Roy Jurgens on December 9th, 2017

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Odds are that whoever is reading this right now has lost someone to cancer. 

On Friday night at the Palladium,  Jane’s Addiction joined those who are doing something about it by throwing a hometown benefit for Rhonda’s Kiss, a charitable organization committed to helping the financially disadvantaged among those afflicted and their families.

Opening the festivities was something we see quite often in these parts. Angelenos enjoy a wealth of “all-star” bands, all of whom have a revolving door of players. The latest are the Hellcat Saints, who on this occasion were comprised of Frankie Perez (Apocalyptica), Billy Duffy (The Cult), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Josh Freese (NIN, Devo, countless others), Scott Shriner (Weezer) and Frank Kushner (Velvet Revolver). They rolled through a crowd-pleasing warm-up set, heavy on songs from the Cult and Alice in Chains. 

The fact that this was a benefit made it a bit different from your average show. Hosted by comedian Greg Behrendt, there were first-person video accounts, celebrities and the presentation of the “Healing & Hope Award” to Dr. Keith Black, M.D. at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and a guitar auction before, between and after sets, which everyone stood through politely and impatiently. 

Finally, over the speakers came the familiar opening, “Nosotros tenemos más influencia con sus hijos que tú tiene, pero los queremos. Creado y regado de Los Ángeles, Juana’s adicción,” after which Dave Navarro tore into the distorted funk riffs that opened “Stop,” from their 1990 album “Ritual de lo Habitual.” From there they moved into “Just Because,” the only song not from the band’s first two albums. As per usual, it took Perry Farrell a couple of songs to find his key, and the rhythm section of Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney was as pro as ever. If one had a complaint, it was due to an abbreviated eight-song set, while big on hits (“Been Caught Stealin’,” “Jane Says,” “Mountain Song”), they failed to play a lot of fan favorites. From a typically epic interpretation of their opus “Three Days,” the steel drums were dragged out and the familiar chords of “Jane Says” permeated the old hall, and ended their set with a sing-along.

The days of an avant garde Jane’s Addiction are so bygone they aren’t even in the rearview mirror, that said, they aren’t ready to mail it in either. Their performance portrayed a confident middle-aged band, pleased to be playing before an adoring hometown crowd. Farrell, with ever present bottle of red in hand was in particularly good spirits, flirting with his wife Etty, who was one of the lingerie clad dancers who have become de rigueur at Jane’s shows.

In 2014, Rhonda Stefanski created Rhonda’s Kiss while batting stage four pancreatic cancer. Sadly she succumbed, but her legacy lives on, as Rhonda’s Kiss is committed to what is often overlooked — support for patients in financial need, with outreach measures attempting to decrease late-stage cancer diagnosis in financially depressed communities. Funds are distributed by local hospitals in areas where money is raised. For more information or to donate directly, contact Rhonda’s Kiss.

Jane’s Addiction hit the road for a brief four-date tour starting in Tempe, Ariz.. on Dec. 27 and finishing up in Aspen, Colo., on New Year’s Eve.

Photos by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Rhonda’s Kiss