Latest news with #Jane's Addiction
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ozzy Osbourne, godfather of heavy metal who led Black Sabbath, dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice — and drug-and-alcohol ravaged id — of heavy metal, died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents' groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show 'The Osbournes.' Black Sabbath's 1969 self-titled debut LP has been likened to the Big Bang of heavy metal. It came during the height of the Vietnam War and crashed the hippie party, dripping menace and foreboding. The band's second album, 'Paranoid,' included such classic tunes as 'War Pigs,' 'Iron Man' and 'Fairies Wear Boots.' The song 'Paranoid' only reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 but became in many ways the band's signature song. Both albums were voted among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. 'Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal. Anybody who's serious about metal will tell you it all comes down to Sabbath,' Dave Navarro of the band Jane's Addiction wrote in a 2010 tribute in Rolling Stone. Sabbath fired Osbourne in 1979 for his legendary excesses, like showing up late for rehearsals and missing gigs. He reemerged the next year as a solo artist with 'Blizzard of Ozz' and the following year's 'Diary of a Madman,' both hard rock classics that went multi-platinum and spawned enduring favorites such as 'Crazy Train,' 'Goodbye to Romance,' 'Flying High Again' and 'You Can't Kill Rock and Roll.' Osbourne was twice inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — once with Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo artist. The original Sabbath lineup reunited for the first time in 20 years in July 2025 in the U.K. for what Osbourne said was his final concert. 'Let the madness begin!' he told 42,000 fans. Metallica, Guns N Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Halestorm, Anthrax, Rival Sons and Mastodon did sets. Tom Morello, Steven Tyler, Billy Corgan, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, Sammy Hagar, Yungblud and Vernon Reid made appearances. Osbourne embodied the excesses of metal. His outlandish exploits included relieving himself on the Alamo, snorting a line of ants off a sidewalk and, most memorably, biting the head off a live bat that a fan threw onstage during a 1981 concert. (He said he thought it was rubber.) Osbourne was sued in 1987 by parents of a 19-year-old teen who died by suicide while listening to his song 'Suicide Solution.' The lawsuit was dismissed. Osbourne said the song was really about the dangers of alcohol, which caused the death of his friend Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC. Then-Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York claimed in 1990 that Osbourne's songs led to demonic possession and even suicide. 'You are ignorant about the true meaning of my songs,' the singer wrote back. 'You have also insulted the intelligence of rock fans all over the world.' Audiences at Osbourne shows could be mooned or spit on by the singer, but the Satan-invoking Osbourne would usually send the crowds home with their ears ringing and a hearty 'God bless!' He started an annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what was then the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. Ozzfest would host such bands as Slipknot, Tool, Megadeth, Rob Zombie, System of a Down, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park. In 2013, he reunited with Black Sabbath for the dour, raw '13,' which reached No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart. In 2019, he had a Top 10 hit when featured on Post Malone's 'Take What You Want,' Osbourne's first song in the Top 10 since 1989. In 2020, he released the album 'Ordinary Man,' which had as its title song a duet with Elton John. 'I've been a bad guy, been higher than the blue sky/And the truth is I don't wanna die an ordinary man,' he sang. In 2022, he landed his first career back-to-back No. 1 rock radio singles from his album 'Patient Number 9,' which featured collaborations with Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Robert Trujillo and Duff McKagan. t earned four Grammy nominations, winning two. (Osbourne won five Grammys over his lifetime.) At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2024, Jack Black called him 'greatest frontman in the history of rock 'n' roll' and 'the Jack Nicholson of rock.' John Michael Osbourne was raised in the gritty city of Birmingham, England. Kids in school nicknamed him Ozzy, short for his surname. In the late 1960s, Osbourne teamed up with bassist Terry 'Geezer' Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. They named themselves after the American title of the classic Italian horror movie 'I Tre Volti Della Paura,' starring Boris Karloff: Black Sabbath. The music was all about industrial guitar riffs and disorienting changes in time signatures, along with lyrics that spoke of alienation and doom. 'All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy/Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify,' Osbourne sang in one song. The Guardian in 2009 said the band 'introduced working-class anger, stoner sludge grooves and witchy horror-rock to flower power." Much later, a wholesome Osbourne would be revealed when 'The Osbournes,' which ran on MTV from 2002-2005, showed this one-time self-proclaimed madman drinking Diet Cokes as he struggled to find the History Channel on his new satellite television. He is survived by Sharon, and his children.
