The Unexpected Implosion of Two Signature Rock Acts

Whether you're an aging boomer or an aging member of Generation X, this wasn't a great start to the week for fans of iconic bands. The question I have is, is this the new normal? The day I've been dreading for 20 years.

Whether you cut your teeth on alternative hits as an 80s or 90s teen or were rocking out in the late 70s or early 80s, it appears we have reached the point where some of our iconic artists are saying, in the words of Aerosmith's ill-fated final tour, peace out. This week, we have started with disappointment for Jane's Addiction and REO Speedwagon fans.

You couldn't find two more different bands representing two distinct eras of rock and roll, yet both are iconic in their own way. Both were wildly popular in their respective genres back in the day. Both are still very popular, yet one went out with what will probably go down as an epic stage rant, the other with a whimper at the end of the year.

In the case of Jane's Addiction, frontman Perry Farrell got into an on-stage confrontation during a show in Boston with guitarist Dave Navarro. Unsurprisingly, on Monday morning, the band canceled all remaining dates of their current tour, and band members Navarro, Stephen Perkins, and Eric Avery took to Instagram to blame the cancellation on Farrell's behavior and mental health difficulties.

Farrell posted an Instagram statement apologizing to fans, the band, and especially Dave Navarro for his actions on Friday and taking responsibility for the altercation.

Meanwhile, also on Monday, REO Speedwagon announced that the band will cease touring on January 1, 2025. The cause of this stoppage was irreconcilable differences between Bruce Hall and Kevin Cronin, which arose from the band's assessment that Hall hasn't recovered from his health issues enough to perform at the level the fans have come to deserve. It's also worth noting that singer Kevin Cronin had to step away recently for emergency surgery, which may also have complicated matters.

If there's any similarity to the surprise meltdowns of these two bands, their current summer tours seem to have been hard on the respective band members—all of them. Perhaps everyone needs to take a breather, get healthy, and, if the members desire, find a way to do some touring easier on their bodies and minds.

It leaves me with the question: Is this the new normal for fans of late-70s to early-90s rock? Will our aging corporate rockers, who have played Sandstone and Starlight every summer since we were teens, slowly and gracefully exit the stage one by one by announcing their intention to cease touring?

Will the next 90s alt-act, which we thought had beat their addictions and mental health issues, be able to put it all together and give us another decade of tours? Or is the magic just getting too hard to pull off while staying healthy and not squabbling on the road?

I don't have the answers. I only have a piece of advice, one I started taking when I decided this summer tour might be the last lap for The Rolling Stones. See the icons you've been putting off to see NOW. See your favorite artists the next time they come around, especially the older ones.

I never thought Aerosmith's Girls of Summer tour in 2002 would be the last time I saw them. I thought there'd always be another tour, one when I had more money. I always thought, oh, REO Speedwagon, they're here every summer, no hurry to see them. I'll catch them next time.

It might require a little sacrifice when it comes to your wallet, but trust me, hearing those songs one last time will mean the world to you if it is the end. And if not, you can see them the next time they come around, too. I hope I get to see the Stones again. Seeing Mick, Keith, and Ronnie enjoying their career playing their hits with big ass grins on their faces is something I want to experience again. Yet if I don't, if that's my memory of the Stones live, it's priceless.

See the artists, spend the money, and make memories. You won't regret it.