["Hungry" acoustic performance]

DJ: hey, come on sit down here. Welcome. And, hey, ya know what? Thank you for bringing a bunch of really happy, smiling people in here to celebrate your music. Thank you guys!
DN: Thanks everybody. This is a little wierd because I have to face you and they're all there.
DJ: I wish I had a mirror behind me or something.
DN: Is there a way I can turn that way and address the people that actually took the time to come out here?
DJ: Um, I'm staring blankly at, uh, is there any way he can do that?
Ben: If you guys wanna switch it up
DJ: Oh that, oh, oh, I think that'd be good. DN: Right after the commercial we're going to switch it up.
DJ: Ok, ok, I, ya know, too bad I was gonna say "I'll be your mirror," but we'll be talking about
DN: Oh, very, very good reference. Thats a Velvet Underground reference for those of you who don't know at home.
DJ: And a little "Venus in Furs" on this record. We'll talk about that in a sec, but first, congratulations on this record.
DN: Thank you very much.
DJ: First off, with this record, how different is it again, from the record that we would've heard if the first time you were dealing with songs on making a solo record, what was that record and how different is it from the final one?
DN: In this one, you mean? Well, initial, hey, there's photo's going on here. Thats alright, go ahead, snap it off. There ya go.
DJ: Snap it back on now will ya?
DN: Ya know, I don't know about the difference between those two records, but I do know I need to check my e-mail, if I may.
DJ: Ok, sure, sure, we'll leave to a commercial next.
DN: The difference. Well, the first record I did with Chad Smith from the Chili Peppers, and he and I tracked everything together, it was kind've live, a real live feel. Acoustic guitar, voice and drums and bass. And, just through the process of life and changes and evolution, the record became what it became and he was unavailable. Ya know, he went on tour with the Chili Peppers and so I was forced to rely upon computers. Because there is no other drummer as good as Chad Smith.
DJ: Exactly, he's the goaltender of rock.
DN: He actually is.
DJ: He is.
DN: He's a hell of a hockey player.
DJ: Is he? He's gotta be a goaltender because drummer's are goaltenders.
DN: I don't know what he does, all I know is he's big and he's gotta stick, you look out for him, and, ya know, get out of his way. But, so I relied upon computer programming and then once I had the record in like machine, perfect tempo, I called in another drummer, Roy Mayorga, a guy named Matt Chamberlain, who I think he played with Pearl Jam, and ??, and a couple of other artists, Tori Amos, and then they laid new drum tracks down and the record we have now is, as you said, very different. Incredible long-winded answer isn't it?
DJ: But you got it, you told me what we wanted to know.
DN: There you go.
DJ: Letting go of the record after its done opposed to letting go of your contribution to either, not only Jane's Addiction, but also when you go and you lay down a musical part for somebody else, and this time, was it easy to let go, to finally say "this is it, the cake is done, it's out of the oven and it's not going back"?
DN: Well, its never easy to let go of something like that. And, for me, I'm never going to let go. I'm going to remake this thing so I die. No, the truth is , that what I mean by that is like, we just did a song right now and I have no idea how it came across, but, ya know, we kind've readdressed the arrangement and the performance of it. So, all these songs are open to interpretation for future performances and as well as bands I played with, Jane's Addiction and the Chili Peppers, from night to night, we do different versions of different songs and keep them fresh that way. As far as letting the final product on the CD go, and have that be like, something to, I need someone to tell me when it's done, basically.
DJ: We're talking with Dave Navarro on Live Toronto, Edge 102. Now, in the making of this record, inbetween came the book came in to, what's the word? Fruiscian? I guess that's the word, "Don't Try This At Home."
DN: Right, the date on that, the release date of that is um, still hangs in the balance.
DJ: How much did having that creative light and what you were doing, maybe explain through the oncept of the book to people, then effect what was going on with the record, or not at all?
DN: Well, actually that concept is still in the process of evolving and, because of the fact that I have the Jane's Addiction tour coming up and, this record to hopefully go out and tour behind, that remains to be seen. Ya know, but the book is basically a photobook of pictures that, I have a photobooth in my house, and people came in, and over the coarse of a year I asked everyone to take a picture.
DJ: Sounds like a great idea.
DN: Kind've Warholian, kind've from that time which is a great lead-in to the "Venus in Furs" thing of you wanna go that way. I won't tell you how to do your job.
DJ: You know what?, why don't we do our job that way? Tell us, we'll play some "Venus in Furs" there Ben, give us a second to change the track. And tell us about this ode to the great Lou Reed on your record.
DN: Well, the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed in particular have been huge influences upon myself and the guys that I've worked with. And, in this particular track, "Venus in Furs," is a song that I used to perform with the Chili Peppers, it was actually the one time that I took the mic, when we were on tour. And, Chad and I cut this together and it's kind've a tipping of the hat, it's one of my favorite songs, and it's also, ultimately, a sign of respect to Lou and the Velvet Underground. And I think a cover song from another artist is a sign of respect. And I actually felt it necessary to, clear it with Lou, prior to putting it on the record, as to, ya know, continue the sign of respect. It's like, respectful enough to cover it, but you might as well go all the way and get the ok from the artist, which I did and it was amazing to meet him.
DJ: Respect is the feeling that is going around this room right now, we're going to play the track, going to stick around and talk with us some more?
DN: I'm going to stay here all night.
DJ: I've always wanted to say this before I threw to a track, they're not booing, they're Louing, this is Dave Navarro doing VU's "Venus in Furs," Live in Toronto, Edge 102.
DN: Here we go.

