Jane's Addiction & Perry Farrell File Lawsuits Against Each Other

Things are heating up amongst the members of Jane’s Addiction, as two lawsuits have been filed.

Earlier today, The Guardian reported that members of the American rock band filed a lawsuit against their singer, Perry Farrell, after an on-stage altercation last year that resulted in the cancellation of their remaining tour dates.

Guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins are seeking $10 million in damages from Farrell.

Navarro is also suing Farrell for assault and battery for the on-stage altercation, which took place in Boston last September.

According to footage from the concert, Farrell punched and shoved Navarro before being escorted off stage. The lawsuit states that the attack allegedly continued backstage, the band claiming that Farrell landed an “unexpected punch at [Navarro], striking him on the left side of the face.”

TMZ reports that the band members are also suing Farrell for emotional distress, negligence, and breach of contract.

Hours after his bandmates sued him, Farrell filed a separate lawsuit that claims that he was the victim of “bullying,” per Billboard. He’s suing his bandmates for assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract. He’s also seeking damages, but no monetary amount has been listed.

Farrell’s lawsuit claims that Navarro, Avery, and Perkins assaulted him on stage after complaining about the volume at which Navarro played the song Ocean Size.

The frontman also said that the alleged assault was the result of a “years-long bullying campaign” in which his bandmates had attempted to “undermine” him while performing on stage by performing too loudly, and he therefore couldn’t hear himself or sing in tune.

Farrell stated that those alleged actions caused him to boost his in-ear monitors to hear himself, which has caused “significant eardrum damage and advanced hearing loss.”

The lawsuit stated that Farrell wanted to keep touring following the on-stage incident, but alleges that his bandmates cancelled the tour and made him the “scapegoat” by informing fans the cancellation was due to Farrell allegedly having “mental health difficulties.”

The lawsuit continues, “Plaintiffs are informed, believe and on these bases allege that defendants made their false and defamatory statements regarding Perry Farrell’s mental health in a spurious effort both to change the narrative about the events of the band’s last show, but also as a part of a disingenuous effort to secure insurance coverage for their own irresponsible cancellation of the tour.”

Jane’s Addiction was founded by Farrell, Avery, Chris Brinkman and Matt Chaikin in Los Angeles in 1985. Navarro and Perkins joined the band in 1986 and returned after its reunions, playing on all the group’s releases.