Editing Stephen Perkins

{{short description|American musician and songwriter (born 1967)}}
{{For|the 19th century Republic of Texas politician|Stephen W. Perkins}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{BLP refimprove|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name              = Stephen Perkins
| image             = Jane’s Addiction - Teatro Caupolicán (10339170413).jpg
| caption           = 
| image_upright     = 1.2
| landscape         = yes
| background        = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name        = Stephen Andrew Perkins
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1967|9|13}}
| birth_place       = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| instrument        = Drums, percussion
| genre             = [[Alternative rock]], [[alternative metal]]
| occupation        = Musician, songwriter, producer
| years_active      = 1986–present
| label             = [[Triple X Records|Triple X]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], [[EMI Records|EMI]], [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], [[CyberOctave]], [[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]], Blood Stained Stars
| website           = 
}}

'''Stephen Andrew Perkins''' (born September 13, 1967) is an American musician and songwriter. A drummer and percussionist, he currently plays with [[Jane's Addiction]], [[Porno for Pyros]], [[Banyan_(band)|Banyan]] and [[Hellride]]. His style blends [[Rock music|rock]], [[jazz]], [[Swing music|swing]], [[African Music|African]], [[Indian Music|Indian]] and [[Latin music|Latin]] drumming styles together.<ref name="Shapiro">{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ellen |title=Jane's Addiction's Stephen Perkins: interview |url=https://louderthanwar.com/janes-addictions-stephen-perkins-interview/ |website=Louder Than War |date=April 29, 2020 |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="MD">{{cite web |last1=Rashidi |first1=Waleed |title=Stephen Perkins: Jane's Addiction |url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2009/06/stephen-perkins-3/ |website=moderndrummer.com |date=June 18, 2009 |publisher=Modern Drummer Publications |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=JANE'S ADDICTION's STEPHEN PERKINS Offers Advice To Young Musicians |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/janes-addictions-stephen-perkins-offers-advice-to-young-musicians |website=blabbermouth.net |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

Perkins grew up in Los Angeles and attended [[Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, California)|Notre Dame High School]] in [[Sherman Oaks, California]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndhs.org/page|title=Notre Dame High School|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref> He got his first drum kit at age 13 and was primarily influenced by jazz and swing,<ref name="Shapiro" /> as well as rock drummers such as Keith Moon and John Bonham.<ref name="MD" /> A few years later he met [[Dave Navarro]] and together they formed a metal band called Disaster.<ref name="Shapiro" />

==Career==
===1985–1990: Jane's Addiction===
{{main|Jane's Addiction}}
In 1985, when he was 17,<ref name="Shapiro" /> Perkins was dating the younger sister of bassist [[Eric Avery]].<ref name="Keller">{{cite web |last1=Keller |first1=Joel |title=Jane's Addiction's 'Nothing's Shocking': The Oral History of the Album That Made Them Stars (But Almost Broke Them Up First) |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/janes-addiction-nothings-shocking-oral-history-30th-anniversary-8471762/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Media, LLC |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> Perry Farrell had worked with Avery in his band [[Psi Com]]. Perkins was recruited to join a new band with Farrell and Avery.<ref name="Shapiro" /> He convinced them to replace their guitarist with Navarro and they began playing shows around LA in downtown ballrooms and clubs.<ref name="Keller" /> Perkins states that Jane’s Addiction played late shows at parties which would be attended by other LA musicians after they had played their own shows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christopher |first1=Michael |title=617 Q&A: Stephen Perkins on Jane's Addiction's reunion, revolving rhythm sections, and hair metal |url=https://vanyaland.com/2024/09/12/617-qa-stephen-perkins-on-janes-addictions-reunion-revolving-rhythm-sections-and-hair-metal/ |website=vanyaland.com |publisher=Vanyaland |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> He recorded three albums and toured extensively with Jane’s Addiction before they broke up in 1991.<ref name="Shapiro" />

===1990–2000: Porno For Pyros, Infectious Grooves, and Banyan===
Perkins formed [[Infectious Grooves]] with [[Suicidal Tendencies]] singer [[Mike Muir]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal |date=1995 |publisher=Guinness Publishing |isbn=0-85112-656-1 |pages=176/7 |edition=Second}}</ref> After Jane’s Addiction broke up, Infectious Grooves toured in support of [[Ozzy Osbourne]] on his No More Tears tour.<ref name="Shapiro" /> The following year he reunited with Farrell to begin work on [[Porno for Pyros]]. Perkins changed his drum setup for this band, including more percussive instruments in his search for new sounds. He also formed his own band, [[Banyan_(band)|Banyan]] – an instrumental act where he felt he could drive the music like jazz bands led by [[Gene Krupa]] and [[Billy Cobham]].<ref name="MD" />

Porno for Pyros toured extensively through the early 90s, which influenced their music and Perkins drumming.<ref name="Shapiro" /> In 1997, Jane’s Addiction reformed for a one off tour, and released the compilation album ''[[Kettle Whistle]]''.<ref name="JA">{{cite web |url=https://janesaddiction.org/ |website=janesaddiction.org |title=the Jane's Addiction resource|access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> Porno for Pyros then went on hiatus in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title=Porno For Pyros Bio |url=https://pornoforpyrosofficial.com/pages/bio |website=pornoforpyrosofficial.com |publisher=Porno for Pyros |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref>

