Jane’s Addiction Bassist Quits Band

“That’s it,” the 44-year-old bassist and founding member wrote on his Twitter account. “With equal parts regret and relief, the Jane’s Addiction experiment is at an end.”

Earlier today Avery followed up the announcement by thanking fans.

‘Thanks all for the kind words and support about Jane’s,” he tweeted. “More on that later. But for now it’s about getting some new work out to you.”

On Tuesday guitarist Dave Navarro logged onto his own Twitter account to confirm the news.

“Yes, Eric Avery has left the band,” Navarro tweeted. “More to come but we wish him all the best!”

Frontman Perry Farrell doesn’t seem too heartbroken over Avery’s departure.

“This was perhaps the best ending to a tour we’ve ever experienced together,” the singer wrote on his Facebook page early Monday. “Everyone is so excited to get home now and start working on a new record and a show. I wrote a song today, The Great Escape Artist and I am going to write at least 3 more on the way back to LA. All I keep thinking is; “This is the beginning of something that already feels great; I cannot wait.”

Well, not every member of Jane’s Addiction was excited to start working on the new record, but fans already knew that back in January.

On January 19 Avery tweeted that he had “spent all day staring intently at a computer screen working on solo stuff.” The next day he added, “FYI, to answer the question directly, I am not writing with Jane’s Addiction.”

Reuters noted that Avery’s spot in the band is reportedly being filled by former Guns N’ Roses/ Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan.

Here’s what Slash told Rolling Stone last month when the magazine asked for an update about Velvet Revolver’s hunt for a new singer:

“I think Duff [McKagan] is doing something with Jane’s Addiction right now so we’re all sort of all over the place doing whatever until we can all regroup,” Slash said.

In late January Jane’s Addiction fan site Xiola.org reported that McKagen was joining the band. On Feb. 4 Spinner.com said that although Farrell wouldn’t confirm that McKagen was an official member of the band, the singer did say that the bassist was writing with Farrell, Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins.

Jane’s Addiction was formed back in 1985. After breaking up in 1991, the founding members of the alternative rock band briefly joined forces once again for a 1997 tour – minus Avery. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea filled in for Avery.

The band reunited once again for a 2001 tour with Avery replaced by Porno For Pyros bassist Martyn LeNoble. In 2003 Jane’s Addiction released Strays, a follow-up to 1990’s Ritual de lo Habitual. The album featured bassist Chris Chaney.

The band hit the road for a round of North American and Australian dates but ended the tour by canceling several shows and breaking up once again.

Jane’s Addiction played its first shows in five years – and its first gigs with the original lineup in 17 years – when Avery rejoined the band in 2008. In 2009 the band played a number of festivals and co-headlined a tour with Nine Inch Nails.

Click here for Eric Avery’s Twitter page.

Click here for Dave Navarro’s Twitter page.

Click here for Perry Farrell’s Facebook page.

Click here for the Rolling Stone story.

Click here for the Spinner.com story.    

Click here for Xiola.org’s Web site.