Janes Addiction Biography

The American rock band known as Jane’s Addiction was established in Los Angeles in the mid 1980’s, by founding member Perry Farrell. Farrell had disbanded the floundering group Psi-com and was looking for a new project when he was introduced to Eric Avery. The two musicians found common influences such as the Velvet Underground, and they decided to establish a new band together.

With the addition of Stephen Perkins on drums and Dave Navarro on guitar, Jane’s Addiction began performing around the Los Angeles area, becoming a huge hit on the club scene. Eventually, Warner Bros. Records offered the group a deal, and the band recorded their debut album, Jane’s Addiction, during one of their live performances at the Roxy Theater.

But it was Jane’s Addiction’s second album, Nothing Shocking, that became the band’s big breakthrough. Despite lack of airplay on MTV, due to objectionable imagery in the video for “Mountain Song,” Jane’s Addiction established a strong following, and Nothing Shocking spawned the number one alternative hits “Stop” and “Been Caught Stealing.” The singles “Jane Says” and “Ocean Size” also fared well. The band followed up their debut with the album Ritual de lo habitual in 1990, but by 1991 Jane’s Addiction was plagued with drug addiction issues that eventually ripped the band members apart. Despite a reunion which led to the album Strays in 2003, Jane’s Addiction disbanded again while its members went on to other projects.

In 2008, Jane’s Addiction reunited to perform at the NME Awards, which led to a number of other performances and a short tour in 2009. The band members decided to reunite once again, producing the album The Great Escape Artist in 2011. The album spawned the alternative hits “Irresistible Force” and “Underground,” and since that time Jane’s Addiction has continued to perform together with the current lineup of Farrell, Navarro, Perkins, and Chris Chaney on bass.

Jane’s Addiction was recently nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band’s most recent appearances include a performance of the entire album Nothing’s Shocking, performed at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas in May of 2014.