JANE’S ADDICTION AND EXTREME EXES TEAM UP FOR “SATELLITE PARTY” SUPERGROUP, RELEASE FIRST SINGLE

Those in the Blabbersphere already know that ex-Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell and ex-Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt have teamed up to form the latest ’00s supergroup, Satellite Party. Though there have been whisperings about this pairing for over a year now, the group, which is rounded out by Kevin Figg on drums, Etty Lau Farrell (Perry’s wife) on background vocals and Carl Restivo on keyboards and bass, has just recently released its first single “Wish Upon a Dog Star” on the Internet, streaming for free at this location.

Don’t expect much here, folks. This author is a fan of both Jane’s Addiction and Extreme, but I have a feeling that Satellite Party is not going to cut the mustard.

Perry Farrell’s legacy is set in stone as one of the true innovators of the early alternative rock scene, and Nuno Bettencourt is undeniably one of the most underrated and skilled guitarists of the late ’80s hair-metal boom, a victim only of being born a few years too late. Farrell’s vocals sound fine on this new single but offer nothing new, and Bettencourt’s guitar wizardry is all but absent, save a few delay-soaked single-note leads in the choruses. Judging by this track, don’t expect much in the way of big, loud arrangements ala Ritual de lo Habitual era Jane’s, and don’t expect crushing rhythms and shred-tastic guitar solos ala Pornograffitti and III Sides to Every Story-era Extreme. Expect something more akin to, well, Perry Farrell’s mid-’90s side project Porno for Pyros adapted to reflect the current indie rock trend (is that an indie rock dance beat I hear opening the song??? — how dare you!).

Porno for Pyros’ two albums delivered overly meandering and inaccessible tunes, with a few above average pop numbers sprinkled in for good measure. The Panic Channel, the recent Supergroup formed by the other three Janes’ members and former MTV VJ Steve Isaacs, suffered the same syndrome with their 2006 release ONe. I expect the Satellite Party release Ultra Payloaded, set for a May 15 release date via Columbia Records, will be OK at best, but not living up the amazing potential of the band’s two leaders.

In short, don’t expect something awesome here, or you’re setting yourself up for a massive disappointment; expect something in the range of suck to mediocre.

-VN

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