Formed after the dissolution of frontman Perry Farell’s previous band, Jane’s Addiction gained attention from Warner Bros. Records in 1987 with the release of their self titled live album. Since then, the band have sporadically toured and dissolved a number of times the first being in 1991 where their farewell tour launched the first Lollapalooza – an annual four day festival held in Grant Park Chicago. Lollapalooza has since become a revered alternative rock festival evolving to include genres like hip hop and electronic dance music and even expanded outside of the US in 2010. ‘Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza’, a three part documentary on the festival, debuted at Sundance film festival in January and will premiere on May 21st on Paramount +. Give it a watch if you are curious about the member’s projects outside of the band.

The band describe themselves as a kind of farrago or ‘Hodge-Podge'; that is a mass of disorderly chaos, or a jumble. Born out of the LA underground rock scene, the band recall this space fondly as it gave them a chance to make mistakes and define who they are now. In a 2012 interview with Rhino, infamous guitarist Dave Navarro expressed that the band are just doing ‘what we want and don’t really worry about it. I mean, listen to the lyrics of “Have A Cigar.” What a direct ‘f*ck you’ to the music industry that song is.’ Unfortunately fans of the band may be disappointed as Navarro hasn’t returned to the stage due to ongoing issues with long Covid. Instead, he has been replaced by Josh Klinghoffer who, like Navarro, is best known for touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers between the years 2009 and 2019. In 2022 speaking to Alternative Press, Farell expressed that it wasn’t easy finding a replacement for Navarro noting that ‘Jane’s is a unique band, and you can’t just grab any guitar player and they’ll pick it up. That’s Dave Navarro we’re talking about — those are big shoes to fill.’

If you’re attending the Derby festival of any of the band’s gigs then according to an article written by Niall Doherty, for Louder Magazine in April ‘what you should really do is shout out (not when Perry is talking, that would be rude) for the band to play either their epic, ten-minute 1990 single Three Days or the similarly vast Then She Did…’ or at least that’s what Farell told the journalist when speaking to him in 2021. You can listen to the lengthy piece below.

The remainder of the UK leg of their tour sees them playing at the Roundhouse in London and then onto Glasgow at the Barrowland Ballroom on the 31st of May before ending in Manchester with a show at the O2 Apollo on the 2nd of June. They will then travel to across to Europe to play shows in Germany and France before returning to this side of the pond in late June for a show at Trinity College Dublin on the 28th. You can find tickets for the Bush Hall show and any other of the band’s gigs over the coming weeks here.

Frontman Perry Farrell issued a statement on Instagram expressing his joy on performing for the first time in eight years in the UK and Europe, saying, “Tonight, the Jane’s camp is over the moon, as we’re finally able to announce UK, European headline and festival shows. It has been far too long – my Janes Addiction family! We can’t wait to see your faces again, (well look at you).. singing songs, and soaring to the moon in a new rocket. Togetherness – roll on 2024!”

Watch the music video for “Jane Says“, from the band’s debut album Nothing’s Shocking, below:

Jane’s Addiction formed in Los Angeles in 1985 with an original lineup consisting of Perry Farrell on lead vocals, Dave Navarro on guitar, Eric Avery on bass and Stephen Perkins on drums. They burst onto the American alternative rock scene with their self-title live album Jane’s Addiction in 1987, and, after signing with Warner Bros., released their debut studio album, Nothing’s Shocking, in 1988 to widespread critical acclaim. Their second release, Ritual de lo Habitual (1990), furthered their growing domination of the alternative rock movement in the US and helped garner a significant cult following.

Watch the music video for “Been Caught Stealing“, from the group’s second LP Ritual de lo Habitual, below:

In 1991 the band then set about a farewell tour in 1991, creating the first Lollapalooza festival, but after two reunions, released their third album, Strays, in 2003. After yet another reunion in 2008, Jane’s Addiction released their fourth and latest album, The Great Escape Artist in 2011 and, despite no further new material, the band have remained active with occasional shows and tours.

See below for tour dates:

23/05/2024 – Bearded Theory Festival 2024 – Derbyshire
27/05 – Roundhouse – London
29/05 – Roundhouse – London
31/05 – Barrowland – Glasgow
02/06 – 02 Apollo – Manchester
04/06 – Große Freiheit – Hamburg
06/06 – Große Freiheit – Hamburg
08/06 – Les Docks – Lausanne
10/06 – X-TRA Musikcafe – Zürich
14/06 – Lido di Camaiore – Camaiore
23/06 – Pinkpop 2024 – Landgraaf
25/06 – Carlswerk Victoria – Köln
26/06 – L’Olympia – Paris
28/06 – Trinity College – Dublin
03/07 – Rockhal – Esch-sur-alzette
04/07 – Rock Werchter 2024 – Werchter

You can purchase tickets to these shows and events here.

