Perry Farrell wears many hats these days, as the founder of Lollapalooza and as the leader of his all-star supergroup Kind Heaven Orchestra, among other projects, but it is with his seminal band Jane’s Addiction that the singer kickstarted a musical revolution more than 30 years ago. While Jane’s Addiction remain an active band, it’s been more than 10 years since they released a new album, and more than four years since they embarked on a proper tour.
Heavy Consequence recently caught up with Farrell over video Zoom. In our previously published segment from the interview, the rock legend discussed Lollapalooza’s present, past, and future. In Part 2 of our conversation (watch above), the focus shifts to Jane’s Addiction, with Farrell offering a timeline for potential new music and a tour, while also looking back at the band’s early days.
“With Jane’s Addiction, timelines … well, you never know,” began Farrell when we asked him if there were plans to release new music. “But what I would love to see … I would love to see us record a couple of tracks this year. Even if it’s two or three tracks … two tracks, I feel two is nice. I think people can take two, like two aspirin [laughs].”
As for touring, Farrell told us, “We do have ambitions to hit the road this year, so it won’t be long before you’ll know if those ambitions have come to fruition.”
Farrell also looked back at what helped create the unique and revolutionary sound that can be heard on Jane’s Addiction’s first two iconic studio albums, Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual, as well as their early self-titled live album. “When I [first] ran into [guitarist] Dave [Navarro] and [drummer] Stephen [Perkins], these kids were unbelievable players. The very first rehearsal with them, I felt that we could be as great as The Who.”
He continued, “I was very content in Psi Com, my first band. I loved it — it was goth-punk [but] I had to get out of Psi Com, ’cause it was too dreary, it was too negative. I wanted to do something wilder. I always loved the Stones, and Zeppelin, and The Who. I wanted to move it more that way.”
Hear more from Perry Farrell in the video interview above. For now, Jane’s Addiction are slated to play Lollapalooza 2022, taking place July 28th-31st in Chicago (tickets available here), while Farrell and his wife, Etty, are hosting a new Los Angeles concert series called “Heaven After Dark.”
Trouble viewing the video interview above? Watch on YouTube.