BOSTON (AP) — Alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction has canceled its latest tour following a fight on stage between singer Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro. Farrell later apologized for his “inexcusable behavior.”
“The band has made the difficult decision to take a break as a group. As a result, they will be canceling the remainder of the tour,” the band said. said in a brief statement Monday.
Videos showed Farrell lunging at Navarro during a concert Friday in Boston, bumping Navarro with his shoulder before striking the guitarist with his right arm. Navarro is seen extending his right arm to keep Farrell at bay before Farrell is dragged off stage by others. The show ended shortly afterward and the band apologized.
The band is known for its bold, punk-inspired hits “Jane Says,” “Been Caught Stealing,” and “Just Because” from the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the alternative rock and grunge movements were in full swing. It has had three of its hits reach the top five on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart.
Farrell said in a statement to Variety and The New York Times: “This weekend has been incredibly difficult and after having the time and space to reflect, it is only fitting that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, my fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s concert. Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behavior, and I take full responsibility for how I chose to handle the situation.”
Perry’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell, wrote on Instagram the day after the scuffle that her husband’s “frustration grew as night after night he felt like the volume on stage was extremely loud and his voice was drowned out by the band.”
She said her husband suffered from tinnitus and a sore throat and that by the end of the song he was no longer singing, he was just screaming to be heard. She added that her husband then broke down and cried.
The band’s “Imminent Redemption” tour, opening with English rock band Love and Rockets, kicked off in early August and was scheduled to end October 16 at the YouTube Theatre in Los Angeles.
The North American shows marked the first time since 2010 that the original Jane’s Addiction lineup — Farrell, Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery — played an extended run of shows together.
Navarro, Perkins and Avery said in a statement posted to Navarro’s Instagram Monday about Farrell: “We hope he finds the help he needs.”
