Dave Navarro facts for kids

David Michael Navarro (born June 7, 1967) is an American guitarist. He is most famous as a member of the rock band Jane's Addiction, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. From 1993 to 1998, Navarro was the guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, recording one album, One Hot Minute (1995), before leaving. He has also released one solo album, Trust No One (2001). Navarro was also part of bands connected to Jane's Addiction, like Deconstruction and the Panic Channel.

AllMusic's Greg Prato called Navarro "one of alternative rock's first true guitar heroes." His guitar style mixes heavy metal, psychedelia, and modern rock. Henry Rollins, a former singer for Black Flag, said, "He's one of the last great guitarists."

Navarro also hosted and judged Ink Master, a TV show about tattoo competitions. It aired on Paramount Network from 2012 to 2020 and on Paramount+ since 2022. He left the show in 2022 after its 14th season.

Quick facts for kids Dave Navarro
Navarro in 2010
Background information
Birth name	David Michael Navarro
Born	(1967-06-07) June 7, 1967 (age 58) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock hard rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1986–present

Early Life and Music Beginnings

David Michael Navarro was born on June 7, 1967, in Santa Monica, California. He was the only child of James Raul Navarro and Constance Colleen Hopkins. His grandparents on his father's side were immigrants from Mexico. His grandfather, Gabriel Navarro, was good friends with Mexican silent film actor Ramón Novarro.

Navarro started playing guitar at age 7. He was inspired by his cousin, singer-songwriter Dan Navarro. He said that when he was young, Jimi Hendrix was a big influence. He also liked Yngwie Malmsteen for a short time. Navarro also learned a lot from Robert Smith of the Cure and Daniel Ash of Bauhaus. He also admired guitarists from Siouxsie and the Banshees. He believes that Hendrix and Jimmy Page are the greatest innovators. Van Halen's first album also made him want to play guitar. Today, he enjoys many different guitarists, from talented players like Steve Vai and Al Di Meola to experimental ones like Kevin Shields and old blues players like Junior Kimbrough.

He went to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. There, he was in the marching band with Stephen Perkins, who would later become his bandmate in Jane's Addiction.

Music Career Highlights

Joining Jane's Addiction (1986–1993)

Navarro performing in 2010

Navarro joined Jane's Addiction in 1986 as the lead guitarist. Stephen Perkins recommended him to singer Perry Farrell. Over the next five years, Jane's Addiction released three albums: Jane's Addiction (1987), Nothing's Shocking (1988), and Ritual de lo Habitual (1990). However, disagreements led to the band breaking up in 1991. Farrell created the Lollapalooza festival as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction.

After Izzy Stradlin left Guns N' Roses in 1991, singer Axl Rose wanted Navarro to replace him. Navarro never showed up to play with Slash. However, he later played on the 1999 Guns N' Roses song "Oh My God" for the End of Days movie soundtrack. In 1993, Navarro formed Deconstruction with Eric Avery from Jane's Addiction on vocals and bass, and Michael Murphy on drums. The band released one album in 1994.

Time with Red Hot Chili Peppers (1993–1998)

Navarro joined Red Hot Chili Peppers in September 1993. His first big show with the band was at Woodstock '94. The only album Navarro played on with Red Hot Chili Peppers, One Hot Minute, came out in 1995. The band also recorded a cover of "Love Rollercoaster" for the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack. They also contributed to the John Lennon tribute album Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon with the song "I Found Out".

In 1995, Navarro played guitar for Alanis Morissette's song "You Oughta Know" on her very successful album, Jagged Little Pill.

One Hot Minute sold over eight million copies worldwide and had three hit songs. Navarro toured with Jane's Addiction for their 1997 Relapse tour, with Flea on bass. After two years of touring with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Navarro was asked to leave the band in 1998. He later explained that his musical style didn't quite fit with the rest of the band.

In 1999, Navarro also appeared as a guest on an episode of the TV show Martial Law.