===2000–2008: Methods of Mayhem, second Jane's Addiction era ===
Perkins began touring with [[Tommy Lee|Tommy Lee’s]] band [[Methods of Mayhem]] in 1999.<ref name="Shapiro" /> After the band broke up in 2000, he continued his ongoing relationship with Farrell, contributing drum tracks to three songs on Farrell’s solo album ''[[Song Yet to Be Sung]]'' in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ingham |first1=Chris |title="Breaking the habit" |journal=Classic Rock |date=August 2001 |volume=30 |page=62}}</ref> This was followed by a Jane’s Addiction reformation tour and album, [[Strays_(Jane%27s_Addiction_album)|''Strays'']] released in 2003.<ref name="JA" /> Throughout this period Perkins continued to tour with Jane’s Addiction, and then in 2004 began playing in [[The Panic Channel]] with Navarro and [[Chris Chaney]] from Jane’s Addiction, along with [[Steve Isaacs]] on vocals. He also performed with The Mutaytor in 2006,<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Perkins - November 17, 2006 - Henry Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA |url=https://janesaddiction.org/tour/show/stephen-perkins/2006-11-17/1439/ |website=janesaddiction.com |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> as well as releasing an instructional DVD ''Stephen Perkins – A Drummer's Life'' produced by [[Drum Workshop]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Perkins – A Drummer's Life |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9862073-Stephen-Perkins-A-Drummers-Life |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>

===2008–present: Third Jane's Addiction era===
Perkins again joined with Farrell to reform Jane’s Addiction for 3 shows in 2008, and a full tour in 2009.<ref name="JA" /> However, in July that year he suffered from a serious infection in his arm and the Australian leg of the tour had to be cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jane's Addiction forced to cancel tour leg |url=http://www.janesaddiction.com/story/news/janes_addiction_forced_to_cancel_australian_tour_leg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827110136/http://www.janesaddiction.com/story/news/janes_addiction_forced_to_cancel_australian_tour_leg |access-date=14 September 2024|archive-date=August 27, 2009 }}</ref> After his recovery, Jane’s Addiction continued to tour and recorded their fourth studio album ''[[The Great Escape Artist]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Escape Artist, The |url=https://janesaddiction.org/discography/janes-addiction/albums/great-escape-artist-the/ |website=janesaddiction.com |date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> Perkins played with Jane’s Addiction on their tours and sporadic performances throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, and has also played with Porno for Pyros since their reformation in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Show & Live Appearance Histories |url=https://janesaddiction.org/tour/ |website=janesaddiction.com |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref>

Perkins played in Tabitha with the Okai Sisters between 2015-2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bidwell |first1=Stephen |title=Stephen Perkins on Jane’s Addiction’s Twenty-Fifth-Anniversary Ritual De Lo Habitual Shows |url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2016/07/stephen-perkins-4/ |website=moderndrummer.com |publisher=Modern Drummer Publications |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Okai Sisters: Bio |url=https://www.theokaisisters.com/bio |website=Okai Sisters |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref> Since 2019, Perkins has performed in Think:EXP with Pink Floyd saxophonist [[Scott Page]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: "I describe it as a cross between Cirque du Soleil and Burning Man…" The immersive world of Think:EXP |url=https://909originals.com/2019/06/06/i-describe-it-as-a-cross-between-cirque-du-soleil-and-burning-man-the-immersive-world-of-thinkexp/ |website=909originals.com |date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref>

==Community work==
Perkins has run drum circles for disabled children, adults, and elderly people at a camp in [[Malibu,_California|Malibu]].<ref name="MD" /> He helped develop a wearable percussive instrument called a GoJo Bag which disabled people could use when they were unable to play a drum.

==Discography==
'''Jane's Addiction'''
* 1987 – ''[[Jane's Addiction (album)|Jane's Addiction]]''
* 1988 – ''[[Nothing's Shocking]]''
* 1990 – ''[[Ritual de lo Habitual]]''
* 1991 – ''[[Live and Rare (Jane's Addiction album)|Live and Rare]]'' (Compilation of live tracks, demos, and album tracks)
* 1997 – ''[[Kettle Whistle (album)|Kettle Whistle]]'' (Compilation of live tracks, demos, new songs and unreleased material)
* 2003 – ''[[Strays (Jane's Addiction album)|Strays]]''
* 2006 – ''[[Up from the Catacombs - The Best of Jane's Addiction|Up from the Catacombs]]'' (Greatest hits album)
* 2009 – ''[[A Cabinet of Curiosities]]'' (Box set)
* 2011 – ''[[The Great Escape Artist]]''
* 2024 – ''Imminent Redemption / True Love''

'''Infectious Grooves'''
* 1991 – ''[[The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves]]''

'''Porno for Pyros'''
* 1993 – ''[[Porno for Pyros (album)|Porno for Pyros]]''
* 1996 – ''[[Good God's Urge]]''
* 2023/2024 - ''Agua / Pete's Dad / Fingernail''

'''Nine Inch Nails'''
* 1994 – ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'' Drum performance for "I Do Not Want This"

'''Banyan'''
* 1997 – ''[[Banyan (album)|Banyan]]''
* 1999 – ''[[Anytime at All]]''
* 2004 – ''[[Live at Perkins' Palace]]''

'''[[Perry Farrell]]'''
* 1999 – ''[[Rev (Perry Farrell album)|Rev]]''
* 2001 – ''[[Song Yet to Be Sung]]''

'''The Panic Channel'''
* 2006 – ''[[(ONe)]]''

'''Hellflower'''
* 2010 – ''Us You''

'''Deconstruction'''
* 2025 – ''TBA''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://janesaddiction.org/ JanesAddiction.org] – extensive discography and information
*{{IMDb name|674062|Stephen Perkins}}

{{Jane's Addiction}}
{{Methods of Mayhem}}
{{Porno for Pyros}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perkins, Stephen}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rock drummers]]
[[Category:Songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Drummers from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Jane's Addiction members]]
[[Category:Porno for Pyros members]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:Methods of Mayhem members]]
[[Category:The Panic Channel members]]
[[Category:Class of '99 members]]