Been Caught Stealing

Thirty-six years ago today, Jane’s Addiction released Ritual de lo Habitual. August 21, 1990. Warner Bros. Records. The cover featured a painting by Perry Farrell depicting himself and two women. Walmart and other major retailers refused to carry it. Warner Bros. issued an alternate version with a plain white cover printed with the full text of the First Amendment. “Been Caught Stealing” was the single that introduced most people to the album. A pop hook wrapped around a band that had no interest in making pop hooks. It reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. It was the most accessible song on an album that was not trying to be accessible.

Jane’s Addiction came from Los Angeles. Perry Farrell sang it. Dave Navarro played guitar. Eric Avery played bass. Stephen Perkins played drums. The four of them built a sound that drew from funk, metal, and art rock without sounding like any of it. Ritual de lo Habitual entered the Billboard 200 at number 19. An album refused by major retailers. An album whose cover triggered a censorship dispute. It charted anyway. The music was too vital to be kept out.

Jane’s Addiction broke up in 1991. They had barely held together long enough to finish. Perry Farrell used the breakup tour to launch Lollapalooza. The first Lollapalooza was their farewell. Nine Inch Nails. Ice-T. Siouxsie and the Banshees. Living Colour. It changed how touring festivals worked in America. Ritual de lo Habitual is what they left behind on record. “Been Caught Stealing” is the door in. Walk through it and you find “Stop.” Walk further and you find “Classic Girl.” The album that could not be sold in Walmart is now studied in music programs. It got there eventually.