‘Jane`s Addiction’ offers new versions of old tracks

Austin, March 21: ‘Jane`s Addiction’ released two new studio tracks online with the forthcoming co-headlining tour with ‘Nine Inch Nails’.The two studio cuts available for free download are "Chip Away" and "Whores," both songs that fans will recognize from 1987`s self-titled live release.

"Just to get some creative juice flowing, we went into the studio for about two weeks," frontman Perry Farrell told Billboard.com. "We had the idea to re-record two tunes, just because they`d never been done officially in the studio. And we had some fun writing some new things. A handful that are close to finished, but not quite done. But there`s no rush to put anything out at this point." Nine Inch Nails` Trent Reznor and British producer Alan Moulder produced the new cuts. As to whether fans can expect a new record, Farrell said, "I don`t think so." He added, "For me, the idea is to introduce one or two songs into this touring cycle along with the ones everybody loves and knows." The spark that ignited the re-formation of the original four members of Jane`s Addiction arose in 2008 at the NME Awards. "We had a good time together, and the music sounded good," drummer Stephen Perkins said. The band is gearing up for a hefty summer tour, and the rarities boxed set "A Cabinet of Curiosities" is due April 21 via Rhino. The set includes three CDs and a DVD. "A lot of the stuff has never been heard before," Perkins said. "It`s a really nice, fetishy object," Farrell added. Perkins also has remastered some bootleg material. "There`s some rough-sounding stuff, sonically," guitarist Dave Navarro said. "But it`s worth a listen. I have old versions of Zeppelin recordings at home that I don`t necessarily throw into rotation all the time, but I like it." Jane`s Addiction gave SXSW attendees a taste of their post-reunion sound in the wee hours of Friday morning, ripping through a 55-minute set that drew entirely from the first phase of the band`s career -- an appropriate choice, given that original bassist Eric Avery has returned to the fold after a 17-year break. Playing at a capacity-plus private party, the quartet served up a 10-song sampling, starting with an epic rendition of "Three Days," with Farrell dancing like a dervish while Mohawked Perkins pounded out the rhythm and Navarro, shirtless and fedora`d, laced solos into the dynamic arrangement. The set drew entirely from 1988`s "Nothing`s Shocking" and 1990`s "Ritual de lo Habitual," mixing "hit" fare such as "Been Caught Stealing" (for which Farrell donned a pair of shades), "Mountain Song" and "Ocean Size" (but no "Jane Says") with more challenging but still well-received songs such as "Standing in the Shower Thinking," the reggae-flavored "Ted, Just Admit It" and the leaden final encore, "Stop." Visual evidence suggested that any of Jane`s well-chronicled rancor has been allayed again; the group members were interactive and clearly enjoying themselves, and Farrell -- who`s slated to perform a SXSW club show on Saturday night -- finished the night with an arm slung around Navarro`s shoulders. Bureau Report