Heavy Pettin: One of the weird, wacky and wonderful things about Porno For Pyros (and there are many) is the way that the band’s legend grew while they were away. Of course, there were plenty of people appreciating them while they were around the first time (from 1992-1998), but it also felt like the masses were desperate for a reunion of frontman Perry Farrell’s “other” band, Jane’s Addiction, during that period.

Yet when Jane’s did reform at the start of the 2000s, and a few times since, the public’s fascination with all things Perry Farrell only blossomed. As it should. Farrell is an L.A. treasure. A national treasure. Just a fucking treasure. Farrell isn’t the only member of Porno For Pyros or Jane’s Addiction, but he and drummer Stephen Perkins are the common denominators. And if you add Satellite Party and the Kind Heaven Orchestra, it’s swiftly apparent that everything Farrell puts his name to is artistically fascinating, emotionally draining and/or invigorating, and generally beautiful.

His gift for articulating the human condition through his lyrics make sense when spending time in his company (even if it’s via Zoom, as was the case with this interview). Farrell is a deeply emotional soul — he really feels everything. There were at least two occasions during this interview where he openly wept at memories that proved overwhelming. And when Farrell wept, his guitar slinger partner Peter DiStefano followed suit.

DiStefano is a charming man, but when Farrell gets talking, the guitarist steps back and lets his singer riff. They clearly love each other dearly — the fact that this latest Porno For Pyros tour is being billed as their farewell has nothing to do with any fracturing of their relationship. At the start of the conversation, when Farrell learns that DiStefano is working on some movie scores, he’s genuinely thrilled for his friend. But before too long, Farrell has moved the conversation to the subject of God and spirituality.

“What I like to do is study God, and I find the most sophisticated way to interpret God is actually the answer to all of our woes,” Farrell says. “The most simple understanding of God, it’s called The Akita. It’s God’s essence, it’s our life force. Once man gets God right, you’re not going to be able to fool him with God, the way that these crazy evangelists are always fooling people with God. It seems like that’s the big hang-up. Somebody’s always thinking that ‘No, no, no, I know what I know, God’s on my side, not on their side. And these guys are bad. These guys are good.’ But there’s going to be a very simple world-universal comprehension of God. And we’ll be on our way.”

There’s a lot of that when talking to Farrell, and frankly we wouldn’t want him any other way. The man has a way of looking at the world that is uniquely him. In a very David Bowie-esque way, Farrell is well-read and a sponge for knowledge. It’s the way he interprets it all that is so fascinating, and offers an insight into how some of his ethereal lyrics enter into existence. In conversation, it all comes pouring out. We only needed to ask a couple of questions and then stand back while Farrell bounced from one subject to the next. It’s actually a joy to behold.

That said, we had to direct the conversation toward Porno For Pyros. Lots of bands embark on a farewell tour, only to reform shortly afterwards. We suspected that there’d be a stronger air of finality over this one, but we were wrong. Neither Farrell nor DiStefano are prepared to put a period at the end of the sentence of the band’s existence.

“Pete’s one of my closest friends,” Farrell says. “I love making music with him. I go back to my son because I’m trying to raise a young man here. And I say to him, ‘Don’t look at life like it’s a band, and once the band is done, what do I do now? Look at everything as a project. And then you can run simultaneous projects.’ So I found out just now Pete’s got a couple of projects. Maybe one day, Pete will call me up and say ‘I need a vocal.’ I’d love to write with Pete anytime. And you never know. You see today, most things are products, and most products are just soulless. It’s all just built for money. There’s no real story in it. The thing I always say to my son is, ‘To be a great musician, you have to live a great life. So you can report, you can’t fake it. And it takes a long time. It can take you a whole lifetime.’ I don’t feel like it’s ending. I’m just getting started.”

Ultimately, it’s all about legacy. Both Farrell and DiStefano have other projects of various sizes on the go, but how would they like Porno For Pyros to be remembered when it is finally over?

“I’m an artist first,” says Farrell. “The trick is to not be too far ahead. Because if you’re too far ahead, then you’re not relatable. So after 30-some odd years, I know we’re relatable now, right, Pete? Back in those days, you’d look at us and you wouldn’t know what the fuck is it. And then people will say, ‘I was there.’ And then that legend grows. And, you know, it’s like being a farmer. Just enough sun. You don’t want to have a field that’s so big, and you want to let the land rest. As an artist, you’re doing all this balance, and it should take a lifetime. But in the end, you should get respect.”

They certainly have that. In November, Porno For Pyros released the “Agua” single, the first new music from the band in 26 years. They speak of it with a great amount of pride, and there’s more to come. Farrell is keen to film some music videos, too. By the end of this interview, the guys are gushing, and crying again, and we can’t help but wonder why they’re taking another break. But the truth is, that’s just where they are right now.

“I know where Pete has been,” says Farrell. “He’s fearless. He’s also a sweetheart.”

“I feel the same,” responds DiStefano. “We’re both crying now in LA Weekly.”

Awwwwwww!

Heavy Pettin: Porno for Pyros plays at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Belasco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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