Malay Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘Been caught suing': Jane's Addiction reunion turns into legal showdown after onstage fight
NEW YORK, July 18 — Four decades after rising to fame with hits like Been Caught Stealing, the original lineup of Jane's Addiction is now back in the spotlight — but not for the reasons fans had hoped. According to The New York Times, the bandmates have filed lawsuits against one another following a dramatic onstage altercation last September that abruptly ended their first reunion tour in 14 years. What began as a nostalgic comeback has spiralled into a courtroom saga. It all went south during a performance in Boston when frontman Perry Farrell physically confronted guitarist Dave Navarro in full view of the audience. As seen in widely circulated video footage, Farrell slammed his shoulder into Navarro and appeared to throw a punch before being restrained. That moment proved to be the tour's death knell, as the remaining 15 dates were cancelled soon after. Now, the fallout has hit the legal stage. Bassist Eric Avery, drummer Stephen Perkins, and Navarro have filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing Farrell of assault, battery, negligence, emotional distress, and breach of contract. They claim his actions left them not only with a failed tour but also a scrapped record deal. 'They have been wronged, want the accurate story told and they deserve a resolution,' said Christopher Frost, the trio's lawyer, in a statement reported by The New York Times. Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell — also a performer — hit back with a countersuit, accusing the others of 'a yearslong bullying campaign' that allegedly included sabotaging his performances by playing their instruments so loudly he couldn't hear himself sing. In their filing, Navarro and the others described Farrell's behaviour as the catalyst for the group's collapse, citing incidents of the singer forgetting lyrics, mumbling incoherently on stage, and drinking openly from a wine bottle during performances. They wrote: 'The band suffered a swift and painful death at the hands of Farrell's unprovoked anger and complete lack of self-control.' Following the altercation, Navarro publicly pointed to 'the mental health difficulties of our singer' as the reason for the cancellation, while Farrell issued a remorseful apology to his bandmates, saying his 'breaking point resulted in inexcusable behaviour.' Farrell's legal team has since pushed back, accusing his bandmates of trying to 'control the narrative' and painting themselves as the victims. 'It's a transparent attempt to control the narrative and present themselves as the so-called 'good guys' — a move that's both typical and predictable,' their statement read. For fans who once hoped the band's legacy might get a proper second act, it's a sobering end — and one that, for now, seems more courtroom drama than rock revival.
CNA
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Jane's Addiction bandmates sue each other over onstage fight that ended tour
The members of alternative rock band Jane's Addiction filed duelling lawsuits Wednesday (Jul 16) over singer Perry Farrell's onstage scuffle with guitarist Dave Navarro at a Boston concert last year, prompting the cancellation of the rest of their reunion tour and a planned album. Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery sued Farrell in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking at least US$10 million (S$12.8 million), alleging that Farrell's behaviour on the tour had ranged from erratic to out-of-control, culminating in the assault, where Perry punched Navarro both on stage and backstage. 'With a series of swift blows, he single-handedly destroyed the name, reputation, trademark, and viability of the Band and those who built it,' their lawsuit says. Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, sued the three bandmates in the same court Wednesday, blaming them for the conflict and the violence. 'Navarro, Avery and Perkins apparently decided,' the lawsuit says, 'that Jane's Addiction's decades of success should be jettisoned in pursuit of a yearslong bullying campaign against Farrell involving harassing him onstage during performances, including, among other tactics, trying to undermine him by playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing.' The Farrells said that Navarro and Avery actually assaulted them. Perry Farrell said he was 'blindsided' when the other members cancelled the remaining 15 shows of the tour and broke up the band without consulting him, costing all of them a great deal of money. And he said his bandmates defamed him by publicly saying after the fight that he had mental health problems. Jane's Addiction was an essential part of the Los Angeles music scene in the late 1980s with their combination of elements of punk, goth and psychedelic sounds and culture. They became a national phenomenon with hits including Jane Says and Been Caught Stealing, and through their founding of the Lollapalooza tour, whose first incarnations they headlined in 1991. The group broke up soon after but returned several times in various incarnations. The 2024 tour was the first time the original members had played together since 2010. Farrell missed all seven of the group's rehearsals in the run-up to the tour, his bandmates' lawsuit alleges, and his behaviour during the early shows ranged from erratic to out-of-control. 'He struggled night to night amid public concern for his well-being and apparent intoxication,' their lawsuit says. 