1. Did you take Axl’s offer (joining GnR) seriously, but then your “personal life” got in the way? Or did you not really even want to try out? (Circa 91)
You hit it right on the head, actually. The truth is that I was pretty conflicted. I was interested in playing with GnR but I wasn’t certain that I wanted to jump into such a huge band at that time, right on the heels of the first Jane’s break-up. In addition, I was pretty heavily strung out back then. Even though I wasn’t sure about the move, I did want to jam with those guys but my drug use prevented me from even making it down to the rehearsal space. Another consequence of addiction. Since then I have had the pleasure of playing with each member of the band separately. After I cleaned up I went on to record Deconstruction with Eric Avery which remains one of my favorite collaborations.
2. You stated that the time with Billy and the Spirits recently was an enjoyable experience, What do you think of the First 3 new songs from the Pumpkins?
I think that the new SP songs are incredible and I was lucky enough to play some of them with Spirits. Billy is one of the most talented musicians I have ever worked with and I learned a lot from him in the short period we toured together. I am hopeful that we will one day do something similar again. We found that we had unique chemistry when we were both on the guitar. We locked up in a pretty amazing way and played off one another in a way that neither of us had experienced while at the same time pushing each other to really delve into our instrument.
3. What guitars/amps are you using for recording? Also, you dropped down a full-step for the live Jane’s stuff – are you planning to do that for recording as well? Does that affect your playing at all?
I’m not sure about recording yet as we are simply in the writing phase so I have been using the PRS, Ibanez, Marshall, Fender set-up. Essentially my live rig. Lately we have been working in just a half step down. The full step down definitely takes some getting used to as I kind of had to re-learn how the strings respond in that tuning. For instance, the amount of pressure required to bend to a specific note in the standard tuning is completely different and can sometimes sound out of tune if I’m not careful. Also, I have to be wary of how hard I hit the strings, as the lower register can vibrate and buzz beyond what is desired and can sound muddy. There is a risk of dynamic loss.
4. Since Eric was such a huge part of the Jane’s songwriting and sound on NS and Ritual, why not call yourselves a different band name now that you are playing with Duff?
Eric was and remains a huge part of Jane’s. He has decided to leave for his own reasons. The three of us have spent the majority of our careers in this band and have had several line up changes over the years. Changing the name wouldn’t make sense for us. It would be another situation entirely had Eric been asked to leave or if we didn’t intend on playing music from XXX, NS and Ritual. Had that been the case, I would totally agree. I have had experience being the “new guy” in an already existing band that had only two founding members. Never in a million years would I have expected them to change their name.
5. I know you’re working with Jane’s but are you thinking about putting out another solo album any time soon?
Thinking about it yes. Soon? Probably not. I am pretty deeply focused on working with Jane’s right now. We have been going over back catalogue and writing with Duff several days a week. However, the process of introducing a new member requires more than that. There is a musical and personal education that must take place. Learning dynamics, sensibilities, personalities and many other details is essential. We have been having a great time with all of this and have been expanding on what we can do individually and as a group. Its deeper than just learning some songs for Duff. He has to learn about us and we have to learn about him. Playing the older stuff is like a crash course on Jane’s while writing is an accelerated class for all of us. It’s pretty great to be in both classes at once, something we have really never done in the past with a new member.
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Since Eric was such a huge part of the Jane’s songwriting and sound on NS and Ritual, why not call yourselves a different band name now that you are playing with Duff? Isn’t the music of Jane’s Addiction as much Eric Avery as it is you, Perry, and Stephen? Wouldn’t it also be a little less pressure to start a new creative direction with no expectations rather than try to come up with something that will live up to, or forever be linked to, those 2 albums?
Dave, I have all the faith in you, Duff, Steve and Perry to bring out a kick ass album. U should definitely remain as Jane’s Addiction. The RHCP’s, Van Halen, GNR have all had revolving members so I don’t see it as a problem. Branding is important in the industry these days. My question to you is this:
At home are you a good cook and do u have a specialty dish, or do you eat out a lot?
Who has the biggest cock between you and Todd?
Now that’ you’re playing with Duff, i am reminded that apparently Axl Rose offered you the GnR second-guitarist spot in late 91, when Izzy Stradlin left. In Slash’s autobiography, Slash said that you scheduled to jam with him + the guys, but that you just never showed up —- and you didn’t show up like three scheduled times! So he figured you weren’t serious about the offer + wrote you off. (At the time. I know you’re friends now.)
My question: did you take Axl’s offer seriously, but then your “personal life” got in the way? Or did you not really even want to try out?
PS: how does it feel knowing that Axl Rose was (and probably still is) a huge Jane’s fan? There was that one GnR Rock n’ Roll comic issue that included the incident where Axl is way behind recording his vocals for “Use Your Illusion”, but to Slash’s amazement, Axl skips out one evening, saying, “Fuck recording! I’m going to see Jane’s Addition tonight!”
