Dave Navarro News

Former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro seems to be everywhere these days. He just finished his second season as co-host of the CBS reality series "Rock Star: Supernova," and his new band the Panic Channel recently released its Capitol Records debut, "(ONe)."

Navarro, who joined Jane's Addiction in 1986 when he was 19, has experienced all the highs and lows of the music industry. After the group first disbanded in 1991, Navarro was briefly a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and recorded with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Alanis Morissette. He also publicly acknowledged his longstanding drug addiction with the release of his 2001 solo album "Trust No One" (Capitol) and the autobiography "Don't Try This at Home: A Year in the Life of Dave Navarro."

In 2003, Navarro took his career to another level with the MTV reality series "'Till Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave," which chronicled his courtship of Carmen Electra.

Since then, Navarro has embraced his newfound celebrity status by opening Rokbar, a Los Angeles bar/restaurant he co-owns with Motley Crue/Rock Star Supernova drummer Tommy Lee, and signing a deal with the FX network for a new hourlong TV show he created called "The Product." Although he has successfully branded himself via these various projects, Navarro says that music is "absolutely my main focus." In fact, the Panic Channel, which includes former Jane's Addiction members Chris Chaney (bass) and Stephen Perkins (drums), and singer Steve Isaacs, will tour with Rock Star Supernova this winter.

WHAT WAS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL WHEN YOU FORMED THE PANIC

CHANNEL?

The bottom line is, we got together because we enjoy playing music and we enjoy the process of writing and recording, and we enjoy the live performances. That's why I got into music to begin with -- and why we made this record is no different.

ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH FINDING MAINSTREAM SUCCESS?

Not at all. In fact, the interesting thing is that when we got together we really didn't even intend on being a band. Things really evolved very naturally. Even (having) a song being played on the radio once probably is beyond the expectations that I had.

SINCE EMBARKING ON YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY, WHAT HAS BEEN THE

BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'VE NOTICED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

That's such a huge question. There (have) been so many. I do see that the industry has refused to change with the times and has refused to keep up (with) technology and what's going on in the world. As a result, I think that less great music is getting out there. If you're not a 16-year-old girl with a reality show, you're not gonna get backed.

The one thing about file sharing, MySpace and iTunes, which are really amazing and great, is that bands now have the ability to get their music out there without the need of a major label. Most of these bands aren't going to make their living selling records. They're going to make their living touring. And if I'm screwing around on MySpace and I hear a band that I like and realize that they're playing in my city, I'm more likely to go see them.

We have the ability to control ourselves a little more, and I love that.

YOU HAVE YOUR OWN INTERNET RADIO STATION,

SPREADRADIOLIVE.COM, WHICH YOU RUN FROM YOUR HOME. WHY?

I do that a couple times a week. I highlight undiscovered, unsigned bands and give them profile pages and a place to upload their MP3s.

It's nonprofit, nonregulated talk (with) no commercials. It's truly for the love of the craft of broadcasting and for the love of music. And I'm a huge advocate of taking it all back, because I really just feel that the media today is really responsible for kind of f---ing up the sensitivities of America. I think that now that we all have the technology at our fingertips to put out there what we want, it's our responsibility to do that.

COULD IT EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING MORE, LIKE STARTING YOUR OWN

LABEL TO SIGN SOME OF THE BANDS YOU PROFILE?

Actually, right now, my intention is just to kind of keep it home-grown and fun. What I love about it is that it's not a business. The people who work on the station -- the other DJs and myself -- just love doing it. I think that once we put a dollar sign on it, then it becomes something else. And I think that people can smell through that, too.

One of the things our listeners really love about it is that it's just raw. It's a hobby that I can share with the world, and what's wonderful about it is I can take it anywhere. Like when the Panic Channel is on tour, I'll broadcast from the bus. That way the people that really give a s--t about what's going on with the band can have access to what's going on, and they don't have to rely on picking up a Star magazine at the supermarket to read some bulls--t.

YOU HAVE HOSTED TWO SEASONS OF "ROCK STAR," HAD YOUR OWN

REALITY TV SHOW AND APPEARED IN A GAP COMMERCIAL, AMONG OTHER

THINGS. AS A ROCK ARTIST, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE HELD UP TO A

DIFFERENT STANDARD THAN, SAY, A POP OR HIP-HOP ARTIST, WHEN IT

COMES TO BRANDING YOUR NAME?

That's a good question. I don't know. Being on television and doing a reality show leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. I understand it. Music is sacred to them. It's a huge part of their lives. I try not to pay attention, because the true die-hard music fans are always going to be there. The rest of it that becomes pop-culture fodder is just that, and it really doesn't mean anything at the end of the day.

We're not doing anything but good for the medium by putting (songs by) Nirvana and the Who on prime-time national television. I really believe that. Not only that, but in an age where young, struggling artists are having a hard time getting their music out there, ("Rock Star" is a place) where super-talented singers are getting a chance to be seen and heard by millions.

THROUGH THE YEARS YOU HAVE TRULY BECOME A MULTIMEDIA

ARTIST. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF THIS WAY?

I do have a very clear distinction between what's art and what's entertainment. Believe me, I'm not under any delusional impression that when I'm on the couch in "Rock Star: Supernova" that I'm involved in any creative process. I know what I'm doing. I'm listening to songs, I'm telling you what I think, and I go home and watch "Nip/Tuck" (laughs). I mean, I'm not even as invested as the viewers are.

WHEN THE PANIC CHANNEL HITS THE ROAD WITH ROCK STAR

SUPERNOVA, WILL YOU PERFORM ANY JANE'S ADDICTION SONGS?

No. It's weird. I'm also in a cover band called Camp Freddy where we do all kinds of cover songs from different bands, but when it comes to doing Jane's songs in this band, I just feel like that's inappropriate.

WHY IS THAT?

There are other members from Jane's Addiction in this band. It's almost as if, (if) we were all completely different guys, it would be a little bit more palatable. To be honest with you, no one can sing Jane's Addiction songs like Perry (Farrell). He has such a unique quality to his voice that it would be difficult to hear it coming from someone else with the same band (members).

Reuters/Billboard