["Venus in Furs" playing]

[coming back] "Hi, this is Perry Farrell, and you are listening to Live in Toronto on Edge 102."

DJ: Oh yeah, Live in Toronto introduction, Bookie with you, that was Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro's partner in rhyme, who was here about a week ago, Dave Navarro's here now. How ya doing?
DN: I'm doing well.
DJ: Ya having fun?
DN: I'm having a great time.
DJ: You've been very gracious to talk to everybody here, signing stuff. Now, when we had Perry here, he was talking about his record, about two, three, two weeks at the most, two weeks ago thursday, we also asked him about the prospects of Jane's Addiction recording again.
DN: Yeah, this I wanna hear.

[clip from Perry's show]
DJ: Are there any recording plans? Is there a plan on maybe another Jane's Addiction album on the way?
Perry: I'm planning on it. What I wanna do is build a studio in the back of the bus, that way they can't get away.
[end clip from Perry's show]

DJ: Well, there you go. Saved ya. What do you think about that?
DN: Um, well, for me, I just try and stay in the moment. Ya know, and we got a tour to do, and like if that happens, great, if it doesn't happen, great, for me, it's all about like right here, it's all about talking to you and ya know what I mean?
DJ: Yes.
DN: Thats a month away and ya know, we'll see. If he wants to do that, I'm into doing it, ya know?
DJ: What was the thought creative process going back to Jane's days? Was it a question of throwing a whole bunch of his ideas against the wall and seeing what'd stick, was there always a million ideas going on, how did it work and what was the veto of everyone in the band opposed to what sounded as closure and what didn't?
DN: Well the truth of it was just colabrative, ya know? We just kind've got in a room and jammed and I mean thats the short answer to that. It was a long time ago ya know what I mean?
DJ: Right, yeah. Yeah, ok. [laughing]
DN: I don't know what to tell ya, because it varied from track to track
DJ: Right
DN: And there's no clear answer to that you know? Were there other ideas flying around all the time? And the thing is, that I will say about this, is that as Jane's Addiction, my perception, was that we never intended to have a huge success, we never intended for sales, we really intended to be released, ya know. And to be honest, ya know, we didn't think that we would be, so, we always stuck to what we wanted to do, we always stuck to the honesty, and I've learned that from that band and from the Chili Peppers. Two bands that've stayed true to what they do, and I think as a result of that both of those bands are successful.
DJ: When other artists have asked you to do a track, or to do a session, or to become involved in a project, are they asking? And how do you know they are asking for you the person and the spirit, or you the Dave Navarro and signature guitar style?
DN: The truth is, you don't know. I have no idea what somebody's intention is, but I know whether or not I wanna do it.
DJ: Right
DN: Ya know what I mean? And I could have the same alterior motive anyway
DJ: Right
DN: Ya know what I mean? Cause like, Trent could've wanted the signature Jane's guy, and I wanted to work with Trent, so there's two hands shaking each other. You know what I'm saying?
DJ: When you were doing the Alanis stuff, was there any idea of what was going to become? Or was it just doing a song for this girl or what?
DN: Yeah, it was actually a friend of mine remixing that track, a guy named Jimmy Boyle, and he just brought me the track and said "do you wanna play on this?" and I was like sure. Ya know? And, at that point she was kind've an unknown and she was just, ya know, putting out her first record. The song was cool, lyrics were cool, and we just thought we could hype it up a little bit and thats what we did.
