Perry Farrell Sues Jane’s Addiction Band – Lawsuit Details
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Los Angeles, CA – Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry farrell has filed a lawsuit against his bandmates Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and stephen Perkins, alleging assault and battery, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract. The legal action stems from an onstage incident during a recent performance and the subsequent cancellation of the band’s reunion tour.
The Allegations: A ”Years-Long Bullying Campaign”
The lawsuit, filed on July 16 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names Navarro, Avery, and Perkins as defendants. Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell, and the band’s touring company, Wilton’s Hilton Inc., are listed as co-plaintiffs.
According to the complaint obtained by Pitchfork, Farrell and his legal team allege that the defendants have engaged in “a years-long bullying campaign against Farrell involving harassing him onstage during performances.” this campaign allegedly included tactics such as “trying to undermine him by playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing without blasting his own in-ear monitors at an unsafe level.”
The lawsuit pinpoints Friday,September 13,2024,the night of a Boston show,as the moment Farrell ”reached his breaking point.” The complaint states that Farrell became enraged because Navarro, “playing at top volume, was bullying him yet again and callously refused to lower his volume despite his repeated requests.”
The document further details that during the song “Ocean Size,” Farrell reacted to Navarro’s “excruciating and dangerous” loud playing by “body-checking Navarro.” The complaint emphasizes that Farrell “did not throw any punches, but simply wanted to alert Navarro that he had to stop playing so loud.”
Escalation and Tour Cancellation
Farrell claims that his physical action led to “an inappropriate violent escalation by Navarro and Avery that was disproportionate to Farrell’s minor body check of Navarro.” He also alleges that Navarro “menacingly charged at and aggressively assaulted both Farrell and his wife Etty Lau backstage.”
Beyond the physical altercation, Farrell accuses Navarro, Avery, and Perkins of canceling the planned Jane’s Addiction reunion tour without his consultation, leaving him “blindsided” by what he deems “ill-conceived decisions utterly lacking in legal authority.” Farrell asserts he was “ready, willing and able to continue the tour,” partly to avoid disappointing fans, and that the defendants “elected to cancel the tour without informing and/or even hearing from Perry Farrell.”
Seeking Damages and accountability
Perry and Etty Lau Farrell are seeking ”general damages for physical injury due to assault and battery, severe emotional distress and mental suffering,” and also “medical and related expenses.”
In a statement provided to Pitchfork, Perry Farrell’s attorneys, Bryan J.Freedman and Miles M. Cooley, indicated that their client “is actively exploring ways to address the situation and ensure accountability.”
Pitchfork has reached out to Christopher Frost, an attorney representing Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins in their lawsuit against Perry Farrell, for comment.