'Perry forgot lyrics, lost his place in songs he had sung since the 1980s, and mumbled rants as he drank from a wine bottle onstage.' The lawsuit says Farrell was given many solutions to the volume problem, none of which he followed. Then on Sep 13 at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston in front of about 4,000 fans, videos partially captured Farrell lunging at Navarro and bumping Navarro with his shoulder before taking a swing at the guitarist with his right arm. Navarro is seen holding his right arm out to keep Farrell away before Farrell is dragged away. But Farrell's lawsuit says the 'video evidence is clear that the first altercation onstage during the Boston show was hardly one-sided'. It says Navarro was deliberately playing loud to drown out the singer, and "what followed was an inappropriate violent escalation by Navarro and Avery that was disproportionate to Farrell's minor body check of Navarro". Farrell alleges that when he was being restrained by a crew member, Avery punched him in the kidneys, and that both Avery and Navarro assaulted him and his wife backstage. Shortly after the fight, Farrell in a statement apologised to his bandmates, especially Navarro, for 'inexcusable behaviour'. Both lawsuits allege assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract, among other claims. 'Now,' Navarro, Perkins and Avery's lawsuit says, 'the Band will never have their revival Tour, to celebrate a new album and 40+ years of deep, complex, chart-topping recordings. Instead, history will remember the Band as suffering a swift and painful death at the hands of Farrell's unprovoked anger and complete lack of self-control."
CNN
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Jane's Addiction bandmates sue each other over onstage fight that ended tour
The members of alternative rock band Jane's Addiction filed dueling lawsuits Wednesday over singer Perry Farrell's onstage scuffle with guitarist Dave Navarro at a Boston concert last year, prompting the cancellation of the rest of their reunion tour and a planned album. Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery sued Farrell in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking at least $10 million, alleging that Farrell's behavior on the tour had ranged from erratic to out-of-control, culminating in the assault, where Farrell punched Navarro both on stage and backstage. 'With a series of swift blows, he single-handedly destroyed the name, reputation, trademark, and viability of the Band and those who built it,' their lawsuit says. Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, sued the three bandmates in the same court Wednesday, blaming them for the conflict and the violence. 'Navarro, Avery and Perkins apparently decided,' the lawsuit says, 'that Jane's Addiction's decades of success should be jettisoned in pursuit of a yearslong bullying campaign against Farrell involving harassing him onstage during performances, including, among other tactics, trying to undermine him by playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing.' The Farrells said that Navarro and Avery actually assaulted them. Perry Farrell said he was 'blindsided' when the other members canceled the remaining 15 shows of the tour and broke up the band without consulting him, costing all of them a great deal of money. And he said his bandmates defamed him by publicly saying after the fight that he had mental health problems. Jane's Addiction was an essential part of the Los Angeles music scene in the late 1980s with their combination of elements of punk, goth and psychedelic sounds and culture. They became a national phenomenon with hits including 'Jane Says' and 'Been Caught Stealing,' and through their founding of the Lollapalooza tour, whose first incarnations they headlined in 1991. The group broke up soon after but returned several times in various incarnations. The 2024 tour was the first time the original members had played together since 2010. Farrell missed all seven of the group's rehearsals in the run-up to the tour, his bandmate's lawsuit alleges, and his behavior during the early shows ranged from erratic to out-of-control. 'He struggled night to night amid public concern for his well-being and apparent intoxication,' their lawsuit says. 'Perry forgot lyrics, lost his place in songs he had sung since the 1980s, and mumbled rants as he drank from a wine bottle onstage.' The lawsuit says Farrell was given many solutions to the volume problem, none of which he followed. Then on Sept. 13 at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston in front of about 4,000 fans, videos partially captured Farrell lunging at Navarro and bumping Navarro with his shoulder before taking a swing at the guitarist with his right arm. Navarro is seen holding his right arm out to keep Farrell away before Farrell is dragged away. But Farrell's lawsuit says the 'video evidence is clear that the first altercation onstage during the Boston show was hardly one-sided.' It says Navarro was deliberately playing loud to drown out the singer, and 'what followed was an inappropriate violent escalation by Navarro and Avery that was disproportionate to Farrell's minor body check of Navarro.' Farrell alleges that when he was being restrained by a crew member, Avery punched him in the kidneys, and that both Avery and Navarro assaulted him and his wife backstage. Shortly after the fight, Farrell in a statement apologized to his bandmates, especially Navarro, for 'inexcusable behavior.' Both lawsuits allege assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract, among other claims. 'Now,' Navarro, Perkins and Avery's lawsuit says, 'the Band will never have their revival Tour, to celebrate a new album and 40+ years of deep, complex, chart-topping recordings. Instead, history will remember the Band as suffering a swift and painful death at the hands of Farrell's unprovoked anger and complete lack of self-control.'
