Perry Ferrell from “Jane's Addiction” apologizes after argument with Dave Navarro

UPDATED with Farrell statement: Perry Ferrell, frontman of Jane's Addiction, apologized this morning for an altercation he instigated onstage with Dave Navarro of the band on Friday in Boston.

In a statement issued to several media outlets, Ferrell said, “This weekend was incredibly difficult and after having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, my fans, family and friends for my behavior during Friday's show. Unfortunately, my breakdown resulted in inexcusable behavior and I take full responsibility for how I handled the situation.”

Ferrell's explosive stage presence has long been a strong feature of the band. Between songs, the singer often lets political and personal topics come up. Over the weekend, however, his abuse was aimed directly at Navarro. The singer screamed at the guitarist during part of the wild 1988 screamer “Ocean Size” before confronting Navarro and elbowing him. Video of the scene showed several people grabbing Ferrell and carrying him off the stage. One of them was reportedly bassist Eric Avery.

The singer's wife, Etty Lau Farrell, shared a “first-hand account” of the events on Instagram, explaining that the band started the song “before Perry was ready and did the countdown.”

“There was obviously a lot of tension and animosity between the members,” she wrote, “the magic that made the band so dynamic. Well, the dynamite was ignited. Perry tackled Dave and body-slammed him to the ground.”

This “magic” – and drug problems – have plagued the influential band for a long time. After releasing two epochal albums Nothing is shocking And Ritual of habit The band split in 1988 and 1990, and disbanded in 1991. Navarro and Avery formed the group Deconstruction with drummer Michael Murphy and released a studio album in 1994. Navarro played one album with the Red Hot Chili Peppers before being fired after a drug relapse. He later returned to Jane's.

Avery was more reserved. His own struggle with drugs and a reported reluctance to rejoin Jane's kept him away for years. He played with the band for a while in the 2000s before leaving in 2010. He returns on this tour, marking the first reunion of the band's original powerhouse lineup in over a decade.

The trigger for this reunion was a call from Farrell.

“We had what I think is the most meaningful, honest and respectful conversation since the days of Jane's 1.0,” Avery said in 2022. “I don't want to sound so 'New Age,' but it was kind of like healing a rift.”

Now it seems as if the band is facing another rift.

BEFORE at 11:06 am: Jane's Addiction has cancelled the remainder of their tour following an onstage argument between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro.

A social media post said the band would be taking a break following the public brawl.

“To all fans, the band has made the difficult decision to take a break as a group,” the statement on Instagram reads. “As a result, they will be cancelling the remainder of the tour.”

The statement continues: “Refunds for cancelled appointments will be made at your point of purchase.”