Born on June 7, 1967, in Santa Monica, California, guitarist Dave Navarro was influenced early on by classic and psychedelic rock, and the harder edges of the British Invasion, the likes of The Animals. “I would even go so far as to say that bands like Pink Floyd, the Allman Brothers [Band], and the Grateful Dead influenced my songwriting,” said Navarro, “and leaning towards longer, more cinematic pieces.”
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During his time with Jane’s Addiction, Navarro co-wrote some of the band’s songs like “Jane Says,” “Mountain Song” and “Been Caught Stealing,” along with their 2003 album Strays and several tracks on their 2011 release The Great Escape Artist. He also continued working with Jane’s singer Perry Farrell, following the band’s initial breakup in 1991, on Porno for Pyros‘ 1996 album Good God’s Urge and on Farrell’s 2001 solo debut Song Yet to Be Sung.
Post-Jane’s Addiction, Navarro also joined Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993 and had a hand in co-writing songs on their 1995 album One Hot Minute and more before parting ways with the band in 1998.
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Navarro also plays guitar on Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill hit “You Oughta Know.” Throughout the 1990s and 2000s has been featured on songs by Janet Jackson, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Guns N’ Roses, and Christina Aguilera, among others.
Here’s a look at three more songs Navarro has co-written throughout his career.
1. “L.A. Song,” Deconstruction (1994)
Written by Dave Navarro, Eric Avery and Michael Murphy
Following the demise of Jane’s Addiction. Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Michael Murphy formed Deconstruction. The trio only released one album, their eponymous debut in 1994, which featured 15 tracks, all co-written by Navarro, the band and a few extra hands.
Initially, Navarro wanted former Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins in the band, but he continued on with Farrell’s then-new band Porno for Pyros instead. Deconstruction never toured and only released one album.
Though the album has been highly regarded, Navarro called Deconstruction nothing more than an “artistic experiment” at the time in his 2012 biography Don’t Try This at Home: A Year in the Life of Dave Navarro.
“We didn’t have songs,” said Navarro. “Some people viewed us as geniuses and others viewed us as fools. And, personally, I could see the rationale behind both points of view very clearly.”
Blue screen water, it’s not an ocean anymore
It’s just a backdrop, now come on
La Brae bones walk west
Bring your water
Plant your scenery, Ramona
Map out the dream and make the desert grow
Move out flat, don’t rise up
One neighborhood
Kraft cheese and a cup of joe, raw fish in a burrito
Game show straight to video in the land of the setting sun
Psychotherapy sci-fi religion tit pigs
Bikini barbell chakra gridlock
Don’t think, just talk jog don’t ever walk
Weight loss talk radio, roll up your windows
2. “Teahouse of the Spirits,” The Panic Channel (2006)
Written by Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Chris Chaney, and Steve Isaacs
The hardcore supergroup The Panic Channel formed after Jane’s Addiction’s third breakup in 2004. Made up of Navarro, vocalist Steve Isaacs, Jane’s Addiction’s Chris Chaney and Stephen Perkins, the band released one album, One, along with two singles, “Why Cry” and the opening “Teahouse of the Spirits.”
Special guest will you come tonight
brief visit from the other side
I am patient, I am calling you
In the Teahouse of the Spirits
I can feel you
I can hear you
give it all up just to be near you
I am praying, I am calling you
Why do you walk among the graves
between the droplets in the rain
I am humble, I am calling you
In the Teahouse of the Spirits
I can feel you
I can hear you
give it all up just to be near you
I am praying, I am calling you
3. “The Regency,” Iggy Pop (2023)
Written by Dave Navarro, Iggy Pop, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Chaney, Andrew Watt
Iggy Pop‘s 2023 album Every Loser was late Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins’ final recording session, and the album also featured a hand-selected collection of other co-writers and collaborators. Jane’s Addiction drummer Eric Avery, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker all played a part in Pop’s 19th album.
Along with Hawkins and Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney and others, Navarro only co-wrote one track the closing “The Regency.” The lyrics were directly inspired by an open letter Pop once received from U2’s Bono in 2020. “I received an open letter from Bono,” said Pop. “I’d never had an open letter before.”
Pop continued, “The gist of the letter was, he put forth the proposition, he said: ‘In rock ‘n’ roll, there is a sort of regency, in which certain people occupy the castle, and pull up the drawbridge, and it seems to me, that when you hurtle yourself head-first into the crowd, you are throwing away your crown, etc. … “So ‘The Regency’ is my answer, which is fuck the regency.”
“The Regency”
I battled with the regency
I fought them to a draw
Now I’m gonna tell you
Everything I saw
I saw a nose job
I saw a con job
I saw heartthrob
With a small knob
It was a whisperer
Who put the grab on her
I saw white flag
I felt my throat gag
Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
