Jane's Addiction

After a 10 year hiatus, Jane’s Addiction (the band The Red Hot Chili Peppers nicked all their moves from) return to the kind of reception normally reserved for the second coming of Jesus Christ (either that or Duran Duran). Something in the air says this gig is going to be a bit special. Maybe it’s because it’s Halloween, perhaps it's something to with the near-naked riot girls, or is it indeed that everyone here seems to be absolutely hammered?

The mass insobriety is not helped by a string of placards parading about the place depicting a punked up Winston Churchill. Confusion momentarily reigns. It transpires we’ve just been flash mobbed. We’re also agog at the six swim-suited girls lined up on stage brandishing riot shields and doing rude things with truncheons. Phwoar! Etc.

Perry Farrell gets the same reaction when he bounds onto the stage wearing a bodice (bought from fetish clothing range 'Torture Garden' fact fans!). He looks well fit. Goat boy look-a-like guitarist Dave Navarro too looks kinda cute, and new bassist Chris Chaney is built like a brick outhouse. As is powerhouse drummer Stephen Perkins who seemingly has arms like tree trunks.

For sure, Jane’s Addiction are in rude health, musically so, too. Live, 'Strays' has grown muscles: when 'True Nature' kicks in, it hits you in the gut, and when a dazzling semi-acoustic 'Just Because' explodes into a riotous 'Riches' it packs a knock-out punch. Brixton is on the ropes but when the classic ‘Been Caught Stealing’ starts up the place comes bouncing back for more like a punch drunk opponent. The whole place is, literally, rocking.

Farrell is loving it. He milks the applause, egging the crowd on, and chatting up the girls in the front row. He takes the piss out of the balcony ("You gotta any hot dogs and popcorn up there?"), his country, and has a pop at George Bush ("He ain’t my fucking President!"). There is also a touching moment when he crouches down next to Navarro, sat on the edge of the stage, puts his arm around him as if to say, "Y’know it’s gonna be OK. We’re still here! We’ve made it!"

Indeed, Jane’s Addiction are still here, they remain relevant, and they still kick ass. It’s good to have them back.