The group recently wrapped up their final tour in New Jersey
In the wake of their last tour ever, Porno For Pyros have released a new song, “Fingernail.” It is the band’s final studio release. Ironically, the track is a retrospective story about death and growth at the same time, symbolic of the band’s final tour. Stream the official audio below now.
Written nearly 30 years ago, Fingernail’s story was only beginning.
“The moment the melody touched the words I knew it would be a special song”, Perry Farrell said. “But I was too immature to understand the essence fully. There is no pain in the cutting of our hair, eyelashes or a fingernail, because they are dead, although the world at every instant is renewed. The death invested within us is pushed out, and the soul is again restored.”
Stephen Perkins adds, “Fingernail is a true marriage of story meets storytelling in twisted harmony.”
“Fingernail to me is the art of patience while in recovery,” said Peter DiStefano
Though the band only put out two full-length albums over their turbulent 30-year history, it is clear that Porno for Pyros was meant to be a platform for those in need of healing. For that, they will always hold a special place in alternative history.
“In Fingernail, I hear our lives, and yours,” said Martyn Le Noble. “Decades of growing. Happiness, heartbreak, tension, loss and joy… growing pains. In this case it took almost 30 years for this song to slowly grow into what it is now. And, the way the song ends. I love redemption songs. I’d say we ended it well Perry, Peter and Stephen.”
Porno for Pyros released another new song, “Agua,” last November. It was the band’s first new piece of material since their 1997 single, “Hard Charger,” which was featured on the soundtrack for the feature film Private Parts starring Howard Stern.
“Now we’re here, and that same heart, that same desire to make music together, has returned,” frontman Perry Farrell said at the time. “Getting together with these guys has been some of the most fun, the happiest times in my life.”
Last year saw the reunion of the original members (Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, and Peter DiStefano) at Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. They stepped in for Jane’s Addiction, who pulled out due to guitarist Dave Navarro’s ongoing recovery from Long COVID-19. Bassist Mike Watt, who was a member of the band from 1995 through 1998, joined Porno for Pyros for the reunion gig. It was the band’s first live performance in 26 years.
“The gang and the government are no different,” frontman Perry Farrell said in a statement. “That makes me 1%. Rockville, although we are blue that Jane’s cannot be with you at this time due to Dave’s long bout with COVID, I am still coming to Daytona, bringing to you for the first time in 26 years Porno For Pyros Featuring myself, Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, Peter DiStefeno and Mike Watt. We’ll play some Jane’s songs for you as well, but for now let’s recall: My boat’s capsized it’s gonna sink to the bottom. I can see the lights on the shore.”
They followed that up with sold out shows at the Belasco in Los Angeles, California, and the Metro in Chicago, Illinois, and a featured performance at Lollapalooza, with original bassist Martyn LeNoble rejoining the group for those gigs.
Porno for Pyros rose from the ashes of Jane’s Addiction’s first break-up in 1992. When Jane’s folded, singer Farrell and drummer Perkins recruited guitarist Peter DiStefano and bassist Martyn LeNoble to form Porn for Pyros. They released their self-titled debut album on April 27, 1993 through Warner Bros. Records. The recorded faired well commercially, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The gold-selling album garnered the band a No. 1 Modern Rock hit single with “Pets.” Their sophomore effort, Good God’s Urge, arrived in 1996.
