Stephen Perkins
Encyclopedia
Stephen Andrew Perkins (September 13, 1967) is an American
musician
and songwriter
. A drummer
and percussionist
, he currently plays with Jane's Addiction
and Hellflower.
Following the dissolution of Jane's Addiction, Perkins continued to play with frontman Perry Farrell
in the rock
band
Porno for Pyros
. He also has a solo project called Banyan
, and in the 1990s was involved in Lil' Pit with Mike Watt
. In 1992, he appeared as percussionist on Rage Against the Machine
's self-titled first album
and in 1995, contributed percussion to the Red Hot Chili Peppers
song "One Big Mob" on their album One Hot Minute
(Fellow Jane's Addiction member Dave Navarro
was the guitarist for the Chili Peppers during the making of that album.) Perkins also played drums on the Nine Inch Nails
album The Downward Spiral
on the track "I Do Not Want This". In addition to Banyan, Perkins worked with Jane's Addiction guitarist
Dave Navarro, former bass
player Chris Chaney
(bass player on the third Jane's Addiction studio
album Strays) and singer/guitarist Steve Isaacs on a project entitled The Panic Channel
from 2004 until 2007. Perkins was also involved with members of Suicidal Tendencies
in their Infectious Grooves
side project, as well as Hellride
, a Los Angeles-based Stooges
cover
band. Jane's Addiction reunited and played at the NME
Awards in April 2008, and have since played a few club shows.
Infectious Grooves
Porno for Pyros
Banyan
The Panic Channel
Hellflower
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. A drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and percussionist
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, he currently plays with Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
and Hellflower.
Following the dissolution of Jane's Addiction, Perkins continued to play with frontman Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell is the frontman for the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction in 1991; it has since evolved into an annual destination festival. Farrell continues to produce Lollapalooza with partners William...
in the rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Porno for Pyros
Porno for Pyros
Porno for Pyros was an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1992, following the initial break-up of Jane's Addiction...
. He also has a solo project called Banyan
Banyan (band)
Banyan is an art rock/alternative rock band with heavy jazz, funk, and punk influence, based in Los Angeles, California.The leader and co-founder is Stephen Perkins, who first played drums for Jane's Addiction , and then for Porno for Pyros. He co-founded the group with David Turin...
, and in the 1990s was involved in Lil' Pit with Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
. In 1992, he appeared as percussionist on Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
's self-titled first album
Rage Against the Machine (album)
Rage Against the Machine is the debut studio album by rap metal band Rage Against the Machine. The album was released on November 10, 1992...
and in 1995, contributed percussion to the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
song "One Big Mob" on their album One Hot Minute
One Hot Minute
One Hot Minute is the sixth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 12, 1995, on Warner Bros. Records...
(Fellow Jane's Addiction member Dave Navarro
Dave Navarro
David Michael "Dave" Navarro is an American guitarist who plays in the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and cover band Camp Freddy. He has also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and many others.- Early life :...
was the guitarist for the Chili Peppers during the making of that album.) Perkins also played drums on the Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
album The Downward Spiral
The Downward Spiral
The Downward Spiral is the second studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released March 8, 1994, on Interscope Records. It is a concept album detailing the destruction of a man, from the beginning of his "downward spiral" to his climactic attempt at suicide...
on the track "I Do Not Want This". In addition to Banyan, Perkins worked with Jane's Addiction guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Dave Navarro, former bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Chris Chaney
Chris Chaney
Chris Chaney is a rock bass player who has performed with artists including Jane's Addiction, Alanis Morissette, Slash, and many others. He was the bass player in the third incarnation of Jane's Addiction and a member of Morissette's touring and recording band for seven years...
(bass player on the third Jane's Addiction studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
album Strays) and singer/guitarist Steve Isaacs on a project entitled The Panic Channel
The Panic Channel
The Panic Channel was an alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2004, following the third break-up of Jane's Addiction. The band consisted of former Jane's Addiction members, Dave Navarro , Stephen Perkins , and Chris Chaney , alongside Steve Isaacs...
from 2004 until 2007. Perkins was also involved with members of Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
in their Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
side project, as well as Hellride
Hellride
Hellride is a side project live band featuring former Porno For Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano, former Minutemen, fIREHOSE, and Porno For Pyros bassist Mike Watt, and former Jane's Addiction and Porno For Pyros drummer Stephen Perkins...