DJ: We're talking with Dave Navarro, "Trust No One" has been in the stores for a couple of weeks. You're out doing, promoting on it. You've been doing well sort've different things. Did you end up doing Politically Incorrect the other night?
DN: I did in fact.
DJ: And so, ok, what is that show like? How do they brief you on the subjects and do they tell you any do's or don'ts, or is it as open as a conversational series?
DN: My experience was pretty open. I had never seen the show prior to going on it, so I didn't think it was going to be as humour oriented.
DJ: Right
DN: And I kinda, ya know, I was briefed on what the subjects might be, I had this very specific opinions about those subjects. I was very serious about it ya know? And then I got on there and it was like a laugh a minute good stuff.
DJ: Right
DN: I wasn't expecting that, but, ya know, it's pretty open, I mean you're pretty much welcome to say or do whatever you want to do. I think that's whats great about it. Ya know what I mean? The funny thing about that show is that there's really no way to win some of these arguments because they are all opinion, ya know what I mean? And I found that some of the subjects were a little strange to even discuss. But, it was cool, it was a great experience, I'd do it again.
DJ: Now I also saw you doing some rock of your own, doing "Rexall," it was on Conan a few weeks ago.
DN: That's right.
DJ: So what about the Dave Navarro full on rock ensomble coming to town?
DN: The ensomble coming to this town?
DJ: Or in general. Yeah, ok. Do you have a tour planned?
DN: I don't have a tour planned as of yet, I know that we have this Jane's thing that's hanging over us.
DJ: Right
DN: We gotta do that first, then, but thats going to be about 30 dates.
DJ: Ok, thats going to be about 30 dates, plus didn't Perry tell us, that thing that he wants to take it, Jubilee around the world, goto the jails in all these non-democratic countries, free the prisoners, do a set, and get over to Dodge?
DN: He may very well have said that, I can't comment.
DJ: He said it here, he said it here.
DN: I'm sure he did, I'm sure he did.
DJ: What, ya don't have an itenerary yet?
DN: Yeah, I don't know, all I know is like that I'm a member of that band and when I'm in that band I focus on the task at hand.
DJ: Right
DN: But I also have other interests, and ya know I'm not married to it.
DJ: Right. Speaking of other interests, and well not being married yet, but uh, Carmen Electra, you're better half right now
DN: Yeah
DJ: She, how did she get envolved with being the spokesperson for the Ultimate Fighting Championship League? Whatever.
DN: That sounds more like a question for her publicist. I don't know, I mean I stay out of her business and she stays out of mine. You know what I mean? But I honestly don't know how to answer that.
DJ: Ok, its a matter of if you guys watch it?
DN: I'm assuming she got a phone call, asking her to do it.
DJ: Any other projects or anything on the go that you want to tell us about or anything?
DN: Not really, isn't that enough?
DJ: Yeah, thats enough [both laughing] Let's go over the book again, when's the book gonna be out?
DN: Don't know
DJ: We don't know, ok
DN: But I did tell you that before
DJ: Yes, I was double-checking.
DN: Still don't know.
DJ: Thanks for being ever gracious with your time and congratulations on the record, and sharing, ya know, some more thoughts with us, both musical and emotional and personal
DN: Thank you so much. Thats very nice. And I appreciate being here on the Edge 102.
DJ: And thank you so much for all coming down, we'll leave some music from "Trust No One," this is "Rexall," this is Live in Toronto, new rock Edge 102.

["Rexall" playing]


typed up by Chase A from the actual interview