Jane's Addiction were one of the most hotly pursued rock bands when they gained notice in Los Angeles in the mid-'80s, with record companies at their feet. Flamboyant frontman Perry Farrell, formerly of the band Psi Com, has an undeniable charisma and an interest in provocative art (he designed the band's album covers) and Jane's Addiction plays a hybrid of rock music -- metal with strains of punk, folk, jazz, or you-name-it.

The quartet comprising Farrell, bassist Eric Avery, drummer Stephen Perkins, and guitarist Dave Navarro had already released their debut album as well, in the form of a live recording from the Roxy in Hollywood. Finally, Warner Brothers won the bidding war and released Nothing Shocking in 1988. The band's abrasive sound and aggressive attitude (typified by the nude sculpture on the cover) led to some resistance, but Jane's Addiction began to break through to an audience: the album spent 35 weeks in the charts.