After playing a few reunion shows last year, Porno for Pyros recently announced a 2024 North American farewell tour.
And while a press release announcing the tour revealed that original members Perry Farrell (vocals), Peter DiStefano (guitar), and Stephen Perkins (drums) would be taking part, a bassist was unconfirmed.
That led us to wonder: Would it be original bassist Martyn LeNoble or latter-era bassist Mike Watt? Or someone else altogether?
So, when Heavy Consequence caught up with Farrell recently to discuss the band’s upcoming EP and farewell tour (tickets available here), the singer gave us the scoop on who will be playing bass on the 2024 outing, albeit a bit cryptically at first.
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“Martyn LeNoble is a wonderful guy – he loves the outdoors, he loves to track animals out in the wild,” began Farrell. “He really is a naturalist. By the time we got the tour together, Martyn was heading out to the forests. So, we were left to look for a bass player.”
The vocalist added, “Mike Watt is in my estimation one of the greatest bass players of all time. And an alumni. But he’s got two very bad knees. He can’t even stand through a set – so he’s sitting now. He walks with a cane. But he just did a tour, it was like 60 shows in 60 days, and he drives himself there. He’s hardcore. So, I’m very excited about playing with him.”
“Mike’s going to play bass on this tour,” Farrell concluded.
Porno for Pyros formed after the initial breakup of Jane’s Addiction (of whom Farrell and Perkins are both members), and issued two alt-rock classics: 1993’s self-titled debut and 1996’s Good God’s Urge. LeNoble left the band in 1995, and was replaced by Watt, who was a member of the group until their breakup in 1998.
They re-formed last year to play a couple of festival gigs when Jane’s Addiction had to bow out due to guitarist Dave Navarro’s battle with long COVID. Watt ended up playing the first show at Welcome to Rockville festival in Florida, while LeNoble joined the band for a couple of club performances and a set at Lollapalooza.
Watt also played with the band last week at a secret loft party in Los Angeles. Their 16-date 2024 farewell outing will be the band’s first full tour in a quarter century.
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Stay tuned for the rest of Heavy Consequence‘s interview with Perry Farrell, in which he discusses the tour, the upcoming EP, his memories of recording Porno for Pyro’s debut album, and more.
Watch Porno for Pyros performing “Pets” with Mike Watt on bass at last year’s Welcome to Rockville festival below.
