One of Alternative music’s more influential bands, Jane’s Addiction formed in 1985 and released two successful albums—1988’s Nothing’s Shocking and 1990’s Ritual de lo Habitual—before breaking up by 1991. Seeming to happen in the blink of an eye, one moment they were topping charts with “Jane Says” in 1988, “Stop!” and “Been Caught Stealing” in 1990, the next they were gone.
A bummer: the band’s initial break was cited as due to internal conflict. Still, they were able to patch things up for a brief 1997 reunion, a full-blown reunion in 2001 (resulting in the 2003 album Strays), before another reunion in 2008 (resulting in touring and the 2011 album The Great Escape Artist). Remaining active through the years, amidst a tour in 2024, a strange physical altercation unfolded on stage between Vocalist Perry Farrell and Guitarist Dave Navarro right before a live audience, spelling the tragic, abrupt conclusion of the band.
Such is life, amid the wild story of Jane’s Addiction, Farrell opted to start a new band called Porno for Pyros. Formed in 1992 with former Jane’s Addiction bandmate Stephen Perkins on drums, the original lineup also included Peter DiStefano on guitar and Martyn LeNoble on bass. An amusing name for a band (apparently inspired after Farrell saw an ad for fireworks in a porno mag). Certainly, grabbing your attention, Porno for Pyros musically was a bit different from Jane’s Addiction. Arguably a more experimental project, the band entered the studio in mid-1992 and recorded what would become their debut album, 1993’s Porno for Pyros.
Released on April 27, 1993, Porno for Pyros became a big hit, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard 200 and attaining gold-selling status within just a few months. Proving there was life after Jane’s Addiction, the album hooked in fans and kept them involved with songs that left an impression, like the title track, “Cursed Female,” the funky “Packin’ .25,” and trippy, bass-heavy “Meja.” However, the song that took the album to the top was none other than the single “Pets,” which hit number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Still a track many cite as one of the best Alternative songs of the ‘90s, it keeps the album Porno for Pyros in the forefront of your mind.
With that all in mind, Porno for Pyros would only go on to release one more studio album in 1996’s Good God’s Urge, but did actively release singles between 2023 and 2024 before also eventually dissolving. Again, unfortunate —it feels like an incomplete ending, because there were talks of a third album, but it never materialized. However, in 2024, the band released their first-ever greatest hits collection, Pyrotechnics: Porno For Pyros’ Latest & Greatest, both digitally and as a limited-edition vinyl. Nonetheless, at least fans can enjoy this and look forward to the classic 1993 debut album being re-released on vinyl in 2025. One of many releases as part of Rhino Records’ Rocktober 2025 celebration, Porno for Pyros arrived as a new limited-edition vinyl on October 17, 2025.
The first re-release of the album since the 2013 limited-edition tie-dye vinyl, this 2025 edition offers fans a special high-fidelity pressing from the original analog tape. A subsection of the Rhino Reserve 180-Gram series, what you get is a superior-sounding LP pressed right in the USA, out in California. Exceptionally put together, as stated, it sounds spectular with plenty of dynamics, while being matched with the original unforgettable cover art, which features a photograph of a sculpture created by Perry Farrell himself.
Altogether, it is a very special release to get your hands on. So, don’t wait too long, or you might miss out on this limited-edition item. Recommending seeking out a shop to pick it up, Cryptic Rock gives the 2025 vinyl edition of Porno for Pyros 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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