Bandmates Accuse Farrell of Assault, Emotional Distress, and Contract Breach After Tour Collapse
A major rift has rocked the world of alternative rock, and at the center of the storm is Perry Farrell, iconic frontman of Jane’s Addiction. The legendary band’s much-anticipated 2024 reunion tour came to a crashing halt after an onstage clash between Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro led to the cancellation of the tour, and now, Farrell is facing serious legal trouble.
In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Navarro, bassist Eric Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins accuse Farrell of assault and battery, emotional distress, negligence, and multiple contract breaches. The suit claims Farrell’s volatile behavior not only destroyed the tour but also cost the band over $10 million in lost income, canceled plans for a new album, and jeopardized long-term deals with their label and promoters.
According to the complaint, tensions escalated over Farrell’s erratic conduct, including alleged drunken performances and controlling behavior. The lawsuit also accuses Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell—who often performs as a dancer during the band’s shows—of undermining group decisions, despite an agreed-upon democratic structure for the tour.
The breaking point came on September 13, 2024, during a show at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion. While performing their classic hit “Ocean Size,” Farrell allegedly shoved Navarro mid-guitar solo. What followed, according to the suit, was a backstage confrontation where Farrell punched Navarro in the face. The incident not only ended the night prematurely but shattered any hope of completing the tour.
Navarro, who had given up monthly disability payments from a long COVID diagnosis to rejoin the band, was reportedly devastated—especially given the physical and emotional toll of preparing for the tour. The suit also revealed he postponed his wedding and lost $50,000 in deposits just to make the tour work.
The band had high hopes of capturing their classic magic. With new singles “Imminent Redemption” and “True Love” already released, they had begun working on eight more tracks for their label, ADA, a Warner Music Group subsidiary. Now, with the group splintered, those songs remain incomplete, and legal obligations to deliver a 12-song album hang in the balance.
Attorney Christopher Frost, representing Navarro, Avery, and Perkins, said the group didn’t want things to end this way. “They wanted to bring back the spirit of Jane’s Addiction,” Frost explained. “But Perry Farrell’s behavior left them with no choice.”
Each band member was slated to earn $210,000 from the North American leg of the tour. In addition to those lost wages, the group now owes over $240,000 in unpaid commissions to their management, legal, and business teams. The fallout not only ended a reunion but put the band’s financial future in jeopardy.
In a recent Guitar Player interview, Navarro confirmed what fans feared: Jane’s Addiction is no more. “That night onstage ended everything,” he said. “There’s no way this band plays together again.”
HMI Magazine will continue following this story as it develops.
Adapted with credit to Andy Greene, Rolling Stone Magazine (July 16, 2025)
