Iconic rock singer admits ‘I was loaded for practically 40 years’
- Perry Farrell admits to being "loaded" for nearly 40 years, choosing a lifestyle of wild sex and no responsibility over productivity in his career.
An iconic rock singer admits he's been "loaded" for most of his life.
Perry Farrell is best known as the lead singer for Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros, as well as founding the famous Lollapalooza festival. But in a recently resurfaced interview, Farrell said he could've done more in his career.
"My biggest mistake was staying loaded for too long. I was loaded for practically 40 years," Farrell told Dan Rather in a 2021 episode of " The Big Interview ." "So if I would have just cut that in half I could have had 20 years of productivity that I bypassed to just have a good time."
Farrell added that he became "addicted" to "a lifestyle where you can have wild sex and no responsibility and I chose that over being a contributing member to society."
Farrell's comments were reshared this week in a clip by AXS TV on social media. Some joked about his behavior (including a 2024 incident where he punched JA bandmate Dave Navarro on stage), while others praised Farrell for his contributions to alternative rock music and festival culture.
"If he was clean we would have never had Porno for Pyros," one fan wrote Monday.
"For someone who partied for 40 straight years, dare I say he looks pretty damn good," another commented.
"It's hilarious when you consider how much he's actually produced, whether it's Lollapalooza or his own musical career. It's like dude, for someone who was loaded for 40 years, he's accomplished and 'produced' more than anyone in the history of the Earth who's been loaded for 40 years," a third said. "I have zero problems with Perry as a fan. Have always loved everything he's involved with, credit all the music he's been a part of with influencing my life, and wish him all the best."
Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction performs at The Roundhouse on May 29, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Aaron Parsons/Getty Images)Getty Images
Farrell, 67, is a singer who founded Jane's Addiction in the 1980s. The group is best known for alternative rock hits like "Jane Says," "Stop!" and the Grammy-nominated "Been Caught Stealing."
Jane's Addiction broke up for good last year, following a chaotic final concert in Boston where Farrell punched Navarro on stage in September 2024. Bassist Eric Avery tackled Farrell to pull him away and ultimately off stage. The band, including drummer Stephen Perkins, canceled the rest of the reunion tour.
Navarro, Avery and Perkins reportedly sued Farrell afterwards, accusing him of "intoxication," missing tour rehearsals, forgetting lyrics, and delivering "mumbled rants as he drank from a wine bottle onstage." Farrell countersued his former bandmates for defamation, blaming volume issues that made it difficult to hear himself sing.
The lawsuits appeared to be settled in late 2025 when they officially disbanded.
"After that show, without notice to Perry, we unilaterally determined it would be best to not continue the tour and made inaccurate statements about Perry's mental health which we regret," Jane's Addiction said in a statement in December. "Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane's Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together. We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors. Jane's Addiction will forever live in our hearts. We are proud of the music we created together."
Farrell apologized in a separate statement.
"I've reflected on it and know I didn't handle myself the way I should have. I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and for disrupting the show," the JA frontman said in December. "Jane's Addiction has been at the center of my life for decades... The band, the songs, the patrons and the impact that we've had on music and culture mean more to me than any words I could ever possibly write down. My aim has always been to give our audience the best possible show, something real, honest and positive. In Boston, we fell short of that, and I'm truly sorry to everyone who was impacted. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued love and support."
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Jane's Addiction went through several lineups (including with Duff McKagan and Flea) over the years after a 1991 farewell tour that launched the famous Lollapalooza festival. Farrell is also known for his work with Porno for Pyros, a solo act and other projects; Navarro's credits include Red Hot Chili Peppers and TV shows like "Ink Master"; Avery spent nearly two decades with Garbage; and Perkins has performed with Hellride, The Panic Channel, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, and Infectious Grooves.
See Perry Farrell talk about being "loaded" in this interview clip:
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