Solo Work and Reunions (2001–Present)

Navarro's solo album, Trust No One, was released in 2001. He later said that singing on tour was harder than just playing guitar. In 2002, Jane's Addiction got back together with bass player Chris Chaney and made a new album called Strays. They also went on the Lollapalooza 2003 tour. In 2002, Navarro was set to play guitar for Michael Jackson's song "Black or White" at a show, but the song was cut. Navarro also appeared in Mariah Carey's "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" music video.

Navarro started working with Camp Freddy around this time. In 2003, he and his fiancée, Carmen Electra, had their wedding preparations filmed for an MTV show called Til Death Do Us Part. Navarro's book, Don't Try This at Home, was published in 2004 and became a bestseller.

Navarro appeared on Celebrity Poker Showdown in 2004.

Navarro co-hosted two seasons of the TV series Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova. Navarro's band, the Panic Channel, released their album One in 2006. He also had his own internet radio station and a talk show called Dave Navarro's SPREAD TV.

Navarro appeared in Season 1 and Season 2 of Z Rock on IFC. In 2008, he recorded guitar parts for Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" for her tour.

Jane's Addiction reunited again in 2008 with all the original members. They worked with Trent Reznor and released two songs online. This led to a worldwide tour in 2009 with Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction, known as the NIN/JA tour.

Navarro performing in 2014

In 2010, he posed for PETA's anti-fur campaign, "Ink Not Mink." He also supported their anti-animal testing campaign in 2013.

In 2011, Navarro appeared in a commercial for Citibank. He also played on the song "Girls/Fast Cars" by the Wombats.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Navarro was not included in the induction.

Navarro appeared in four episodes of the FX drama Sons of Anarchy in 2012 and was a guest on Talking Dead. In February 2013, he had a guest role in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. In January 2012, Navarro became a host and judge on the Paramount show Ink Master.

In 2018, Navarro's assistant, Kelsey Gunn, started an online series called "Assisting Navarro." In 2019, Navarro formed an art group called Duel Diagnosis, focusing on mental health.

In 2020, Navarro started playing with Chris Chaney and Taylor Hawkins, forming the supergroup NHC (Navarro Hawkins Chaney). They performed live in 2021 and released singles and an EP before Hawkins' death in 2022.

On February 8, 2020, Navarro performed with Jane's Addiction at a memorial show. He was photographed with his former Red Hot Chili Peppers bandmates for the first time in 23 years. John Frusciante, who replaced Navarro in the Chili Peppers, also performed briefly with Jane's Addiction.

On December 20, 2021, Navarro and Billy Morrison held their third annual Above Ground benefit concert. Anthony Kiedis joined them to perform "Walk on the Wild Side." This was the first time Kiedis and Navarro performed together in 24 years.

Navarro did not join Jane's Addiction on tours in 2022 and 2023 due to long COVID. Troy Van Leeuwen and Josh Klinghoffer filled in for him.

Jane's Addiction returned to the studio in 2023, but Navarro did not participate due to his ongoing health issues. Navarro returned to the band in May 2024, and the classic Jane's Addiction lineup performed their first show together in fourteen years on May 23, 2024. They played two new songs, the first new songs from this lineup in thirty-four years. They then started a 2024 tour of Europe and the U.S.

During this reunion tour, there were reports of disagreements between band members. On September 13, their show in Boston was cut short. The next day, Jane's Addiction apologized and canceled their next show.

On November 19, 2024, Navarro and Billy Morrison announced the fourth "Above Ground" benefit concert for January 25, 2025, in Hollywood, California. The event will celebrate vinyl records.

On January 3, 2025, it was revealed that Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins were working on new music without Perry Farrell. Navarro also confirmed that Jane's Addiction was finished and would not reunite again.

On July 16, 2025, Navarro, Avery, and Perkins filed a lawsuit against Farrell. They accused him of assault and other issues, claiming the group lost over $10 million due to tour cancellations and the halt of band activities. They are also asking Farrell to pay the group's outstanding bills from the canceled tour.

