Porno for Pyros

Infobox musical artist
Name = Porno for Pyros


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre = Alternative rock
Years_active = 1992 – 1998
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Associated_acts = Jane's Addiction
Class of '99
Past_members = Perry Farrell
Stephen Perkins
Martyn LeNoble
Peter DiStefano
Mike Watt

Porno for Pyros was an American alternative rock group formed in 1992. It was Perry Farrell's and Stephen Perkins' next project after the breakup of their former band Jane's Addiction.

History

Following the demise of the critically and commercially successful Jane's Addiction project, frontman Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros after acquiring guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martyn LeNoble. Farrell named the band after viewing an ad for fireworks in a pornographic magazine. [ Farley 1993] The name has also been connected through song lyrics to the LA riots which occurred in the band's hometown around the time of Porno for Pyros inception. [ Browne 1993] Prior to releasing their eponymous first album, Porno for Pyros embarked on a nationwide tour to support the new band. By the time the band's debut album was released in 1993, anticipation surrounding the project was enough to briefly drive the album to the #3 position on the Billboard top 200 list. Reaction to the album was mixed, with some fans ecstatic and others disappointed. The video for the album's first single, "Pets," received heavy airplay on MTV. Following the album's release, Porno for Pyros continued a heavy touring schedule, including an appearance at Woodstock 94. Unlike the relatively straight-ahead rock shows that were the hallmark of live Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros live shows relied heavily on props, extras and special effects (including, but not limited to, pyrotechnics).

For the band's follow-up album, "Good God's Urge", bass player LeNoble quit after completing the majority of the bass tracks. Ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt was brought in to finish up the album tracks and join the band on tour. The album also featured the post-Jane's reunion of Farrell with guitarist Dave Navarro, who made a guest appearance on "Freeway," along with Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass player Flea. The band again set forth on a heavy touring schedule. It's interesting to note that on several tour stops Porno for Pyros played "Mountain Song," a popular Jane's Addiction tune. Other than being a sure crowd-pleaser, in retrospect, it was a foreshadowing of the later Jane's Addiction reunion efforts. Further touring by the band was scuttled when DiStefano was diagnosed with cancer.

Perkins and Watt subsequently formed the jazz-punk improvisation group Banyan and, along with DiStefano, occasionally perform sets of Stooges cover versions in the Los Angeles area under the band name Hellride.

The Jane's Addiction/Porno for Pyros book "Whores" (by Brendan Mullen) states that a third Porno for Pyros album was penned but never recorded.

Discography

*"Porno for Pyros" (1993)
*"Good God's Urge" (1996)

Extended discography available at http://janesaddiction.org/discographies/disc_list.phtml?artistID=2

Notes

References

*Browne, David. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,306469,00.html "Burning Addiction"] , "Entertainment Weekly", May 7, 1993. Accessed April 27, 2008.
*Erlewine, Stephen Thomas & Prato, Greg. " [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?P=amg&sql=Porno+for+Pyros&x=0&y=0&opt1=1&sourceid=mozilla-search Porno for Pyros] ". "Allmusic". Retrieved June 13, 2005.
*Farley, Christopher. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,978609,00.html "Playing with Fire"] , "Time Magazine", May 31, 1993. Accessed April 27, 2008.
*http://www.janesaddiction.org/
*http://www.divxizle.info