The longstanding tensions within Jane’s Addiction have come to a breaking point. Three members of the band, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins, have filed a lawsuit against frontman Perry Farrell, citing assault, battery, and a cascade of professional and financial breaches stemming from a September 2024 onstage incident that derailed the band’s highly anticipated reunion tour.

Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the 36-page complaint outlines a series of grievances against Farrell, including intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty. The plaintiffs claim that Farrell’s behavior led directly to the collapse of the tour and the band’s operations, costing the group over $10 million in projected earnings and derailing plans for their first full-length studio album together in more than three decades.

At the core of the legal dispute is a confrontation that took place during a September 13 performance at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion. During a performance of “Ocean Size,” Farrell allegedly shoved Navarro mid-guitar solo, triggering a physical and emotional fallout that resulted in the abrupt end of the show. According to the lawsuit, Farrell escalated the situation backstage, striking Navarro in the face when the guitarist confronted him about the incident. The lawsuit states that the altercation left Navarro physically hurt and emotionally shaken, especially given his lingering health issues following a lengthy battle with long COVID.

“This band can no longer function due to the Defendant’s conduct,” the suit claims. “Farrell’s unpredictable behavior, intoxication during performances, and disregard for collaborative decision-making have made continued partnership impossible.”

The complaint paints a picture of growing dysfunction within the group. Navarro, who had been receiving monthly disability payments due to his health, reportedly ended his benefits in order to rejoin the band and commit to a rigorous tour schedule. The filing notes that he spent months undergoing treatment and preparing for the stage, sacrifices that included postponing a wedding in Scotland and losing over $50,000 in deposits.

Photo Source: Song Stories Rewind/YouTube via The Guardian Tensions reportedly escalated even before the tour began. Disputes over creative decisions including the use of stage videos featuring Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell, caused friction among band members. The lawsuit alleges that Etty frequently intervened in band matters and undermined group consensus. The plaintiffs claim that a majority-rule structure had been agreed upon to avoid such conflicts, yet Farrell continued to make unilateral decisions.

Farrell’s alleged onstage instability is a recurring theme in the suit. According to the complaint, he frequently appeared intoxicated, slurred his speech between songs, and often went off-script with incoherent monologues.

These performances, the plaintiffs argue, damaged the band’s credibility and morale.

After the Boston incident, Navarro attempted to continue the tour with a replacement guitarist, but both Avery and Perkins declined to move forward. The lawsuit claims that they no longer felt safe or confident performing with Farrell. As a result, the tour was canceled, and plans for a new album, part of a contract with Warner Music Group’s ADA were shelved. The band had reportedly completed two singles and eight additional instrumentals, but the dissolution has left the future of that project uncertain.

Financially, the fallout is significant. Each member stood to earn $210,000 from the North American leg of the tour, and they now face an estimated $240,000 in unpaid commissions to their management and legal teams. The suit adds that the tour was intended to be a marketing launchpad for their new record and a foundation for future tours, a long-term vision that has now collapsed.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, the band’s attorney Christopher Frost said the plaintiffs had hoped to recapture the band’s early spirit but were thwarted by Farrell’s behavior. “Dave, Eric, and Stephen never wanted it to come to this,” said Frost. “But they have been wronged, want the accurate story told, and they deserve a resolution.”

As of now, representatives for Farrell have not issued a response to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Jane’s Addiction remains effectively dissolved, with no further live dates or recordings planned. For a band once celebrated for its rebellious energy and innovation, the unraveling of this reunion has instead become a cautionary tale of fractured trust, creative disarray, and the high cost of unresolved conflict.