He was caught training in boxing: A concert by Jeans Addiction in Boston ended abruptly on Friday night when a visibly angry Perry Farrell threw a punch at guitarist Dave Navarro — and was restrained by crew members, still looking physically shaken as he was pushed off stage.
Several audience members shared dramatic video of the brawl from different vantage points in the crowd after the show ended in disaster. The footage shows the band deep into “Ocean Size,” the 11th number in a set that usually runs to 14 or 15 songs, when trouble erupts between the two most popular members of the veteran band.
Some fans on social media reported that tensions appeared to have been brewing for several songs before things actually turned physical. A video of the build-up to the brawl shows Ferrell groaning heavily in the direction of the audience, before turning to his right and starting to blow the bellows at Navarro up close. He appears to slam the guitarist’s shoulder hard, who eventually stops playing and puts his hand on Pharrell’s chest to mark the distance. The singer then appears to throw a punch to Navarro’s chest area. At that point, three men, including guitarist Eric Avery, can be seen saying “stop” as they surround Pharrell, who is eventually forced off stage by the trio, still apparently struggling as he is pushed backstage.
Once Pharrell leaves, the rest of the band – including Navarro – come to the front of the stage to show appreciation to the audience, looking calm as they hug each other, clap, tap their hearts, and make the peace sign.
The altercation immediately exploded on social media, with no shortage of jokes – including endless comparisons to Oasis – alongside more serious concerns expressed for the safety of the band members involved.
“I was there,” tweeted @deanasc1 on X. “The crowd was confused. Half mad that the show ended early and half excited that we might have seen the last Janes A show ever.”
“Jane's Addiction broke up before Oasis, oh my god,” read a typical tweet from user @Tribecalledflex.
On setlist.fm, the Boston show blog section offered a tongue-in-cheek take on the concert trivia, stating: “Note: Stephen Perkins' drum kit was adorned with balloons to celebrate his birthday. The show ended early after Perry Farrell punched Dave Navarro“.”
Press representatives for Jane's Addiction and tour organizer Live Nation could not immediately be reached for comment Friday evening.
There was already chatter on social media about Jane's Addiction's shows earlier this week in New York City, which took place on the rooftop at Pier 51. At the first of two shows there, Pharrell admitted to the crowd that he wasn't in great vocal shape, reportedly saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have to be honest with you. There's something wrong with my voice. I can't get notes out all of a sudden.” The following day, bandmate Eric Avery posted on Instagram, “Looking forward to another chance at this amazing rooftop venue tonight. I'm optimistic we'll be better.”
The next night in New York, things actually got better, according to a reviewer for JamBase who wrote: “I had seen reports of Pharrell’s condition on Tuesday, so I was apprehensive when ‘Jane’s Addiction’ came on. All my fears were quickly dispelled as my first experience with Jane’s was a great one. Pharrell sang well, Perkins shone behind the kit, Navarro was brilliant, and Avery solidified the band with his steady guitar work. … Some of (Pharrell’s) stories were engaging and others he rambled on while drinking from a bottle of wine. He was also obsessed with a device that I imagine was supposed to add effects to his voice but didn’t do much to my ears. However, when it came to singing the songs, Pharrell nailed most of them.”
Ironically, given what has happened since then, the singer stopped the fight at the band's second New York concert. JamBase reported that “Pharrell stopped the final song after noticing a fight in the audience. He asked one of his fans, named “Bobby,” to make peace with the audience member who was fighting with him.”
Jane's Addiction's first tour in 15 years is a co-headlining tour with another beloved '90s band, Love & Rockets, who are sharing the tour.
Friday night’s ill-fated Boston show came about 20 dates into the band’s double-header, with 15 remaining. As of this writing, the tour is still scheduled to continue and conclude on October 16 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, a return to a venue where the band had already played one successful show near the start of its mid-August tour.