Simple Question,
You stated that the time with Billy and the Spirits recently was an enjoyable experience, What do you think of the First 3 new songs from the Pumpkins? and do you wish you played Bass or Keyboard? so you could join them.
Thx
David
Glad you’re back!
There are so many exciting things to look forwards to with the new Jane’s. Wishing you all the best – and can’t wait to hear what you’ve been working on.
My question is regarding here – 6767 is my home page and has been for years. When people are disrespectful and post up crap about you in your own space it drives me nuts, it’s really hard to maintain a distance sometimes so no idea how it must be for you to read that shit. I can’t ask does it bother you as I don’t want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing they got to you – if it does! Just hope you have a healthier way of seeing them as assholes than I do.
I know there’s been times in the past when you’ve deleted the blog.
With Twitter being accessible & addictive how close were we to losing you this time?
Happy Chocolate Bunny weekend.
xxxx.
Can you please do a camp freddy special on dark matter one night with Billy and Matt.. ? I want to hear the stories that could have never made it on indie.
SPOORRRRTTTTTTZZZZZZ CHHHHHAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
I have a couple questions for you to pick from:
From your past experience, what have you found is the best way to ‘get over’ a break-up with a long term partner?
You recently posted a clip from the collegehumor website – what are some of the websites you can’t live without?
Happy Easter Dave!
Hope you have a great Easter!
Like me, you’re a huge film buff. What are your top 5 films of all time? (I’m guessing you’ll find this too difficult to answer! I can never choose myself..)
Oops sorry that didn’t make much sense, my phone isn’t so ‘smart’ after all! I didn’t think part of it had registered so retyped it!
I know you’re working with Jane’s but are you thinking about putting out another solo album any time soon?
Hello Kitty! So what is she to you? and how long have you been a fanatic for her?
I posted this at ja.org “I’ll wish they could do something like Blind Melon “No Rain”. That song was like 1993 and it sounds fresh like it was written a week ago. The hard and heavy songs are neat for a time but they don’t have as much staying power as the mellow and the chill like “Summertime Rolls” or “Pets” or “Jane Says”. To me Perry’s voice sounds soooo much better mellow and phased over light acoustic backing. Not as good wailing over sledgehammer guitar riffs. And Dave sounds better strumming his acoustic and Duff sounds better covering Rolling Stones “Wild Horses”. I didn’t hear much of the lighter side of Jane’s last summer on your tour, any chance we’ll hear you guys do any unplugged type gig someday? The stuff you did with Billy was a like a breath of fresh air the music world.
http://forums.janesaddiction.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1522&start=20
Dave,
What guitars/amps are you using for recording? Also, you dropped down a full-step for the live Jane’s stuff – are you planning to do that for recording as well? Does that affect your playing at all?
What are 5 albums/artists you’re really into right now?
Dear Dave is that Bob Geldof in that pic?
What direction would you like to see JA go? Any different direction now that Duff is on board?? Good choice, by the way!! Have a great Easter!!!
Im curious about Chris Chaney…was he asked to rejoin, or was it your intentions to move on in a completely different/new direction?
dave, you have a pretty unique attitude you bring and i think it gives your guitar playing a signature style. youve also collaborated with alot of different bands who have played with other guitar players (perri, fuscante etc) how do you feel these guys do with your stuff and do you think any of them “get it”?
Hi Dave, Happy Easter
Now that Duff has joined JA does this spell a final end for VR???
Oh, god, do you ever just get fed up with people like VIXEN thinking she has some sort of right to dictate what people write on the comments section of your blog, because it is her “home page” gosh, have you considered employing her as your blog comment editor, bet she has, You did well to recover from Heroin addiction, many don’t, particularly those who can’t afford rehab on their health ervice, suppose your blog, so on were ways to focus on something else so must get irrtiating when people slam, but maybe they didn’t realise, what helped you to get back focus,-your blog e.g.?
Happy rotten egg weekend !
Thanx for starting this up again DN! Happy Easter:). I got really emphatic about politics after seeing the movie Farenheit:9/11. What made you so interested in politics?
Hey anonymous, you’re right – I walked into that & I’m done. Silence is golden.
Apologies Dave.
Hope that earthquake this AM didn’t rock ya too much!!!….maybe you thought the earth moved for other reasons….
A little trivia. Without doing an internet search, can you name the title and original author of this hit song?
And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Riding shotgun in the sky
And they were turning into butterflies
Above our nation
We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil’s bargain
And we’ve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
without doing an internet search, can you name the original name and title of this song which this line comes from.
“I was so upset that I cried all the way to the chip shop.”