The festival, which is set to run from 23 May to 26 May 2024, will also welcome Nottingham based grim duo Sleaford Mods, London based grime-punk duo Bob Vylan, and American synth pop group Future Islands. Other acts scheduled to appear include festival favourites Gentleman’s Dub Club, electronic music duo Orbital, Bradford post-punk outfit New Model Army and Dutch indie rock group Pip Blom.

Next year will be the festival’s 15th year, and is set to showcase the remarkable transition from its humble beginnings in 2008 to becoming one of Britain’s most loved music festivals, with Bearded Theory being shortlisted for Best Medium-Sized Festival at the UK Festival Awards this year.

This year’s edition of Bearded Theory saw the introduction of two brand new stages, Big Ed and the Meadow Stage, playing host to bands such as Echo And The Bunnymen and Viagra Boys. These two stages are set to return in 2024.

Festival organiser Ben Ryles has said, “We’re very excited to have two of our favourite alt-rock heroes choosing Bearded Theory as their only UK festival for the year. We also can’t wait to welcome Amyl and the Sniffers and Future Islands, who are so widely renowned for their incredible live shows, as well as festival favourites Sleaford Mods and electronic icons Orbital.”

He continued, “Across this first batch of almost 50 acts there are fast-rising artists at the forefront of their scenes, legendary performers, and plenty of Bearded Theory crowd-pleasers. We’re really pleased to finally reveal them and get the countdown on to the start of the festival season.”

Watch the music video for “Nudge It” by Sleaford Mods, featuring Amy Taylor from Amyl And The Sniffers, below:

With this announcement, almost 50 acts have been confirmed, and there is yet more to come. Other bands that are set to feature at next year’s event include: Ibibio Sound Machine, Jane Weaver, Panic Shack, Jim Bob, Peat & Diesel, Beans on Toast, His Lordship, Divorce, Sprints, Green lung, English Teacher, BDRMM, Big Special, Bis, Roni Size, The Orb, 808 State, System 7, Utah Saints, The March Violets, The Bar Stool Preachers, Hotwax, Trout, Katie Malco, Girl Scout, Liines, Problem Patterns, 3 Daft Monkeys, Spunge and Sonic Boom Six.

Tickets for Bearded Theory 2024 are available to purchase here.

Launched as far back as 1983, the annual event honours artists considered to be crucial contributors to alternative music and culture. Bands and artists become eligible for induction once 25 years has passed since the release of their first record. Ballots are then sent to over six hundred musical historians, industry members, and artists themselves- including every living member already inducted.

The Hall of Fame’s five final inductees will be announced in December. Last year the five inductees were NWA, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple and Steve Miller, the full longlist is shown below:

Bad Brains
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
Electric Light Orchestra
J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
Tupac Shakur
Yes
The Zombies

NWA’s induction last year was a sore point for KISS frontman Gene Simmons, who questioned the legitimacy of Hip-Hop in Rolling Stone, going as far as to suggest that he was “looking forward to the death of rap,” dismissing it as a trend, and even predicting its demise. “Rap will die. Next year, 10 years from now, at some point, and then something else will come along.”

As pioneers of the genre, NWA took this personally, and fired back during their Hall of Fame induction speech, with MC Ren calling out the KISS man directly:” I want to say to Mr. Gene Simmons that hip-hop is here forever. We’re supposed to be here.”

Simmons, himself a member of the Hall of Fame, chose to ignore the democratic nature of NWA’s induction, and took to Twitter to respond.

Respectfully– let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame. Then you’ll have a point. @icecube https://t.co/BRuU8t5vYe

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 9, 2016

Simmons also ignored other rap-based inductees Run-D.M.C, Grandmaster Flash, Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy in his criticism of the band.

One year on from this ordeal and another Hip-Hop icon is up for nomination, this time in form Tupac Shakur. It is well worth noting that NWA were voted into the Hall of Fame in the first year in which they were eligible, 25 years on from their debut album Straight Outta Compton, which bodes well for 2pac too, as it is his first eligible year.