A native of Los Angeles, California, Stephen Perkins started playing drums at the young age of eight years old. By thirteen, Stephen had purchased his first pro drum kit (a five piece Ludwig with Zildijian cymbals) and started taking drum lessons from renowned instructors Jim Engle and Joel Gallant.
At 16, Stephen Perkins began working with Dave Navarro. Music history was about to take a turn when the two musicians formed the band Dizastre and a relationship that would forever change the face of alternative rock music. The band played several Los Angeles club dates before Perkins joined Perry Farrell and Eric Avery in what some have coined the artful, yet thoughtful rock band Jane's Addiction in 1986. Navarro joined the band two weeks later. Jane's Addiction released a self titled LP on XXX Records and three major albums (Live at the Roxy, Nothing's Shocking and Ritual De Lo Habitual) on Warner Brothers Records. Jane's Addiction successfully steered clear of the confinements of commercial rock music by expressing themselves both musically and theatrically before disbanding in 1991.
Perkins musical journey continued when he joined funk metal band Infectious Grooves in 1992. Perkins stint with the band was short-lived and in 1993 he joined Jane's Addiction front man Farrell to form Porno for Pyros. Together they embarked on a nation-wide tour supporting their new band. Porno for Pyros released a self titled LP in 1995 which debuted as the #1 record on the Billboard top 20 list and Good God’s Urge in 1996, both on Warner Brothers Records. In the midst of the bands follow up album, Perkins formed the jazz-punk group Banyan, offering their debut on Cyber Octave Records.
1997 brought about the highly anticipated reunion of Jane's Addiction with the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Navarro joining Perkins and Perry for the Relapse tour. Perkins immediately jumped into his next project, releasing Banyan's second album, Any Time at All, in 1998. He joined Tommy Lee in 1999 in Methods of Mayhem, touring for a year. Jane's Addiction once again resurfaced in 2000, featuring Martyn Lenoble on bass. They entered the studio in 2001 for the first time in 10 years, recording their final album, Strays, with Chris Chaney on bass, in 2003. Perkins' remarkable talent and uncanny ability to juggle various projects at once led Banyan to release their third CD, Live at Perkins Palace, in 2004 on Sanctuary Records.
Perkins’ credits continue to reach above and beyond. His session and live credits include work with Rage Against the Machine, No Doubt, NIN, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jerry Cantrell, Rancid, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Rob Wasserman, Peter Murphy, Class of 99', Love and Rockets, Camp Freddy, Hell Ride, and No Material. Perkins also travels throughout the United States to various Drum Clinics and Music Therapy Sessions, opening new doors for a percussion instrument, once only used by drummers. Perkins is the co-creator (alongside Joey Klaparda) of Go-Jo Bags, now being used in music therapy sessions around the world. They are available through West Music Catalog.
