Jane’s Got a Star… on the Walk of Fame

Article by Laura Butler

HOLLYWOOD, CA, October 31—The band who defined music’s alternative rock movement in the early 1990s, Jane’s Addiction, was honored today with a star on Hollywood Boulevard’s iconic Walk of Fame, appropriately enough in front of the women’s lingerie and X-rated apparel store Playmates. One of Jane’s sexiest and most recognized members, guitarist Dave Navarro, acknowledged the star’s location, “personally, having our star where it is, is perfect.”

Navarro, Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney took to the podium at noon to greet the hundreds of fans who came out to show their love.

The band members then stood by as three rock icons stepped up one at a time to salute them: the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins, X’s John Doe and The Doors’ drummer John Densmore.

Hawkins got right to it, “I love this band and they know it, ’cause I’ve been stalking them for years. Back in the late 80s, pop music was getting shittier by the minute, and my friend showed me this album, and said, ‘Hey man, look at this picture.’ The dude had green dreads and a ring through his nose. So I stole 10 bucks and bought the cassette of Nothing’s Shocking, and it was mind blowing. The singer sounded like he was singing nursery rhymes on acid in hell. These guys are one part grunge rock and one part majestic beauty. They paved the way and changed everything.”

Co-founder of LA’s favorite punk band, X, John Doe, observed the irony of the moment, where an alternative rock band gets the recognition usually reserved for mainstream movie stars.

“It’s the early 1990s and I’m listening to this jazz combo, punk rock, Led Zeppelin-sounding group that are all dangerous and scary, and are at the right place at the right time, with songs and a lifestyle that become a template for all these amazing music festivals. If someone would have said this group would get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it’s true. It’s Hollywood. It’s pretty weird.”

Lastly, The Doors drummer John Densmore briefly summed it up, “Jane’s Addiction climbed out of the club scene and defined the word ‘alternative.’ This band understands what it means to give back, and they do. They deserve to get this and I hope to be the first to step on the Jane’s Addiction star.”

With that, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler announced: “We hereby declare this Jane’s Addiction Day in Hollywood.”

After whistles, applause and a fan shouting, “you guys rock,” Dave Navarro stepped up to thank the fans for all their years of support, and his dad Mike “for being here today. My dad first brought me down here to Hollywood Blvd. and explained what the stars on the sidewalk meant and how important they were. I never dreamed of being a part of this legacy. This is a magical day for me. Early on, I got into the history, the whole dark subculture of Hollywood and what it is, there’s something mystical about it…

“I also want to thank the guys (the band) for being here. They are all responsible for us getting this. We are a family, we are a brotherhood, we have disagreements, but we get back together again for the music. Because that’s what matters most.”

Drummer Stephen Perkins followed Navarro, telling the crowd, “I am so grateful to be part of the band, this family, these are talented guys with the biggest hearts.”

Jane’s newest member, Chris Chaney, who replaced original bassist Eric Avery (who did not attend the ceremony) for the band’s reunion in 2002, spoke to the crowd next.

“Hello, Los Angeles!  I want to thank Perry for his vision, his album covers and his balls!  And I also want to thank my parents for getting me guitar lessons!”

Frontman Perry Farrell was the last to speak, warming the crowd with anecdotes and remembrances of Jane’s Addiction’s musical journey. He pointed out their humble beginnings, eating pizza at the place up the street, being too poor to buy Doc Martins and painting his construction boots white instead, and how they signed with Triple X Records and used to walk down the street, dreaming of being big and famous one day.

Jane’s Addiction climbed the music charts and got the world’s attention with their first album, Nothing’s Shocking, and are considered the definitive pioneers of alternative rock. Beyond music, the band members are superheroes when it comes to giving back, supporting dozens of charities including Music Cares, PETA, Stand Up for Skate Parks, and many more.

The band originally broke up in 1991 with the departures of Avery and Navarro, which coincided with the birth of the Lollapalooza festival, co-created by Perry Farrell and Marc Geiger. Lollapalooza is now considered a major alternative festival.

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