Jane’s Addiction members are suing frontman Perry Farrell for assault, battery, emotional distress, and breach of contract following an onstage fight in 2024 that led to the cancellation of their reunion tour. The incident occurred in Boston in September 2024, where Farrell physically attacked guitarist Dave Navarro onstage.
According to TMZ, Navarro, bassist Eric Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins are suing Farrell over the onstage fight which led to the band’s dissolution. Navarro, Avery, and Perkins are seeking at least $10 million in damages, with the lawsuit alleging that Farrell’s actions, including an onstage assault and subsequent behavior, led to the tour’s cancellation and financial losses for the band, as well as the inability to make a new album – which would have been the first from the classic Jane’s Addiction lineup since 1990.
Navarro’s specific claims include assault and battery for the onstage altercation, while all three musicians are suing for emotional distress, negligence, and breach of contract. According to Rolling Stone, the former Jane’s Addiction members allege in the lawsuit that Farrell was often intoxicated on tour and during shows. “The problems with Perry’s performance would often worsen as the night wore on and he became more intoxicated,” the lawsuit reportedly reads, with claims that Farrell’s actions were a “terminal inflection point” that cost the band millions.
Per their attorney Christopher Frost, the members of the band allege in the complaint that “Perry’s repeated and unprovoked attack on Navarro was especially painful because Perry knew that Navarro was still weak and suffering from the effects of long COVID-19,” with the attack apparently continuing backstage with Farrell throwing “another unexpected punch at [Navarro], striking him on the left side of the face.”
In response, Farrell’s legal team claim that the lawsuit is an attempt to control the narrative and paint the band members as victims. Miles Cooley, an attorney for Perry Farrell, said: “This is yet another clear example of the group uniting to isolate and bully frontman Perry Farrell. The timing of this baseless lawsuit is no coincidence—it was filed only after they caught wind of legal action coming from our side. It’s a transparent attempt to control the narrative and present themselves as the so-called ‘good guys’—a move that’s both typical and predictable. Just like when they released a defamatory and entirely unfounded statement about Perry’s mental health and unilaterally canceled the remaining tour dates without his input, they’re once again scrambling to get ahead of the truth in a desperate effort to save face.”
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