1992–1994: Formation and Porno for Pyros Following the demise of the critically and commercially successful
Jane's Addiction, frontman
Perry Farrell and drummer
Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros after acquiring guitarist
Peter DiStefano and bass player
Martyn LeNoble. The name has also been connected through song lyrics to the
1992 Los Angeles riots which occurred in the band's hometown around the time of Porno for Pyros' inception. Prior to releasing their
eponymous first album, Porno for Pyros embarked on a nationwide tour to support the new band. and special effects (including pyrotechnics).
1995–1998: ''Good God's Urge'' and break-up For the band's follow-up album, ''
Good God's Urge'', bass player LeNoble quit after completing the majority of the bass tracks. Ex-
Minutemen bassist
Mike Watt was brought in to finish up the album tracks and join the band on tour. The album also featured the post-Jane's reunion of Farrell with guitarist
Dave Navarro, who made a guest appearance on "Freeway", along with Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass player Flea. The band again set forth on a heavy touring schedule with Watt on bass, then with Flea on bass with Perkins and Farrell's former Jane's Addiction bandmate Dave Navarro on guitar. In reality, the end of Porno For Pyros bled into the "relapsed Jane's Addiction" situation, as Jane's guitarist Dave Navarro and his Red Hot Chili Pepper bandmate Flea guested on 2 songs from the Good God's Urge sessions, "Freeway" and "Hard Charger." As "Hard Charger" was released and charted as a single from the Howard Stern Private Parts movie, the final touring dates for Porno For Pyros featured 3/4 of Jane's Addiction Dave Navarro and Flea onstage with Peter DeStefano and touring members Sunny Reinhart and Thomas "TJ" Johnson. On several tour stops Porno for Pyros played "Mountain Song", a popular Jane's Addiction tune, a foreshadowing of the later Jane's Addiction reunion efforts. Further touring by the band was scuttled when DiStefano was diagnosed with
cancer. Perkins and Watt subsequently formed the jazz-punk improvisation group
Banyan and, along with DiStefano, occasionally perform sets of
Stooges cover versions in the Los Angeles area under the band name
Hellride.
2009–2019: One-off reunion and rumours In April 2009, the original lineup of Farrell, Perkins, DiStefano, and LeNoble performed at Farrell's 50th birthday party. In April 2011, Farrell wrote on his
Twitter account: "One day, more Porno For Pyros", suggesting that the band would reunite in the future. On September 3, 2012, DiStefano stated that the band would be active in 2013, which was later also announced by Farrell on his Facebook page on July 6, 2013. In 2018, the band were rumoured to be part of an immersive entertainment experience in
Las Vegas, named Kind Heaven, created by Farrell, which never came to fruition.
2020–2024: Full reunion and farewell tour On July 27, 2020, it was announced that for the first time in 22 years, Porno for Pyros (featuring the lineup of Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, Mike Watt and Peter DiStefano) would be reuniting to play Lolla2020, a free four-night
YouTube broadcast event taking place on the original dates of the 2020 Chicago-based
Lollapalooza festival, Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, August 2. On July 20, 2021, DiStefano announced on his Facebook page that he, Farrell and Perkins were working on what will be new material from Porno for Pyros in over two decades. “The gang and the government are no different. 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…” noted Farrell on the Welcome to Rockville
Facebook page. Drummer Stephen Perkins was replaced by his drum tech Mike Gryciuk for the performance due to a stomach virus, with Nick Maybury, formerly of Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts on additional guitar. For the band's subsequent summer shows and appearance at
Lollapalooza, founding bassist Martyn LeNoble rejoined the band, with the original four-piece working on new material the following year. The band will release a four-track EP of original material in 2024. After the band's initial reunion tour was postponed and rescheduled, LeNoble announced his amicable departure from the band on November 13, 2023: "I’m so excited for the world to hear "Agua" and the other unreleased material from our recent sessions. There is a real connection between these new songs and how we've grown. We've mended our friendships and recorded these songs with love. I think you will hear that in the recordings. I've changed. I like quiet and nature. With that being said, I will be following my passion for wildlife and will not be part of the upcoming tour. I wish my brothers Perry, Pete and Stephen the best. I'm truly grateful for every moment I spent with them. Most importantly, thank you to all of you for all of the amazing support and memories." Following LeNoble's departure, the band announced that their 2024 tour would now be a farewell tour, titled the "Horns, Thorns en Halos", with Mike Watt rejoining the band on bass guitar for its final shows. ==Members==