Jane’s Addiction Frontman Perry Farrell Seeks Treatment After Onstage Altercation

Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction performs live on-stage in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 25, 2023. Mauricio Santana/Getty Images

Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell is seeking help from medical professionals after getting into an onstage altercation with the rock group’s guitarist, Dave Navarro, earlier this month.

According to Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell, the 65-year-old singer scheduled consultations with an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or otolaryngologist, as well as a neurologist—a medical doctor who identifies, treats, and manages nervous system and brain disorders.

“We are taking a bit of time to ourselves, to reflect and to heal,” Etty wrote via Instagram on Sept. 21.

The 49-year-old had previously shared that her husband had been suffering from a bout of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, and a sore throat leading up to the altercation.

“With all of your love, kindness, compassion and support, you know, Perry will persevere. He will recover. He will be happy again. He will once again be able to share his music, vision and artistry—unbridled,” she said.

“Make no mistake, when he’s ready, he will take another giant leap over obstacles to make us laugh, think, while changing the world together.”

The singer and dancer went on to issue an apology for her husband’s behavior, calling him “the gentlest of souls.”

“We are equally astonished at Perry’s physical outburst as you are,” she wrote. “But you must know that Perry must [have] been pushed to his absolute limit.”

Onstage Altercation

Farrell’s onstage meltdown transpired during a Jane’s Addiction show at the Leader Bank Pavillion in Boston on Sept. 13.

Videos of the altercation, which were widely circulated online by fans, show Farrell slamming into Navarro with his shoulder toward the end of the group’s performance of its 1988 song “Ocean Size,” from the rock band’s debut album, “Nothing’s Shocking.”

Farrell can also be seen attempting to punch the 57-year-old guitarist before being pulled away and escorted off the stage.

“Clearly there had been a lot of tension and animosity between the members,” Etty wrote on Instagram the morning after the exchange took place.

The actress indicated that Farrell’s frustration had been escalating “night after night” as a result of the “extremely loud” stage volume, which she said drowned out her husband’s voice.

“When the audience in the first row started complaining up to Perry, cussing at him that the band was [playing] too loud and that they couldn’t hear him, Perry lost it,” she said, adding that her husband broke down in tears after the fight.

Discontinued Tour

The Grammy-nominated band’s tour, which kicked off in August, marked the first time the group’s original members have toured together in almost 15 years.

However, three days after the incident, Navarro took to Instagram to issue a joint statement alongside the band’s bassist, Eric Avery, and drummer, Stephen Perkins, writing that their “hearts are broken” over their decision to cancel all upcoming tour dates.

“Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to discontinue the current U.S. tour,” the statement reads.

“Our concern for his personal health and safety as well as our own has left us no alternative. We hope that he will find the help he needs,” the trio continued.

“We deeply regret that we are not able to come through for all our fans who have already bought tickets. We can see no solution that would either ensure a safe environment on stage or reliably allow us to deliver a great performance on a nightly basis.”

A representative for Farrell could not immediately be reached for comment. However, the musician did convey his remorse regarding his actions in a statement shared with Variety shortly after the incident.

“After having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s show,” the singer said.

“Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behavior, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle the situation.”