Slated to play on Oakland University’s campus at the Meadowbrook Amphitheatre on Sept. 20, 2024, the legendary alternative rock band, Jane’s Addiction’s newest single, “Imminent Redemption,” hit streaming on July 24. Earlier this year, the band also announced a world tour that would include the original lineup of the band, including lead singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins.
The highly anticipated tour would take the band through several U.S. cities — including Rochester Hills, Mich. — but on Sept. 13, Farrell would get into a heated verbal and physical altercation with Navarro which would indisputably complicate things.
A video from their Boston performance on Sept. 13 shows Farrell — while seemingly agitated — body check Navarro and yell in his face. Farrell then approaches Navarro once again but the two are then broken up by security.
The show was inevitably cut short, and the band issued a statement apologizing to concertgoers and canceling their next show the following evening in Bridgeport, Conn. It would be soon after some inner reflection by the band that they would cancel the rest of the tour and put the newly reunited band on a hiatus.
Navarro, Avery and Perkins put out a statement on Navarro’s Instagram, citing Farrell’s mental health issues and a concern over his behavior and personal safety as the main reason why the tour was canned, and the band is now at a stand-still.
“Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to discontinue the current US tour. Our concern for his personal health and safety as well as our own has left us no alternative. We hope that he will find the help he needs,” Navarro, Avery and Perkins wrote.
Farrell put out his own statement on Instagram shortly after the band announced the split, in which he solemnly apologizes to his fans and more importantly to Dave Navarro.
“This weekend has been incredibly difficult and after having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s show. Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behavior, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle the situation,” Farrell wrote.
While Jane’s Addiction did not make it to Meadowbrook before their hiatus, one can only wonder what their performance alongside their opening acts, Love & Rockets, as well as Crawlers, could have been.
OU rock fans might have missed out on the legendary act coming to town; however, the outdoor season is not over yet. A band that has gotten high praise for their newest album, “Only God Was Above Us,” Vampire Weekend, is coming to Meadowbrook Amphitheatre on Monday, Sept. 23. Another revered indie act, Cults, is penciled in as the opener.
Some SAFAC organizations, including WXOU, Oakland University’s student-run radio station, will have tables at the Vampire Weekend concert.
For more information about upcoming shows at Meadowbrook Amphitheatre, visit meadowbrookamphitheatre.com.
