Porno For Pyros brought its Horns, Thorns En Halos Farewell Tour to The Belasco for what is, according to frontman and founder Perry Farrell, the band’s final Los Angeles show…and what a farewell show it was. Legendary Lollapalooza co-founder Perry Farrell’s short-lived follow-up band to then-broken up/”on hiatus” (depending on who you asked) Jane’s Addiction got its start in 1992 with fellow Jane’s drummer Stephen Perkins on the kit, razor-sharp guitarist Peter DiStefano, and Martyn LeNoble on bass. LeNoble ultimately left before the release of the band’s sophomore album Good God’s Urge in 1996, replaced by four-string thunder machine Mike Watt (Minutemen) and the rest, as they say, was history.
Sadly for ardent Porno For Pyros fans, after a solid few years of P4P shows, two well-received albums, and multiple hit singles, Jane’s Addiction reformed with the Red Hot Chili Pepper‘s Flea replacing Eric Avery on bass and Porno became history as well. But it sure was fun while it lasted. Though The Belasco show, like all the rest of the “Reunited to say goodbye” dates, instantly sold out, streaming service Veeps stepped in and shared the magical farewell to Porno fans around the world.
Fashionably late as always, the show kicked off with DiStefano using a bow to elicit the soft but dramatic intro to “Orgasm” while Perkins got spacey on the drums. Farrell crept in from stage right, full bottle of red in hand as always, like a stalking predator. It was as if he was trying to make no waves in the washes of pure sonic energy emanating from the stage before absolutely necessary.
After a hushed version of that ode to joy, it was time to kick the evening’s festivities into overdrive, and the band’s namesake song “Porno For Pyros” from its eponymous first album got the crowd going at full speed. Perkins utilized his trademark power before showcasing his other hallmark skills on the syncopated “Meija” that followed. Watts’ deep tones and tendency to wander into his own leads fit the mood perfectly and DiStefano delivered his first of many shredded guitar solos.
Before launching into the next tune, “Sadness”, and its rally cry opening lyric “I got the devil in me!” Farrell took a moment to address the rowdy crowd. Urging them to ignore whatever else had come before that moment he said with a sharp-eyed glare, “Shake it off. Whatever the hell happened yesterday…shake it off!” The lanky singer seemed more like a wiseman than a frontman.
Fan faves “Trip Away” and “Wishing Well” quickly followed, with “Well’ slowing things down to a more subtle, atmospheric-but-still-passionate tone. After a quick lament on the state of L.A.’s beaches, Porno delved into its takes on the battle of the sexes, the songs “Cursed Female” and “Cursed Male”. Farrell, clearly on a mission to impart some deeper thoughts to the packed house, made a speedy speech about cleaning the coastline before a hopeful-in-tone “Good God’s://Urge!”.
Once again Farrell used the in-between song breaks to try and share some of the wisdom he’s accrued in life. He reminded the audience, “It’s a sick world out there. So help and give. That’s how you build your karma,” before a wet and wild sea shanty take on “Porpoise Head”. Porno For Pyros’ most known and beloved hit, “Pets”, was up next and the core message of how poor a job humanity has done under its own stewardship rang disturbingly truer than ever.
A tranquil “Bali In My Eyes” preceded the reworked Jane’s song now known as “Blood Rag” before the night’s only cover, a spirited version of Iggy And The Stooges‘ “I Got A Right”. Skipping ahead on the setlist, a summer day dream-esque “Tahitian Moon” lulled the crowd into a trancelike state before show-closing “Bad Shit” shook the fans from their collective bliss-out.
More cynical fans have pointed out that for a band that just wrote a few new songs, including early in the set “Agua”, it seemed odd for the band to reunite to do a farewell tour. Given the seemingly endless parade of bands and artists like Ozzy Osborne and Elton John—not to mention Jane’s Addiction—who have made the “farewell tour” one of the most tired schticks in all of rock music, it seemed like a cash grab or at the very least a heat check to see if there was any interest in Pyros to return to the scene.
Sadly, a quick look at the aging, noticeably thin-faced Farrell and the way seated bassist Mike Watt leaned on his arm-brace cane as he left the stage, it’s more likely that the bandmembers are well aware of the toll time has taken on them. Perry himself was most music fans’ pick for “Most likely to leave the party early”, as other ’90s icons like Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell tragically did. Though those two heartbreakingly removed themselves from the mortal plane in decisive moves, there’s something to be said for Farrell’s well-known substance abuse issues in the past, as well as his overall “L.A. Lifestyle,” being a long-form version of Farrell’s own self-arranged end.
Whether Perry Farrell is consciously preparing for such an occurrence or simply feeling time slip away it seems like this is one farewell tour that, unfortunately, might be accurately billed. Watching Mike Watt exit the stage leaning heavily on a medical cane, Perry himself, visibly tired, ended the abbreviated show with an amble down to the front row to take pictures with fans and well-wishers.
It’s a sad fact that time marches on and waits for no man. That said, whatever time the lanky Farrell does leave us it’ll be with a lifetime of musical delights and an impact on music itself that is nearly impossible to judge. From Jane’s Addiction’s massive shockwave intro to the world, Porno For Pyros picking up the torch without missing a beat, to his landmark work with Lollapalooza and the many, many bands he turned into household names, Perry Farrell holds a claim to being one of the most easily-overlooked voices of his generation. As lives go, who could possibly hope for more?
Original Post: Live for Music