Stephen Perkins

Stephen Andrew Perkins (born September 13, 1967) is an American musician and songwriter. A drummer and percussionist, he has played with Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros, Banyan and Hellride. His style blends rock, jazz, swing, African, Indian and Latin drumming styles together.

Early life and education

Perkins grew up in Los Angeles and attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. He got his first drum kit at age 13 and was primarily influenced by jazz and swing, Perry Farrell had worked with Avery in his band Psi Com. Perkins was recruited to join a new band with Farrell and Avery, He convinced them to replace their guitarist with Navarro and they began playing shows around LA in downtown ballrooms and clubs. He recorded three albums and toured extensively with Jane’s Addiction before they broke up in 1991. After Jane’s Addiction broke up, Infectious Grooves toured in support of Ozzy Osbourne on his No More Tears tour. Porno for Pyros then went on hiatus in 1998.

2000–2008: Methods of Mayhem, second Jane's Addiction era Perkins began touring with Tommy Lee’s band Methods of Mayhem in 1999. This was followed by a Jane’s Addiction reformation tour and album, Strays released in 2003. as well as releasing an instructional DVD Stephen Perkins – A Drummer's Life produced by Drum Workshop.

2008–2024: Third and final Jane's Addiction era Perkins again joined with Farrell to reform Jane’s Addiction for 3 shows in 2008, and a full tour in 2009. After his recovery, Jane’s Addiction continued to tour and recorded their fourth studio album The Great Escape Artist in 2011. Perkins played with Jane’s Addiction on their tours and sporadic performances throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, and has also played with Porno for Pyros since their reformation in 2020.

Perkins played in Tabitha with the Okai Sisters between 2015-2018. Since 2019, Perkins has performed in Think:EXP with Pink Floyd saxophonist Scott Page.

Jane's Addiction announced a reunion tour in 2024 with founding bassist Eric Avery and also released their first song in 34 years with Avery. During the band's show in Boston on September 13, 2024, Farrell shoved and punched Navarro and had to be restained by crew members. Farrell's wife, Etty Lau Farrell, said Farrell had been suffering from tinnitus and a sore throat and felt his voice was being drowned out by the band. On September 16, they canceled the remainder of the tour and said they would "take some time away as a group". Perkins, Avery and Navarro released a joint statement attributing the cancellation to Farrell's behavior and mental health, while Farrell released an apology of his own, saying his behavior was "inexcusable".

In July 2025, Perkins, Avery and Navarro filed a lawsuit against Farrell accusing him of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract. The lawsuit also alleges that the group lost over $10 million as a result of the tour’s cancellation and cessation of all band activities including the first studio album with the classic lineup since 1990. Farrell a few hours later subsequently filed his own lawsuit against Perkins, Avery and Navarro, accusing his bandmates of bullying, assault and battery, and for "harassing him onstage during performances" which allegedly included "playing their instruments at a high volume so that he could not hear himself sing without blasting his own in-ear monitors at an unsafe level." Farrell also seeks damages for libel, claiming that the other members inaccurately described him in the media as suffering from poor mental health and alcoholism. With the lawsuits, this marked the end of Perkins and Farrell's working relationship which spanned nearly forty years and two bands, Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros, together.

Community work Perkins has run drum circles for disabled children, adults, and elderly people at a camp in Malibu. He helped develop a wearable percussive instrument called a GoJo Bag which disabled people could use when they were unable to play a drum.

Discography Jane's Addiction 1987 – Jane's Addiction 1988 – Nothing's Shocking 1990 – Ritual de lo Habitual 1991 – Live and Rare (Compilation of live tracks, demos, and album tracks) 1997 – Kettle Whistle (Compilation of live tracks, demos, new songs and unreleased material) 2003 – Strays 2006 – Up from the Catacombs (Greatest hits album) 2009 – A Cabinet of Curiosities (Box set) 2011 – The Great Escape Artist 2024 – Imminent Redemption / True Love

Infectious Grooves 1991 – The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves

Porno for Pyros 1993 – Porno for Pyros 1996 – Good God's Urge 2023/2024 - Agua / Pete's Dad / Little Me / Fingernail

Nine Inch Nails 1994 – The Downward Spiral Drum performance for "I Do Not Want This"

Banyan 1997 – Banyan 1999 – Anytime at All 2004 – Live at Perkins' Palace

Perry Farrell 1999 – Rev 2001 – Song Yet to Be Sung

The Panic Channel 2006 – (ONe)

Hellflower 2010 – Us You