The members of alternative rock band Jane's Addiction have filed duelling lawsuits over singer Perry Farrell's onstage scuffle with guitarist Dave Navarro at a Boston concert, prompting the cancellation of the rest of their reunion tour and a planned album.
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See subscription optionsNavarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery sued Farrell in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday seeking at least $US10 million ($A15 million), alleging that Farrell's behaviour was out of control on the tour and culminated in the assault, where Farrell punched Navarro on stage and backstage.
"With a series of swift blows, he single-handedly destroyed the name, reputation, trademark and viability of the band and those who built it," their lawsuit says.
Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, sued the three band mates in the same court, blaming them for the conflict and the violence.
"Navarro, Avery and Perkins apparently decided that Jane's Addiction's decades of success should be jettisoned in pursuit of a years-long bullying campaign against Farrell," the lawsuit says, involving harassing him onstage such as by playing instruments so loudly he could not hear himself sing.
The Farrells said Navarro and Avery actually assaulted them.
Perry Farrell said he was "blindsided" when the other members cancelled the remaining 15 shows of the tour and broke up the band without consulting him, and defamed him by saying he had mental health problems.
Jane's Addiction formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s, had hits such as Jane Says and Been Caught Stealing, and founded the Lollapalooza tour in 1991.
The group has had various incarnations over the years, and their 2024 tour was the first time the original members had played together since 2010.
Farrell missed all the group's tour rehearsals, his band mates' lawsuit alleges, and his behaviour during the early shows ranged from erratic to out of control.
Then, on September 13, 2024, at a show in Boston in front of about 4000 fans, videos partially captured Farrell lunging at Navarro and bumping Navarro with his shoulder before taking a swing at the guitarist with his right arm.
Navarro is seen holding his right arm out to keep Farrell away before Farrell is dragged away.
But Farrell's lawsuit says the onstage altercation "was hardly one-sided".
It says Navarro was deliberately playing loud to drown out the singer, and "what followed was an inappropriate violent escalation by Navarro and Avery that was disproportionate to Farrell's minor body check of Navarro".
Farrell alleges that when he was being restrained by a crew member, Avery punched him in the kidneys, and Avery and Navarro assaulted him and his wife backstage.
Shortly after the fight, Farrell in a statement apologised to his band mates for "inexcusable behaviour".
Both lawsuits allege assault, infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract, among other claims.
Australian Associated Press
