The spark, as a symbol, gives value to something insignificant, but which defines the beginning of many great things.
But how can a small flash that lasts fractions of a second be able to ignite a huge flame and consequently and continuously spread a big fire?
With the natural key of interpretation, the answers can be given by a physics teacher or even a firefighter.
From a moral point of view, it teaches us that there is nothing insignificant in life!
They just want the right environment and the right time to create.
What if the spark is a nice and familiar quadruped and specifically a dog.
Especially if “spark” is a very appropriate name for a dog that is “poking one’s nose where it doesn’t belong”!
The dog was actually named Annie and was the spark for the Alternative Rock outbreak of the 1990s.
Making at the same time one of the strangest bands – pioneers of the genre, but also famous around the world.
This is a dog from a stray animal center that was adopted by Jane’s Addiction singer, Perry Farrell.
The story of the song…
The story begins, like all those that have to do with stray animals.
Many dog owners have experienced this sad look as if to say “Where are you going? “Do not leave me alone.”
And as is almost always the case, all Humans succumb to it! Just like with Farrell, who took her to the studio.
In an interview with “Classic Rock” in 2000, she states that she wore headphones while singing and the dog happily wanted to follow her “dad” in the song.
And he did! A rhythmic and enthusiastic Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! ended up as a second voice, dog-like, but not a voice.
The fact that he ended up getting into the song may be a coincidence, but the characteristic barking was the spark for the explosion of Alternative Rock.
At the same time bringing Jane’s Addiction into the realm of mainstream music paved the way for other bands to try new musical forms.
Without having to soften their sound, they also showed that you do not need to have the perfect mane to be able to play good riffs.
But also by throwing the shares of the lacquer companies in the tartars of the stock market!!!
Let’s not forget that when they were created in 1985, Glam-metal was at its peak and without 24 tons of lacquer you could not even play a musical instrument or a microphone.
Essentially in the second half of the album “Ritual de lo habitual”, they started to create the sound that established them!
Of course, the most likable Annie gives the impetus with “Been Caught Stealing”, reciprocating the love that the singer showed her.
The melody…
In essence, the song closes the first side of the album, then even then an album was divided into A side and B.
The creation of Perry Farrell and bassist Eric Avery is based on Funk-rock motifs.
These patterns helped them and the Red Hot Chili Peppers establish themselves as pioneers of this sound.
Jane’s Addiction gave a darker tone to their music, against the glamor of the ’80s.
In fact, they not only sang about the dark side of life but also lived it.
The lyrics…
The original verse “I’ve been caught stealing, once, when I was five”, which has its roots in reality, proves it.
More specifically, as Perry Farrell narrates in “Rolling Stone”, there was a corner patisserie in Queens, near his house, where he was walking around all the time.
He thought he was quite capable of stealing anything, but he probably just imagined it!
While trying to steal a children’s ball made of pink rubber (Pennsy Pinky), he was caught.
The lyrics generally refer to him having fun with a friend, where they were “lightening up” the shelves of a store, of course without paying.
Of course, he denies all allegations that he encourages such actions.
In another 1990 interview with BAM, he stated that he had no intention of preaching or creating life patterns for others.
It has nothing to do with teaching life, it just wants to have fun on this boring planet.
The recordings…
The song may sound quite “lively”, but the band on the recordings flirted very intensely with death.
The use of drugs during the creation of the album was essentially part of their myth or what they wanted to create.
After all, Farrell, Dave Navarro (guitarist), and Avery were very enthusiastic heroin users.
Naturally, these substances are not the best counselor for coexistence, especially among musicians.
So, during the recording of “Ritual de lo habitual”, the band members already started to move away from each other.
As Navarro told “Rolling Stone”, he and Farrell and Avery had the same demons, but at different times. As a result, they did not talk to each other many times.
On the other hand, apart from the secrecy they had between them, there was a strange and eerie understanding.
And this created a very strange dynamic, which also had an impact on the sound of the album.
The album was released in August 1990 and the single 3 months later in November.
Their most successful song was accompanied by a strange video clip …
It shows some grotesque as well as fringe guys stealing a supermarket in really imaginative ways.
Although he was quite provocative at the time, he was loved by MTV, climbing to No. 34 on Billboard.
The song was not just the band’s biggest hit, it was a milestone song, which lit the spark to spread the fire of Alternative Rock.
Clicking on it many bands from small clubs and student hangouts filled stadiums.
The extinguishing of the flame…
Next year, Jane’s Addiction will host one of the most special music events, the Lollapalooza festival.
They appear as headliners, along with Nine Inch Nails, Living Color, the Rollins Band, and many more bands, but that was the end of them.
The spark may have gone out, but the fire was already burning, after all, fire as a natural phenomenon, always has a refreshing character.
Signaling, in one way or another, a rebirth and space for new creations. Maybe a whimpering look of a nice dog is a helper of another rebirth.