I thought it was..we are stardust we are golden and caught in the devils bargain…and weve got to get ourselves back to the garden..gonna hafta break that out
Dave, you deleted March blogs?! Please tell me it’s just a glitch? I thought you were insanely weird and that anything and everthing goes? Hmmm could this be a sign of maturity? Say it isn’t so! Me wants to have fun-fun!! ummmppffff *pouts*
-A
Thanks for answering my question on the Pumpkins. Its amazing that you interact with people who enjoy your work, and you don’t know from a hole in the ground.
Thanks
David
Can you name your favorite bands from the period 1965-1970? Spirits In The Sky reminded me of the Incredible String Band because of the orchestration, and that is a compliment. The new Pumpkins songs are missing some of that beautiful orchestration(flute, violin, hand percussion) I’m afraid.
Strays album is almost as under-estimated as the song 3 Days. Or for those math-ratio-loving types… Strays album is to Jane’s Addiction, what 3 Days is to Ritual de lo Habitual. Although Jane’s legacy balance is better with two hard rock guys and two alternatives (Farrell and Avery), the influence of hard rock producer on Strays, and GNR bassist on the album yet to be sung, is a blessing for those of us with hard core heart but secret BDSM soul. I put any modern Jane’s album in the Dr. Dre category: the albums don’t come often, almost never, but when they do, they are perfect in every way. What I’m taking a long way of saying is: For anyone who enjoyed the shit out of Strays, the new album with 3xhard-rock + Farrell alternative is going to once again bitch-slap hard rockers in the face with another pair of absinthe-stained lace panties.
I for one can’t wait for the new sound. Thanks for creating all-important childlike ANTICIPATION into my soul yet again. Fucking Jane’s man, YEAHHHHHH!
Hi Dave,
Thank you for taking time to answer questions about Jane’s Addiction. I would like to know why you don’t play “Been Caught Stealing” like it sounds on the album? The live version you add a lot of gain and distortion on the rhythm guitar. The album version guitar sounds more clean with much less distortion. I love the way the song sounds on the album because it gives breathing room for the killer bass line. In my humble opinion, when the guitar is overdriven it muddies up and covers over the bass guitar so you can’t hear the bass guitar notes stand out as well. And when you can’t hear what the bass is doing, i.e. having sex with the drums, it is harder to lock into the groove of the song while dancing in the minds eye
;>)
Any chance you guys could do an excursion of SoCal/NoCal to break Duff in?…Maybe similar to what Spirits did last August. Low key, short notice type thang…..Ya know maybe play “Ripple” again…..Come see us in Santa Cruz county!!!
I do agree on not changing the name. I did secretly imagine (via facebook – not so secret) that you’d go on tour with the new ja lineup and Slash and do some of his stuff, rework pfp to your own liking, play all the old ja stuff, and then destroy it with the new stuff. Anyhow, stoked that you guys are back on track. Chris
Dave Navarro “insanely wierd”….real life is more insanely weird than a rockstar will EVER be……
Interestingly, there is a theory, that adulthood doesn’t really exist, or childhood doesn’t exist or something like that, and it was a concept invented by the Victorians, anyway….we are all God’s children, well, thats what the Roman Catholic priest told me before he…..
But anyway, if adulthood doesn’t really exist, and we have to go round being something that doesn’t in actual fact exist, the strain will result in our childish instincts being vented some place….where better than a place where jokes about swinging your imaginary MASSIVE cock around your neck, and shagging your friend’s daughter are acceptable! And thought hilarious! (Well, by (a few) Americans that is). “AMERICA “(fuck yeah!).” DVD player was stuck on that Team America theme song WAY too long the other day.
But i liked it. Cos…..
Dave Navarro’s blog….FUCK YEAH! Yeah! I mean, Its not like its some boring old grown ups forum discussing, “musical direction” or offshore drilling or anything. Off to watch the Tweenies now.
why some of “Spread demo(Unicorns & Rainbows)” ‘ songs can’t appear in “Trust No One” Cd?
a) what’s up with the “teahouse…” vid on myspace? that kid’s cute, the singer, don’t know who he is … b) have you and perry ever had any, ahem, bi activities (i always wondered….. lol..) c) do you still talk to casey? and d) do you plan to quit smoking @ some point? lol. anyways, thanks.
sorry, dave, didn’t know it was supposed to be ONE question… dur. just disregard. graci.
omg, someone please delete my fuckin comments – i’m a total tard. i just listened to the DM and have my Perry/bi stuff answer; who cares about my thing for Casey; and smoke up Johnny! Delete! Love you Dave!
Hey Dave,
I guess you weren’t chomping at the bit to rejoin the Chili Peppers now John has left again?!!!
Have you seen John, and what’s he up to? Congrats on Duff joining Jane’s. he’s the bollocks…
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