Strictly live project

When pioneer alternative band Jane’s Addiction broke up in 1992, drummer Stephen Perkins and front man Perry Farrell formed another successful band — Porno For Pyros. They were joined by Peter DiStefano on guitar and were eventually joined by Minutemen bassist Mike Watt.

Porno for Pyros eventually went by the wayside as well, with members moving on to other musical projects. But Watt, DiStefano and Perkins felt they had a chemistry and decided to form another musical project of their own.

“When the band stopped working we wanted to keep playing,” Perkins said.

They assembled from homes all over Los Angeles County and Perkins’ home to jam. Watt jokingly said the drive was a hell ride. Thus was born a music project known as Hellride.

With no official recordings, Hellride is a purely live project. They do covers of songs by the Stooges — the late ‘60s group made famous by Iggy Pop. They put a punk rock spin on the Stooges and then take off on long jams, à la John Coltrane.

“You take off on the verse or chorus and then from that point you just let it live and go where it leads,” Perkins said.

With such established performers, why a cover band, you ask. Because it’s fun, Perkins said.

“We didn’t want to do original stuff, we just wanted to be on stage together. It’s kind of like a special thing for us to get together on stage and reminisce over the old days.”

But just because they have “old days” to reminisce on, they haven’t lost their energy for the performance. The long jams are nonstop rock.

“There are no quiet moments; we’re going full force the whole time,” Perkins said. “The dynamics are always on the peak, never in the valley.”

With the members involved in numerous other projects, Hellride shows are a special treat. Ironically, Watt got the call in 2003 when the Stooges re-formed. Watt joined the reunited Ron and Scott Asheton, and Iggy because original Stooges’ bassist Dave Alexander died in 1975.

Hellride is riding again, and they’ll be making an appearance Friday at Fitzgerald’s Bar and Grill in Huntington Beach. The show is organized by Jason Stearman of Steargold Productions, a local promoter who is trying to bring big-name performers to local venues.

“Huntington Beach has a lot of potential to have some really good bands, but the whole vibe has kind of died down,” Stearman said. “I’m just trying to pump it back up.”

For Perkins, Huntington Beach is as great a place as any to play.

“Anywhere there’s kids ready to have fun, people are hungry for good punk rock music,” Perkins said.

With a growing trend in bands going online to self-publish their material, the importance of live shows looms ever larger in the psyches of musicians. Stearman says shows like these with well-known musicians in a smaller, more personal room are important in promoting the live performance experience.

Perkins agrees. “We need to get out and live. Have a drink and meet some people,” he said. “With Hellride you’ll even leave with your ears ringing, and that’s even better.”

IF YOU GO

Who: Hellride

Where: Fitzgerald’s Bar and Grill, 19171 Magnolia St.

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Cost: $12