Dave Navarro, alongside Jane’s Addiction bandmates Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins, has filed a lawsuit against lead singer Perry Farrell for assault and battery following an onstage altercation during a September 13, 2024, concert in Boston. Filed on July 16, 2025, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the lawsuit seeks at least $10 million in damages, citing financial losses from a canceled reunion tour and personal harm.
During a performance of “Ocean Size” at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion, Farrell allegedly shoved Navarro and attempted to punch him, leading to the show’s abrupt end and the cancellation of the remaining 15 tour dates. The lawsuit claims Farrell’s attack continued backstage, striking Navarro, who was vulnerable due to long COVID-19 recovery. The incident also triggered emotional distress for Navarro, linked to his mother’s 1983 murder.
The plaintiffs accuse Farrell of intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract, citing his erratic behavior, intoxication, and disruptive onstage rants. The tour cancellation and a stalled album project, potentially costing over $10 million, are central to the financial claims. Tensions also arose over Farrell’s insistence on decisions, like featuring his wife’s dance video, which the band vetoed.
Farrell responded with a lawsuit hours later, alleging a “years-long bullying campaign” by his bandmates, who he claims played at excessive volumes, forcing him to strain his voice. He admits to body-checking Navarro but denies throwing punches, claiming he was assaulted by Avery in a headlock. Farrell disputes the tour cancellation, calling it a breach of the band’s agreement, and denies mental health issues cited by the band.
The incident ended Jane’s Addiction’s reunion tour, meant to revive their alt-rock legacy. Farrell apologized publicly, but Navarro has since declared the band’s future with Farrell impossible. As dueling lawsuits unfold, the band’s legacy and the members’ futures hang in the balance.