CNN
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Jane's Addiction bandmates sue each other over onstage fight that ended tour
The members of alternative rock band Jane's Addiction filed dueling lawsuits Wednesday over singer Perry Farrell's onstage scuffle with guitarist Dave Navarro at a Boston concert last year, prompting the cancellation of the rest of their reunion tour and a planned album. Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery sued Farrell in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking at least $10 million, alleging that Farrell's behavior on the tour had ranged from erratic to out-of-control, culminating in the assault, where Farrell punched Navarro both on stage and backstage. 'With a series of swift blows, he single-handedly destroyed the name, reputation, trademark, and viability of the Band and those who built it,' their lawsuit says. Farrell and his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, sued the three bandmates in the same court Wednesday, blaming them for the conflict and the violence. 'Navarro, Avery and Perkins apparently decided,' the lawsuit says, 'that Jane's Addiction's decades of success should be jettisoned in pursuit of a yearslong bullying campaign against Farrell involving harassing him onstage during performances, including, among other tactics, trying to undermine him by playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing.' The Farrells said that Navarro and Avery actually assaulted them. Perry Farrell said he was 'blindsided' when the other members canceled the remaining 15 shows of the tour and broke up the band without consulting him, costing all of them a great deal of money. And he said his bandmates defamed him by publicly saying after the fight that he had mental health problems. Jane's Addiction was an essential part of the Los Angeles music scene in the late 1980s with their combination of elements of punk, goth and psychedelic sounds and culture. They became a national phenomenon with hits including 'Jane Says' and 'Been Caught Stealing,' and through their founding of the Lollapalooza tour, whose first incarnations they headlined in 1991. The group broke up soon after but returned several times in various incarnations. The 2024 tour was the first time the original members had played together since 2010. Farrell missed all seven of the group's rehearsals in the run-up to the tour, his bandmate's lawsuit alleges, and his behavior during the early shows ranged from erratic to out-of-control. 'He struggled night to night amid public concern for his well-being and apparent intoxication,' their lawsuit says. 'Perry forgot lyrics, lost his place in songs he had sung since the 1980s, and mumbled rants as he drank from a wine bottle onstage.' The lawsuit says Farrell was given many solutions to the volume problem, none of which he followed. Then on Sept. 13 at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston in front of about 4,000 fans, videos partially captured Farrell lunging at Navarro and bumping Navarro with his shoulder before taking a swing at the guitarist with his right arm. Navarro is seen holding his right arm out to keep Farrell away before Farrell is dragged away. But Farrell's lawsuit says the 'video evidence is clear that the first altercation onstage during the Boston show was hardly one-sided.' It says Navarro was deliberately playing loud to drown out the singer, and 'what followed was an inappropriate violent escalation by Navarro and Avery that was disproportionate to Farrell's minor body check of Navarro.' Farrell alleges that when he was being restrained by a crew member, Avery punched him in the kidneys, and that both Avery and Navarro assaulted him and his wife backstage. Shortly after the fight, Farrell in a statement apologized to his bandmates, especially Navarro, for 'inexcusable behavior.' Both lawsuits allege assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract, among other claims. 'Now,' Navarro, Perkins and Avery's lawsuit says, 'the Band will never have their revival Tour, to celebrate a new album and 40+ years of deep, complex, chart-topping recordings. Instead, history will remember the Band as suffering a swift and painful death at the hands of Farrell's unprovoked anger and complete lack of self-control.'