Personal Life

Relationships

Navarro has been married four times. He was married to Tania Goddard-Saylor (1990–1992), Rhian Gittins (1994), and model and actress Carmen Electra (2003–2007). He recently married actress Vanessa Dubasso in Scotland on March 29, 2025.

Health

In interviews in 2022 and 2024, Navarro talked about his ongoing health problems with long COVID. These issues led him to take a break from Jane's Addiction and leave Ink Master.

Political Views

Navarro was invited to perform at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Convention in 2002. He was also invited to the Republican National Convention in 2012. In 2016, he described his political views as "Libertarian." He supported Marianne Williamson and Tulsi Gabbard as candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

Musical Gear

Navarro started using PRS Guitars on the Lollapalooza tour in 1991. His special PRS guitar (white with gold parts) is now his main guitar for shows. He has several PRS models. He was only the third PRS artist to have both a Maryland-made and an SE version of his signature guitar.

Before his PRS signature guitars, Dave often played Ibanez RG guitars and Gibson Les Pauls. Since late 2008, he has used a custom white Ibanez RG. He also used a blue Parker Fly guitar when he was with Red Hot Chili Peppers for songs that needed an acoustic sound. For music videos, Dave has used Danelectro guitars, Fernandes guitars, a Gibson Flying V, and Custom Shop Fender Stratocasters.

Dave uses BOSS guitar effects pedals. He used to prefer Marshall JCM 900 amps. In 2022, Dave switched to using Friedman amps live. He uses Ernie Ball strings.

Epiphone Guitars released a Dave Navarro Artist Acoustic guitar in July 2010. This guitar is based on the classic Gibson "Hummingbird" design.

In 2024, the Fender Custom Shop built Navarro a copy of Jimi Hendrix's "Izabella" guitar, which Hendrix played at Woodstock. Navarro played this guitar live on the Jane's Addiction 2024 tour. On September 18, 2024, Navarro announced a collaboration with Supreme and Jim Dunlop to release a special Wah-wah Pedal.

Discography

Solo Albums

EPs

• Rhimorse (1995)

Singles

With Deconstruction

• Deconstruction (1994)

With Red Hot Chili Peppers

• 1995 One Hot Minute
• 1995 Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon ("I Found Out" only)
• 1996 Beavis and Butt-head Do America ("Love Rollercoaster" only)

With NHC (Navarro, Hawkins, Chaney)

• 2021 Navarro Hawkins Chaney (2 singles)
• 2021 Devil That You Know / Lazy Eyes (2 singles)
• 2022 Intakes & Outakes (EP)

Selected Guest Appearances

With Janet Jackson

• 1995 Janet Remixed – lead guitar and remix on "What'll I Do" (Dave Navarro Mix)
• 2008 Rock Witchu Tour – lead guitar and video appearance on "Black Cat" (Live version)

With Nine Inch Nails

• 1995 Further Down the Spiral – lead guitar on "Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)"
• 2016 Not the Actual Events – lead guitar on "Burning Bright (Field on Fire)"

With Alanis Morissette

• 1995 Jagged Little Pill – lead guitar on "You Oughta Know"

With 4 Non Blondes

• 1995 Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin – lead guitar on "Misty Mountain Hop"

With Guns N' Roses

• 1999 End of Days OST – lead guitar on "Oh My God"

With Perry Farrell

• 2001 Song Yet to Be Sung – guitar and percussion on "Song Yet to Be Sung"

With P. Diddy

• 2001 The Saga Continues... – lead guitar on "Bad Boy for Life"

With David J

• 2002 Guitar Man - guitar on "Guitar Man"

With Glenn Hughes

• 2005 Soul Mover

With Tommy Lee

• 2005 Tommyland: The Ride – guitar solo on "Tired"

With the Panic Channel

• 2006 (ONe)

With Dead Celebrity Status

• 2006 Blood Music – guitar solo on "We Fall, We Fall"

With Grey Daze

• 2022 The Phoenix – guitar solo on "Holding You"

Film and TV Appearances

Images for kids

• 

  Navarro in 2010

See also

In Spanish: Dave Navarro para niños