Porno for Pyros

Perry Farrell's post-Jane's Addiction band, Porno for Pyros, followed the same path as his previous band, combining art rock, punk, heavy metal, and funk into one shrieking whole. On their self-titled 1993 debut, Farrell's pretensions got out of hand at times, resulting in some ridiculously self-absorbed conceptual pieces sitting next to some straightforward rockers and pop songs; it sold well at first, but soon slipped down the charts. While he prepared new Porno material in 1994, Farrell returned to the organization of Lollapalooza -- the traveling rock festival he conceived -- for the first time since 1992. The band released Good Gods Urge in 1996. Although Good Gods Urge was a successful release from both an artistic and musical standpoint, the album disappeared from the charts shortly after its release. On the album's ensuing tour, former Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt filled in for the departed Lenoble, and to the delight of longtime Jane's Addiction fans, guitarist Dave Navarro was a special surprise guest on select dates as well. After the album's ensuing tour wrapped up in early 1997 (and a pair of Porno for Pyros songs appeared on the motion picture soundtracks for The Cable Guy and Private Parts), Farrell promptly ended the group, as he focused on a solo recording career as well as sporadic Jane's Addiction reunion shows. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Greg Prato, Rovi