Artist Spotlight: Jane's Addiction-Camera Got Them Images

With the recent class of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees being announced a few weeks ago, I got a text from Trapper asking if INXS should be "Hall Eligible". After deciphering the ups and downs (of course all through text messages) I think we agreed that a lot of other artists were more deserving to go in first. Then came the text afterward. (Trapper and I have had countless go rounds of things that are really important to us~like a drunken argument about who would have made a better high school sweetheart Mallory Keaton or Winnie Cooper?~that no one else could give a rat's ass about. Now in the 21st century, we go at it via 360 miles apart through text.) Trapper asks, "How about Jane's Addiction?" Turns out Jane's Addiction is eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. My first knee jerk reaction was no. Only two albums...great but hardly in any critics lists for the best of all time. But the argument back was so conceivable. 1) Jane's Addiction had three albums in their heyday and a reunion album years later ("Strays"). 2) They, or at least lead singer Perry Farrell, started the whole Lollapalooza-put the traveling music scene movement on the road. 3) The Stooges had three albums and are in, albeit, it took them a long time to get the recognition. I had no response back except "I Can't argue any of those points." So.....is Jane's Addiction a worthy candidate for the Hall?
A very cool website on "Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Eligible"

They got their start with a live album in 1987 because their club shows in Los Angeles were deemed spectacular. "Jane's Addiction" showed off what a stage presence Farrell was as he howled through raves like "Whores", "Pigs In Zen" and "1%". He also showed a wide range of emotions as he could croon on a simple love song like "I Would For You." Dave Navarro's guitar practically soars along side with Stephen Perkins' drums on the opener "Chip Away". It also showed that more than anything else, Jane's Addiction paid a heavy debt to classic rock as shown with their cover versions of the Stones "Sympathy For The Devil" and the Velvet Underground's "Rock & Roll". "Jane's Addiction" may not be their most defining moment, but it is a great sampler for someone just getting into the band.

Finally getting into a studio the next year, the band collectively released the solid "Nothing's Shocking" which at first got more press for it's album cover than the excellent material that was on the album. I sometimes overlook "Nothing's Shocking", for reasons I still am not clear of, maybe it's a bit of poor production quality, but the songs are strong enough to keep this in classic territory. There is the neo-psychedelic explosion of guitars in "Ocean Size" with Farrell chanting "I want to be as big...as the ocean.", the seven minute plus ode to Ted Bundy and the media, "Ted...Just Admit It", grinds along on Eric Avery's bass with Farrell offering some thought provoking lines "It's just like the show before, and the news is just another show, cause sex is violent", and the delicate building blocks of "Summertime Rolls". The album is remembered most for the studio version of every one's favorite sing along ode to a heroin addict "Jane Says" and the rough and tumble bass/guitar of "Mountain Song" which has one of Farrell's best intros "Coming down the mountain!". These two songs are so strong alone they're enough to throw "Nothing's Shocking" into recommended status.

The third chapter came along in 1990 with "Ritual De Lo Habitual". Arguably their strongest effort, it was devised in a way to be divided into two sections. The first containing blistering hard rockers ("No One's Leaving", "Ain't No Right") and obvious fantastic A sides ("Stop!", "Been Caught Stealing"). The second side contained longer more artful pieces like the brilliant three part "Three Days" and the Western African chant of "Slapping Yourself In The Face" on "Of Course". If someone was attracted to the harder hitting, more immediate songs like the excellent opener "Stop!" or Farrell's self portrait "I am skin and bones, I am pointy nose..." on "Ain't No Right" on the first half, then it may take a little more patience to get into the latter half of the album. But with that patience you were rewarded handsomely, and I think that something for everyone feel is what makes "Ritual" Jane's Addiction's strongest effort.

Who knew in 1991 that "Classic Girl", the final and breathtaking love song on "Ritual" would turn out to be their swan song. But it was. The band broke up. Since, there have been various reunions and collections released and a really mediocre reunion album released in 2003, "Strays". Farrell and Perkins stuff with Porno For Pyros was fine and Navarro released a pretty good solo album in 2001, but the magic these guys put together for a short four years was never fully rekindled in any other shape or form. They tour now, and obviously, it's the material from that heyday that they play the most.

I always liked Jane's Addiction because in the late eighties they were getting play on 120 Minutes and Headbangers Ball on MTV. What other band can lay claim back then to being butted up against the latest from Morrissey and the latest from White Lion. A couple people have pointed out that they were classic rock's salvation in the late eighties with commercial airplay going to spandex and teased hair. There is also good reason to believe that their contributions through music and Lollapalooza helped throw the gauntlet down on a new decade thirsty for the "Alternative" music scene that swept the nation.

Anyone between the age of 30-50 can bring up Jane's Addiction today in conversation and never seem uncool or unhip doing so. Everyone loves "Jane Says". Their appeal is truly universal. After further thought, I guess they are more hall worthy than I would've given them credit a month ago. So I'm on board, Cleveland, put Jane's Addiction in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. And if you add the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the same year, that will be one fine class and induction concert you have going on that year.

Essential Albums:
Ritual De Lo Habitual (1990)

Recommended:
Jane's Addiction (1987)
Nothing's Shocking (1988)

JHO Best Of Compilation:
1. Trip Away (live)
2. I Would For You (live)
3. My Time (live)
4. Ocean Size
5. Ted, Just Admit It
6. Mountain Song
7. Jane Says
8. Pigs In Zen
9. Stop!
10. Ain't No Right
11. Been Caught Stealing
12. Three Days
13. Classic Girl

Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2010/12/artist-spotlight-janes-addiction-camera.html

Mates of State The Notwist Passion Pit Kings of Leon