Perry Farrell Punches Dave Navarro, Ending Jane’s Addiction Show
Fans posted dramatic video of the escalating confrontation and the enraged singer's removal from the stage.
A Jane’s Addiction concert in Boston took an unexpected turn Friday night when frontman Perry Farrell, visibly enraged, threw a punch at guitarist Dave Navarro, leading to the show’s abrupt end. Farrell had to be restrained by crew members and was escorted offstage, still visibly agitated.
Audience members quickly shared videos of the altercation, which has since gone viral. This emotional outburst follows reports of “off” moments during other shows, sparking speculation about whether the remaining dates of the band’s highly anticipated reunion tour—their first in 14 years—will go ahead as planned.
The incident occurred during the band’s performance of “Ocean Size,” the 11th song of a typical 14- to 15-song set. Fans on social media reported noticing tension building between Farrell and Navarro in the lead-up to the fight. Video footage shows Farrell grunting towards the crowd before turning to Navarro, where the tension boiled over. Farrell aggressively bumped shoulders with Navarro during a guitar solo, prompting Navarro to stop playing and put a hand on Farrell’s chest to keep distance. Farrell then threw a punch. As the stage lights dimmed, bassist Eric Avery and two crew members rushed to restrain Farrell and escort him offstage.
After Farrell’s exit, Navarro and the rest of the band stepped forward, hugging one another, applauding the audience, and offering a peace sign in a calmer farewell.
Social media lit up with reactions, ranging from jokes—many comparing the fight to infamous band squabbles like Oasis’—to concern for the well-being of the band members. One fan tweeted, “The crowd was bemused. Half pissed the show ended early and half excited we may have seen the last Jane’s Addiction show ever.” Another joked, “Jane’s Addiction broke up before Oasis omg.”
The incident was further documented on setlist.fm, which noted, “Stephen Perkins’ drum kit was outfitted with balloons in celebration of his birthday. The set ended early after Perry Farrell punched Dave Navarro.”
Jane’s Addiction and their tour promoter, Live Nation, were unavailable for comment Friday night.
Prior to this altercation, rumors of tension had already been swirling after a string of performances in New York. At one show, Farrell admitted to the crowd that his voice was failing, stating, “Something’s wrong with my voice. I just can’t get the notes out all of a sudden.” Bassist Eric Avery shared a hopeful Instagram post ahead of the next show, expressing optimism for a better performance. A review of that second New York concert confirmed improvement, with the JamBase reviewer noting, “Farrell sang well, Perkins crushed it, Navarro shredded, and Avery anchored the band.”
In a twist of irony, Farrell had even halted a fight between fans during that second New York show, asking the combatants to make peace.
Tension between Farrell and Navarro was hinted at earlier in the tour. A review of their Tampa performance noted Farrell’s erratic behavior, which included drunken rants about unrelated topics, while Navarro, in apparent frustration, deliberately played a loud chord to interrupt Farrell and refocus the show.
Jane’s Addiction’s reunion tour, co-headlined with fellow ’90s band Love & Rockets, was about 20 dates in, with 15 shows still scheduled. As of now, the tour is set to continue, wrapping up on October 16 at L.A.’s YouTube Theater.
