Bon Jovi, Jane’s, N.W.A: Break Up or Make Up?

BREAKUP II?: The future of Jane’s Addiction was cloudy at best even before word came last week that guitarist David Navarro had been approached by Guns N’ Roses about sitting in for road-weary Izzy Stradlin if he decides to drop out of GNR’s two-year world tour.

For months, there have been rumors about Jane’s Addiction calling it quits--and the band’s representatives are describing its shows last week in Honolulu as its last--”at least for a long while,” in the words of one.

But now the rumors are really heating up. Among the juicier ones:

* There’s supposedly a serious rift between leader Perry Farrell (who has spoken publicly in favor of drug use) and the band’s bassist Eric Avery (who went through drug rehab). Avery was missing in action when Farrell and the rest of the band performed at a benefit for AIDS-stricken rock journalist Craig Lee at the Palace earlier this month.

“They hate each other,” said one source close to the band. “Perry and Eric just can’t stand to be near each other.”

* Farrell is about to sign a solo contract, perhaps with Rick Rubin’s Def American label.

* Navarro and Avery are going to join the hot cult band Nine Inch Nails, which was part of the summer’s Jane’s-led Lollapalooza tour and is now reportedly close to signing with Jimmy Iovine’s Interscope Records.

So, what’s fact and what’s fiction?

Heidi Robinson, publicist for both Jane’s Addiction and Def American, said that the band’s hiatus has more to do with tour burnout than irreconcilable differences. “This band has spent a lot of time close with each other and a vacation is in order,” she said. “Perry has a lot of things he wants to do that he can’t do within the context of Jane’s Addiction.”

First up is the completion of “The Gift,” a feature-length film project he’s been working on for years. Robinson said that Farrell will not be signing with Def American--”He’s under contract with Warner Bros. (Jane’s label) and very happy there.”

Meanwhile, sources say there has been some talk between Navarro and Avery and Nine Inch Nails leader Trent Reznor about working together, though, as of now, they’re not joining the group. And Jane’s drummer Stephen Perkins has turned up on the new debut album by Infectious Grooves, a side project of Mike Muir and Robert Trujillo from Suicidal Tendencies. But as of now, Robinson said, Jane’s Addiction is still a going concern.

“I guess this is just the week that Jane’s Addiction is the subject of all kinds of rumors,” she said.