Perry Farrell submits lawsuit against Jane’s Addiction bandmates hours after they file documents against him
The fallout from the on-stage fight between Perry Farrell and his Jane’s Addiction bandmates has got messier, as both parties have submitted lawsuits against one another.
The incident happened on September 13th, 2024, when Farrell attacked guitarist Dave Navarro during a performance of ‘Ocean Size’ in Boston. Not only did this end the concert, but it also initially led to Jane’s Addiction cancelling a show at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, Bridgeport, CT, before the whole tour was canned and the band split up.
In a new lawsuit filed against Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins, which is not a counter-suit to their prior filing also on July 16th, Farrell accused the trio of overseeing a harassment and bullying campaign against him over several years. The singer also claimed he wasn’t consulted about cancelling their tour and the band splitting up.
In the filing, Farrell claims the on-stage fight occurred because his bandmates were “playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing without blasting his own in-ear monitors at an unsafe level”.
He also alleged that Navarro assaulted Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, backstage.
Farrell’s lawsuit was submitted just hours after Navarro, Avery, and Perkins filed their own lawsuit against the singer. The fight led to the band’s breakup, and the trio is seeking at least $10 million in damages from Farrell due to the cancelled tour and the end of all activities with Jane’s Addiction. Additionally, Navarro sued Farrell for assault and battery.
In their lawsuit, Navarro said: “History will remember the band as suffering a swift and painful death at the hands of Farrell’s unprovoked anger and complete lack of self-control.”
Meanwhile, a lawyer for Farrell said in a statement: “As a founding member and creative force behind Jane’s Addiction, Perry Farrell has always prioritized the band’s legacy and its supporters, which is why the events of September 13th, 2024 in Boston and the resulting fallout was so devastating. Without warning or consultation and using Perry as a scapegoat, Dave Navarro and the other band members took it upon themselves to abruptly cancel the remaining tour dates—violating contracts and disregarding all professional obligations.”
The statement continues: “Perry was blindsided by not being allowed to vote and be heard, leaving him unable to plead his case to continue the tour for their fans. If that was not harmful enough, Dave Navarro then intentionally and publicly blamed Perry for the canceled tour dates effectively destroying Perry’s reputation and causing him irreparable harm. Despite this continued bullying perpetuated by Navarro, Perry’s dedication to Jane’s Addiction and the preservation of its positive impact on the music industry remains unshaken. He is actively exploring ways to address the situation and ensure accountability.”
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