, a Los Angeles-based Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
band. Jane's Addiction reunited and played at the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
Awards in April 2008, and have since played a few club shows.
Biography
According to Perry Farrell's comments during a Jane's Addiction show in Tel Aviv on Sept. 1, 2011, Steven, who's Hebrew name is Shlomo, celebrated his Bar Mitzva on Aug. 31st 1980. The next day, he got his first drum set - the date of the show marking the 31st anniversary of Steven playing the drums.Discography
Jane's Addiction- 1987 Jane's AddictionJane's Addiction (album)Jane's Addiction, also known as Triple-X or XXX by fans, is the debut album by the band Jane's Addiction. It was recorded live at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles on January 26, 1987. Overdubs were later recorded at The Edge studio in Los Angeles and added to the album mix. The audience track is...
- 1988 Nothing's ShockingNothing's ShockingNothing's Shocking is the first studio album by the American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released on August 23, 1988 through Warner Bros. Records. Nothing's Shocking was well received by critics upon release and is often cited as the band's best album. Despite this, it peaked at number...
- 1990 Ritual de lo HabitualRitual de lo HabitualRitual de lo habitual is the second studio album by Jane's Addiction, released on August 21, 1990 on Warner Brothers. Co-produced by Dave Jerden, it was the band's final studio album before their initial break-up in 1991...
- 1991 Live and Rare (Compilation of B-Sides and the Remix of "Been Caught Stealing")
- 1997 Kettle WhistleKettle Whistle (album)Kettle Whistle is a compilation album by alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released November 4, 1997 on Warner Bros. The album was released to coincide with the Jane's Addiction's 1997 "Relapse" tour, and includes new recordings, unreleased demos and live tracks.Kettle Whistle is the only...
(Compilation of live tracks, demos and unreleased material) - 2003 Strays
- 2006 Up from the CatacombsUp from the Catacombs - The Best of Jane's AddictionUp from the Catacombs - The Best of Jane's Addiction is a best of compilation album by Jane's Addiction, released September 19, 2006, on Rhino...
(Greatest hits album) - 2009 A Cabinet of CuriositiesA Cabinet of CuriositiesA Cabinet of Curiosities is a compilation box set by alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released on April 21, 2009 on Rhino Records. The collection includes three discs of demos, rehearsals, remixes, covers, and live recordings from the group's initial lifespan of 1986–1991, and one DVD...
(Box set) - 2011 The Great Escape ArtistThe Great Escape ArtistThe Great Escape Artist is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released on October 18, 2011, on Capitol Records. The album is their first since their 2008 reunion, and features multi-instrumentalist Dave Sitek on bass guitar, alongside Chris Chaney who...
Infectious Grooves
- 1991 The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious GroovesThe Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious GroovesThe Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves is the debut album by Infectious Grooves, released in 1991. The second song "Therapy" featured Ozzy Osbourne. The album introduces the character Sarsippius. As of 2011, the album is out of print and problems with the rights...
Porno for Pyros
- 1993 Porno for PyrosPorno for PyrosPorno for Pyros was an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1992, following the initial break-up of Jane's Addiction...
- 1996 Good God's UrgeGood God's UrgeGood God's Urge is the second and last album by Porno for Pyros. It was released on May 28, 1996. The band went on a brief hiatus shortly after this album's release because guitarist Peter DiStefano was diagnosed with cancer....
Banyan
- 1997 BanyanBanyan (album)Banyan is the debut album from Banyan, founded by Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros fame, and David Turin. This record is dedicated to Marc Perkins...
- 1999 Anytime At AllAnytime at AllAnytime at All is the second album from Banyan, founded by Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros fame, and David Turin. This is a unique record in that it features nearly two dozens players, half of which are well-known. Like their first album, this one is dedicated to Stephen's...
- 2004 Live At Perkins' PalaceLive at Perkins' PalaceLive at Perkins' Palace is the third record of Banyan, founded by Stephen Perkins. On this disc, Stephen decided to take the legion of musicians from Anytime At All and cut it down strictly to a quartet...
The Panic Channel
- 2006 (ONe)(ONe)' was the debut and sole album released by the supergroup The Panic Channel, who formed in 2004, released via Capitol Records on August 15, 2006...
Hellflower
- 2010 Us You
External links
- Stephen Perkins' official site
- JanesAddiction.org - extensive discography and information