘This weekend has been incredibly difficult and after having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s show. Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behavior, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle the situation.’
Farrell does not specify what triggered his ‘breaking point’ in Boston. However, fans have speculated about the events leading up to the singer's on-stage altercation with Navarro, which resulted in Farrell being tackled and removed from the stage by Eric Avery and two crew members.
Farrell’s apology came after Navarro released a statement on behalf of himself and the other band members. Navarro cited Perry Farrell’s alleged ‘mental health difficulties’ as the cause of the on-stage incident and the subsequent tour cancellation.
The remainder of the tour was officially cancelled on September 16 morning. The band’s social media announced that refunds would be processed automatically, except for secondary-market resellers like StubHub, where buyers must contact the reseller directly for a refund.
Navarro’s detailed statement, signed by himself, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins, explained, ‘Due to ongoing behaviour issues and Perry Farrell’s mental health challenges, we’ve had to cancel the US tour. Our primary concern is for his well-being and our own safety. We hope he seeks the help he needs.’
Navarro added, ‘We deeply regret letting down fans who purchased tickets. We see no way to ensure a safe stage environment or deliver consistent performances. Our hearts are broken.’
Fifteen tour dates are being cancelled, just weeks after Live Nation announced seven additional dates for the tour, which also featured Love & Rockets as a co-headliner.
The cancelled shows include Bridgeport, Toronto, Rochester Hills, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis, Huntsville, St. Louis, Denver, Sandy, Seattle, Portland, Reno, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The final show was scheduled for October 16 at L.A.’s YouTube Theater, which the tour had previously visited earlier this summer.
Before the cancellation, the band had managed to complete 17 shows, although their final performance in Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion ended abruptly with only a few songs remaining.
Navarro wasn’t the first to suggest that Farrell was struggling with severe mental health issues. Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell, commented on Instagram that her husband was ‘spinning out’ and experiencing ‘the most devastating mental health’ she had seen since they met in 1997.
In her post, Etty praised Navarro for his calm reaction during the altercation but criticized bassist Eric Avery for allegedly putting Farrell in a headlock and delivering ‘cheap shots’ once the fight began. Despite the turmoil, Navarro and Avery, along with Jenkins, seem aligned in their response to the incident.
Speculation has arisen about whether alcohol played a role in Farrell’s on-stage aggression, as some reviews mentioned him ‘chugging’ from a bottle. However, Etty dismissed this idea, noting that the wine bottle is more of a prop these days. She expressed frustration over wasted wine and described Farrell as a ‘crazed beast’ during the aftermath, though he eventually broke down and cried. Etty’s post included hashtags like ‘A man can only be pushed so far,’ ‘Dave took the high road,’ ‘Cheap shot,’ and ‘Mother eagle.’
The reasons behind Farrell’s “breaking point” remain unclear. However, fans analyzing video footage from the performance noted that tensions appeared throughout the set. Some observed that Farrell often seemed out of sync with the rest of the band, which led to speculation that his frustration during the final song might have stemmed from a perception that Navarro was intruding on his vocal parts with his guitar solo.
Before the breakdown, Jane’s Addiction’s tour—their first with the original lineup in 14 years—received mixed reviews.
While some performances were marred by Farrell’s inconsistent vocals, there were also standout shows where all four members delivered electrifying performances, thrilling fans who had long awaited their reunion. Unfortunately, for fans in the cities the tour will now miss, that reunion will be postponed.
Love & Rockets also released a brief statement about the cancelled co-headlining tour, saying, ‘Hi all! We would have loved to finish the tour with Jane’s Addiction, but unfortunately, it’s out of our hands. Refund information will be provided soon. With love…’
Also Watch | Emmys 2024: ‘Shogun’ Sweeps with 18 Wins, ‘The Bear’ Feasts on 11 Trophies – TV’s Big Winners!
