The feud inside Jane’s Addiction continues to heat up. Frontman Perry Farrell has officially responded after guitarist Dave Navarro filed a lawsuit accusing him of assault and battery following their explosive onstage altercation during last year’s reunion tour.
In a court filing submitted Sept. 8, Farrell flatly rejected Navarro’s claims, denying “each and every allegation” and insisting that the guitarist suffered no damages. He also argued that Navarro’s complaint didn’t provide sufficient grounds for legal action and accused him of having “unclean hands” in the dispute. Farrell maintained he acted in “good faith and without malice,” asking the court to dismiss the case entirely.
Navarro’s attorney, Christopher Frost, told People that “the lawsuit speaks for itself. So does the video,” adding that Farrell’s response does not legally halt the case. Frost pointed out that Navarro, along with bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins, remain confident in their claims.
The drama stems from the band’s infamous onstage blowup last September, which abruptly ended their reunion run and plans for new music. Earlier this summer, Navarro, Avery, and Perkins sued Farrell seeking up to $10 million in lost income, citing “physical, emotional and financial harms.”
In a twist, Farrell countersued his former bandmates just hours after their filing, accusing them of years of bullying and alleging assault, emotional distress, and breach of contract. With lawsuits flying both ways, the future of Jane’s Addiction looks more fractured than ever.
SOURCE: LoudWire