Have you ever wondered what music would sound like on a space satellite?
Perry Farrell has, and that idea was the impetus for the former Jane’s Addiction frontman’s newest musical project, Satellite Party, which will be playing at The Varsity Theatre this Wednesday.
“I began writing music with a party in mind,” Farrell said. “I had just completed a Lollapalooza in 2003 and looking to do something slightly different with the idea of a party. I started to write music for this concept … what music would sound like if we were on a satellite.”
After leaving his label, Columbia Records, Farrell wanted to tour his own way.
“I wanted to start out the way a rock group would start out – going out and playing in clubs – so people would appreciate and enjoy the music first,” Farrell said.
Farrell, who last played Baton Rouge as DJ Peretz, kept house and club systems in mind while writing Satellite Party’s music.
“People don’t go out and see live music like they used to,” Farrell said. “They go out and listen to a DJ,” Farrell said.
Farrell said rock music is suffering because it does not get the exposure in clubs that hip-hop music does.
“A lot of hip-hop artists understood how to make music that a DJ could play in the new house systems and club systems,” Farrell said. “Rock groups weren’t considering the DJ. I wanted to bring rock music into the world of a DJ and into the world of the clubs because it’s exciting music and only needs to have a little pre-thought in its production … and it would be invited right back into the party.”
Farrell said he is having a good time on tour.
“I’m really enjoying the group and the project and playing for the people … [‘Ultra Payloaded’] was a beautiful, beautiful record,” Farrell said.
One of the themes behind Satellite Party’s music is changing the world for the better, Farrell said.
“You can’t just let the world go and do its thing without helping or contributing and have any room to argue or complain,” Farrell said.
He said his life is much happier now than his days with Jane’s Addiction. “My eyes are open a lot wider to the world,” Farrell said. “I’m happy that I had a chance to live on Earth. It makes for a great story.”
Farrell considers being an artist a privilege.
“It’s a title that you can call yourself, but really it’s much, much sweeter if other people call you an artist,” he said. “If you’re an artist it means you’ve created things that make people happy.”
Farrell said he takes shows seriously and likes to have at least two hours to prepare for a performance.
He mixes a special drink to get ready for the performance.
“Once I get my tea going, I shave raw ginger into it … I bite on raw ginger,” Farrell said. “Then I sprinkle paprika inside of that, and then I take Jägermeister and a little shot of vodka and Red Bull.”
Farrell also said he does yoga before each show to lubricate his joints in preparation for showtime.
“My shows are high-impact, high-energy shows,” Farrell said.
“It’s like a high-aerobics exercise for 70 minutes.”
Doors open at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $18.
—–Contact Sarah Aycock at [email protected]