Ritual de lo Habitual, indeed.
The original lineup of Jane's Addiction is planning to reunite and perform together for the second time this year, raising the possibility of a full-fledged reunion tour.
In a message on his official blog, bassist Eric Avery confirmed that the pioneering alt-rockers will play about 10 songs at La Cita bar in downtown Los Angeles tonight at 11. Given the relatively tiny size of the venue, which has a capacity of 390, the show instantly sold out of all of its $5 tickets as word spread like wildfire among fans.
"We have been rehearsing and we have been sounding really solid," the musician wrote.
Avery hinted there may be more to come from Jane's Addiction, which broke up in 1991 on the eve of the alternative music revolution and after headlining the very first Lollapalooza festival—thanks in large part to drug-fueled friction between Avery, singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins.
"We never know what the future has in store for us, especially with this band," he added, "but at least right now Jane's Addiction has a future that one would have to call somewhat promising. We are a great band."
The quartet took the stage together for a short set of Jane's songs earlier this year at the inaugural NME Awards in Los Angeles—the first time all four founding members had played together since their farewell show in Hawaii back in 1991.
Since then, Jane's Addiction has re-formed on numerous occasions over the years (minus Avery), most notably for 1997's Relapse Tour, which saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea filling in on bass, as well as 2001's Jubilee Tour and subsequent final studio album, Strays. On that latter trek, Farrell tapped his former Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn Lenoble, who was subsequently replaced by Chris Chaney during the Strays sessions.
But Eric A., as he's otherwise known, finally decided to join his mates at NME to honor the group's stellar career. That gig helped loosen him up to the idea of a reunion.
Tonight's concert is being hosted by their friend, artist Shephard Fairey.
Meanwhile Cabinet of Curiosities, a Jane's Addiction box set including such favorites as "Been Caught Stealin'," "Jane Says," "Classic Girl," "Stop," "Mountain Song" and "Three Days," is tentatively slated to drop Jan. 5, 2009.