Lee Farrell

Back when he was fronting alt-rock demigods Jane’s Addiction, Perry Farrell’s dreadlocks, tattoos, and nose ring couldn’t distract you from the fact that he possessed the soul of an old-school circus ringmaster. And for his first solo release in 18 years, Farrell has built himself the sideshow of his wildest fantasies, in both the musical and literal senses. Featuring an all-star guest list that includes Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins, Dhani Harrison, and The Cars’ Elliot Easton, Kind Heaven isn’t so much an album as a soundtrack preview of the interactive experience Farrell is launching in Las Vegas in 2020.

Jane's Addiction were one of the most hotly pursued rock bands when they gained notice in Los Angeles in the mid-'80s, with record companies at their feet. Flamboyant frontman Perry Farrell, formerly of the band Psi Com, had an undeniable charisma and an interest in provocative art (he designed the band's album covers), and Jane's Addiction played a hybrid of rock music: metal with strains of punk, folk, and jazz. The quartet, comprised of Farrell, bassist Eric Avery, drummer Stephen Perkins, and guitarist Dave Navarro, had already released its debut album as well, in the form of a live recording from the Roxy in Hollywood. Finally, Warner Bros. won the bidding war and released Nothing's Shocking in 1988. The band's abrasive sound and aggressive attitude (typified by the nude sculpture on the cover) led to some resistance, but Jane's Addiction began to break through to an audience – the album spent 35 weeks on the charts.