JANE'S ADDICTION Vinyl & CDs

Review: It's been a pity to witness Jane's Addiction's onstage bust-up in 2024 just because they're one of the best American rock bands ever and we wish they'd settle their differences. But let's rewind to a more settled chapter in their existence. Formed in 1985, they were the hottest band in Los Angeles at that time and they bucked the trend by releasing a live album as their debut album. Originally released via the indie label Triple X in 1987, it was recorded at Roxy Theatre, with overdubs added at a studio later. Many of the songs on here would end up re-recorded once the band landed their major record deal. But there's a charm and magic to hearing things a little less polished and tapping into a band on the cusp of greatness. Standouts include the melodic classic 'Jane Says' and the Van Halen-esque lead guitar epic 'Pigs In Zen'. Both were later re-recorded and released on their acclaimed Nothing's Shocking album. Meanwhile, their cover of the Stones' 'Sympathy For The Devil' (re-titled 'Sympathy') shows off the band's penchant for Zeppelin-esque wig-outs and is an indicator of the sheer voodoo power that Dave Navarrow (guitar) and Perry Farrell (vocals) conjured on stage together. If only they can work things out soon.

Review: 30 years ago in August, Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Eric Avery aka Janes Addiction put out their second album. It proved the most critically acclaimed and successful of all their work and in fact was their last for 13 years. Few other alternative rock albums have ever come close to the impact of the one. Fact fans will know, of course, the original record came with three different covers, and might also have read that the tortuous recording process behind the album is what eventually lead to the group's demise.