Jane's Addiction at The Backroom (01-13-1989)

On January 13th, 1989, Jane’s Addiction played at The Backroom in Austin, Texas. The Los Angeles quartet was at the height of their career coming into 1989. Their breakthrough 1988 major-label debut, Nothing’s Shocking, received a Grammy nomination just the week prior to this show in the then newly created “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental” category. Metallica was heavily favored to take home the award for their fourth studio album ...And Justice for All, but both bands lost out to Jethro Tull. This choice led to widespread criticism of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, as journalists suggested that Jethro Tull's music did not belong in either the hard rock or heavy metal genres. In response, the Academy separated the genres, creating the categories “Best Hard Rock Performance” and “Best Metal Performance.” It’s widely considered one of the biggest upsets in Grammy history.

As for the venue, The Backroom was known as a “hard rock mecca” in Austin during the 1980s and 90s. The space had an incredible 33-year run, closing in 2006. A documentary on the club’s history called Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story of The Back Room is currently in production. The creators shared a trailer for the film in April of last year.

Peter Blackstock previewed the gig in the January 13th edition of the Austin American-Statesman:

Los Angeles' Jane's Addiction, celebrating a Grammy nomination in the Hard Rock/Metal Vocal or Instrumental category for its debut album Nothing's Shocking, is at the Back Room with Austin's Ty Gavin opening.

Setlist:

  1. Kettle Whistle

  2. Whores

  3. 1%

  4. Idiots Rule

  5. No One's Leaving

  6. Ted, Just Admit It...

  7. Standing In The Shower... Thinking

  8. Had A Dad

  9. Pigs In Zen

  10. Up The Beach

  11. Ocean Size

  12. Mountain Song

  13. Trip Away