Perry Farrell is seeking medical help after punching guitarist Dave Navarro at a recent Jane’s Addiction concert, the singer’s wife said.
Etty Lau Farrell posted on Instagram on Saturday that she and her husband, 65, were “taking some time for ourselves to reflect and heal” following the incident, which brought the band’s tour to an abrupt end.
“Perry has already been seen by an ENT and neurologist,” she wrote. “If you know and love Perry well, you know I don’t need to mention these other false stories. Our souls know.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Farrell’s representatives for comment.
The band shocked fans when a concert in Boston on September 13 was canceled after Pharrell punched Navarro. Footage from the concert showed Pharrell being restrained and taken away. A few days later, the band announced they were canceling the remainder of their tour and would offer refunds.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Etty Lau Farrell, who has been married to Perry since 2002, previously said her husband was frustrated by “the volume on stage was so loud he felt his voice was being drowned out by the band” and that he “suffered from ringing in his ears and a sore throat every night”.
Jane’s Addiction cancels tour: All dates scrapped after fight between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro
Perry said she became infuriated when fans in the front row later began complaining to Pharrell that they couldn’t hear him over the band, adding that there was “a lot of tension and animosity between the band members.”
“We are as surprised as you are by Perry’s violent behavior, but we all know he was pushed to his absolute limit and for that we apologize,” Farrell wrote in a post on Saturday.
She added: “With everyone’s love, kindness, compassion and support, Perry will persevere. He will recover. He will be happy again. He will be able to share his music, his vision and his artistry again, uninhibited.”
In a statement previously published by USA Today, Pharrell said he “apologised to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, our fans, family and friends for my behaviour during Friday’s show. He said his “personal boundaries led to unacceptable behaviour” and that he “takes full responsibility for how I chose to handle this situation.”
Jane’s Addiction concert ends with Perry Farrell punching guitarist Dave Navarro
Navarro released his own statement on social media, saying the US tour was coming to an end due to Pharrell’s “ongoing pattern of behaviour and mental health issues.”
“Concerns for his own health and safety, and our own, left us with no other choice,” the guitarist said. “We hope he finds the help he needs. We deeply regret that we cannot honor all of our fans who have already purchased tickets. We do not see a solution that will ensure a safe environment onstage or consistently deliver an amazing performance night after night.”
Jane’s Addiction formed in 1985 and is known for songs like “Jane Says” and “Been Caught Steal.” The band began touring in August with original members Pharrell, Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins.
Contributors: Taijuan Moorman and Jay Staal