Perry Farrell’s post-Jane’s Addiction band, Porno for Pyros, followed the same path as his previous band, combining art rock, punk, heavy metal, and funk into one shrieking whole. On their self-titled 1993 debut, Farrell’s pretensions got out of hand at times, resulting in some ridiculously self-absorbed conceptual pieces sitting next to some straightforward rockers and pop songs; it sold well at first, but soon slipped down the charts. While he prepared new Porno material in 1994, Farrell returned to the organization of Lollapalooza — the traveling rock festival he conceived — for the first time since 1992. The band released Good Gods Urge in 1996.
Although Good Gods Urge was a successful release from both an artistic and musical standpoint, the album disappeared from the charts shortly after its release. On the album’s ensuing tour, former Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt filled in for the departed Lenoble, and to the delight of longtime Jane’s Addiction fans, guitarist Dave Navarro was a special surprise guest on select dates as well. After the album’s ensuing tour wrapped up in early 1997 (and a pair of Porno for Pyros songs appeared on the motion picture soundtracks for The Cable Guy and Private Parts), Farrell promptly ended the group, as he focused on a solo recording career as well as sporadic Jane’s Addiction reunion shows.
On July 27, 2020, it was announced that for the first time in 22 years, Porno for Pyros (featuring the lineup of Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, Mike Watt and Peter DiStefano) would be reuniting to play Lolla2020, a free four-night YouTube broadcast event taking place on the original dates of the 2020 Chicago-based Lollapalooza festival, Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, August 2.
On July 20, 2021, DiStefano announced on his Facebook page that he, Farrell and Perkins were working on what will be new material from Porno for Pyros in over two decades.
On May 18, 2022, Farrell shared Jane’s Addiction will not be playing Welcome to Rockville concert in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 22 due to guitarist Dave Navarro suffering from a “long bout” of COVID-19, but is reuniting his band Porno for Pyros for the performance. “The gang and the government are no different. That makes me 1%. Rockville, although we are blue that Jane’s cannot be with you at this time due to Dave’s long bout with COVID, I am still coming to Daytona, bringing to you for the first time in 26 years Porno For Pyros Featuring myself, Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, Peter DiStefeno and Mike Watt. We’ll play some Jane’s songs for you as well, but for now let’s recall: My boat’s capsized it’s gonna sink to the bottom. I can see the lights on the shore…” noted Farrell on the Welcome to Rockville Facebook page. Drummer Stephen Perkins was replaced by his drum tech Mike Gryciuk for the performance due to a stomach virus, with Nick Maybury, formerly of Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts on additional guitar.
For the band’s subsequent summer shows and appearance at Lollapalooza, founding bassist Martyn LeNoble rejoined the band, with the original four-piece working on new material the following year. The band will release a four-track EP of original material in 2024.
After the band’s initial reunion tour was postponed and rescheduled, LeNoble announced his amicable departure from the band on November 13, 2023: “I’m so excited for the world to hear “Agua” and the other unreleased material from our recent sessions. There is a real connection between these new songs and how we’ve grown. We’ve mended our friendships and recorded these songs with love. I think you will hear that in the recordings. I’ve changed. I like quiet and nature. With that being said, I will be following my passion for wildlife and will not be part of the upcoming tour. I wish my brothers Perry, Pete and Stephen the best. I’m truly grateful for every moment I spent with them. Most importantly, thank you to all of you for all of the amazing support and memories.”
Following LeNoble’s departure, the band announced that their 2024 tour would now be a farewell tour, titled the “Horns, Thorns en Halos”, with Mike Watt rejoining the band on bass guitar for its final shows.
REF: AllMusic & Wiki
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM plays Porno for Pyros. All part of 50 years of Rock, Blues and More, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
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