Live: Jane’s Addiction @ The Forum

by | Jun 16, 2016

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

This show was set to be special, as Jane’s Addiction played seminal album Ritual de lo Habitual in full. The title’s literal translation, obvious to even the most linguistically challenged, is Rituals of the Habitual, put differently, Everyday Sacred Ceremonies. A wise choice to guarantee gig-going satisfaction. Although frequently named one of rocks most influential bands, by the likes of Tool, The Smashing Pumpkins and Korn, they are a band who have acquired very few new fans from the younger generations. With only two albums following Ritual de lo Habitual, Strays (2003) and The Great Escape Artist (2011), which both underperformed dramatically, commercially and critically.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

The recorded album opens with an announcement in Spanish, a warning, which roughly translated means “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have more influence on your children than you do, but we want them.” The crowd tonight are those children grown up, now for the most part grey haired, a little plumper and probably with children of their own.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

The announcement goes on to introduce the band, “Created and nurtured from Los Angeles… Jane’s Addiction…”  That’s what they are. A pure spirit of LA band representing all of the cultures and influences of that crazy melting pot; Hispanic elements, rock and roll, funk, dreamy Californian melodies, and made them favourites of surf punks and alt-scene kids of the 80’s and 90’s. It seemed only fitting that the first people on a scaffolding platform stage were three scantily clad glamour dancers, among them Perry Farrell‘s wife Etty Lau, to create a stage show reminiscent of the sleazy-cool heydays of the Sunset Strip and evoke seedy nights at the Whisky a Go Go.

 

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

Arriving in a swirling mist of the smoke machine, Perry Farrell appeared to be a perfectly preserved version of his younger self, causing me to wonder if he was now a poster boy for clean living or if the liquor and drugs lifestyle had pickled him in his own juices? Farrell still oozes charisma and sex appeal in 2016, dressed in a Spanish bolero jacket and hat accented with sparkling glam accessories his costume gave his movements a liquid quality.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

If Perry Farrell is the vocal force of Jane’s Addiction, then Dave Navarro is the musical star.  Opening song Stop gave Navarro a perfect opportunity to do some classic shredding and posturing. The dancers gyrated around the platform throwing shapes from the strip dance cannon; pony stepping, twerking and back-bending to whip the crowd into a frenzy. That is, as much of a frenzy as a legion of middle-aged folk can manage. Back in the day this song would have generated a mosh pit faster than you can say “go”, now the audience seemed content to shout along through the blur of music picking out every nuanced lyric at full volume, just like Dad’s singing along to the radio in the car. Perry Farrell will not be stopped, however, and he still has the will to get his groove on, hip-shaking, shimmying and air-punching his way effortlessly through the next three powerhouse tracks of No One’s Leaving and Ain’t No Right and Obvious.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

Soon up was the crowd-pleasing favourite, best selling single and regular feature of indie and alt discos since 1990, Been Caught Stealing.  This booty shaking number saw Farrell and Navarro playing a back a forth game of twang and wail, pick and scat, amicably echoing each other’s variation with Farrell smiling broadly after every round.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

Following the schedule of the album, the dancers return for Three Days a sultry meditation on sex, romance and relationship dynamics in the setting of a ménage a trois.  Let’s just say, the dancers gave a somewhat literal interpretation of the lyrics. This song provided the perfect segue from Navarro’s melodic and squealing guitar riffs to the slower, drifting Then She Said.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

The penultimate album track, Of Course, created a distinct change of pace with the familiar Romany-style violin, in this case piped in not played live, and mock folk dancing from Farrell. To illustrate the lyrics a character arrived on the platform who can only be described as an animal-horned-Viking-male contemporary dancer. Possibly someone plucked from the audience at Farrell’s famous touring festival Lollapalooza. Concluding the song, Farrell seemed to give bass player Chris Chaney tender kisses on the mouth.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

The album set finished with the love song Classic Girl, a number which is many a pre-Millenial couples’s ‘our song’.  Memorably, the original video for this song featured an intimate and touching  Santería-style wedding ceremony between Farrell and then muse and girlfriend Casey Niccoli. This performance, however featured Farrell’s now wife performing an entirely different type of ritual with another female dancer.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

After the expected encore fake out rite, the band returned to stomp out Bowie’s Rebel Rebel.  A fitting tribute to one whose fluid sexuality, exquisite stage presence and musical influence was shared in part by Perry Farrell. Farrell is still an outsider, an original who beamed at the audience between songs seeming grateful for these moments of acceptance and adoration.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

What followed were additional greatest hit highlights of Just Because, and the thundering metal classic Mountain, which saw drummer Stephen Perkins throw his whole weight behind the beat making a case of post-gig hearing loss inevitable. A slightly strange choice of encore tune was Ted, Just Admit It from the album Nothing’s Shocking. This track did get brief recognition thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack for 1994 film Natural Born Killers. This swirling mix of dub and psychedelia gave Farrell a chance to manipulate his vocals in a rant about fake people and the horrors of modern life, prescient lyrics in today’s world.

Jane's Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016. www.rebeladelica.com (Imelda Michalczyk)

Jane’s Addiction at The Forum in London on 13 June 2016.  (Imelda Michalczyk)

As a finale to wrap up the show, we were treated to the gentle anthem to poor self esteem, Jane Says. What may have originally been a song written as an observation about a person in a time and a place has become a strangely fitting metaphor for the band. The lives of outrageous extroverts with high risk sex and drugs lifestyles whose driving motivation is a sense of unworthiness. It is fair to assume from Perry Farrell’s grinning face, his gratitude and his warmth to a worshipping audience, that in exchange for reliving the music of their youth, he too was transported to his own personal glory days.

Long may we all keep that feeling. As he says in his own lyrics, “I am skin and bones, I am pony nosed, but it mutherf**kin’ makes me try!” and, succeed.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000F28TJjh7lIg” g_name=”Jane-s-Addiction” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_smooth=”t” f_up=”t” f_topbar=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”740″ height=”555″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” target=”_self” ]

Review by Sarah Sievers and photography by Imelda Michalczyk.

Jane’s Addiction played Ritual de lo Habitual, O2 Forum Kentish Town 13th June 2016.

Janes Addiction Live Review & Photography

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing