ShockHound

b. Perry Bernstein, 29 March 1959, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. This controversial icon of the alternative rock scene grew up in Miami, Florida, before relocating to Los Angeles, California in time to catch the end of the punk rock movement. Changing his name Perry Bernstein to Perry Farrell (equals peripheral), he formed the art-goth band Psi Com where he developed his distinctive high-pitched vocal style and charismatic stage presence, but also the first signs of his image-obsessed, messianic personality. Following the disintegration of Psi Com, Farrell formed Jane's Addiction with Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Eric Avery. The band's wildly eclectic sound and controversial stage shows helped establish alternative rock as an important and viable musical form, and served as a welcome antidote to the hackneyed macho posturings of the 80s rock giants then dominating the US musical scene.
Jane's Addiction eventually imploded in 1992, a year after Farrell inaugurated the highly successful Lollapalooza concert series. This travelling music festival was instrumental in raising the profile of alternative rock to even greater heights in the new decade. At the same time, Farrell formed Porno For Pyros with Perkins, guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martyn LeNoble. Although the band raised Farrell's media profile, their albums failed to match the decadent grandeur that Jane's Addiction achieved at their peak. In 1997, Farrell, Navarro and Perkins re-formed Jane's Addiction for select live dates and even recorded some new material for inclusion on the compilation Kettle Whistle. By the end of the year, however, both Jane's Addiction and Porno For Pyros were no more and Farrell finally began work on his solo debut. The first release under his name was the retrospective Rev, featuring hits and rarities from his eventful career. Song Yet To Be Sung, a challenging hotchpotch of psychedelia and electronica featuring an enviable guest list of alternative musicians and producers, was released in July 2001.
Later in the year, Farrell resumed live work with Jane's Addiction. The band released a well-received new album and toured for two years before breaking up for a third time. Farrell moved on to his new project, the Satellite Party.
DISCOGRAPHY: Song Yet To Be Sung (Virgin 2001)***, Ultra Payloaded (Columbia 2007)***.
COMPILATIONS: Rev (WEA 1999)***.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Perry Farrell: The Saga Of A Hypester, Dave Thompson. Whores: An Oral Biography Of Perry Farrell And Jane's Addiction, Brendan Mullen.
FILMOGRAPHY: The Doom Generation (1995).

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