Porno for Pyros (album)

Before the album's release, the musical direction and focus of the band and album were said to be "laid-back", "ethnic-influenced" and "edgy and experimental".[2][3] Critics often compared the sound of Porno for Pyros to that of Jane's Addiction upon its release, noting many parallels in song structure and overall sound.[3][6] Many of the songs on the album were written in Jane’s Addiction.

Such comparisons may be unavoidable; three of Porno for Pyros' founding four members (Farrell, Perkins and LeNoble) have either been past or are current members of Jane's Addiction. In addition, a number of songs on Porno for Pyros, namely "Blood Rag" and "Bad Shit", were written during the pre-1992 Jane's Addiction period,[10][11] although they would remain unfinished and unrecorded until the Porno for Pyros album.

The songs "Cursed Female" and "Cursed Male" were released as the album's first single.[12] The songs appear on the album as two separate tracks. In addition to the two respective album versions, the single also included the two songs together in medley form as a single track.[12] This medley was also released on the album's second (and highest charting) single, "Pets".

Another non-album B-side, "A Little Sadness", was released as a track on Porno for Pyros' fourth and final single, "Sadness".[13] Recorded during the album sessions but left off in favor of its namesake, the song was a complete reworking and rerecording of "Sadness". "A Little Sadness" featured primarily acoustic guitars, subdued vocals, bongos and saxophone, a sharp contrast to its electric progenitor. In an unusual move, a video was created for the B-side rather than the album track.[14]

"Porno for Pyros", "Packin' .25" and "Black Girlfriend" all referenced or were inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Porno for Pyros

• Peter DiStefano – guitars
• Perry Farrell – vocals
• Martyn LeNoble – bass guitars
• Stephen Perkins – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Skatemaster Tate – sound additives
• Matt Hyde – sound additives

Recording personnel

• Matt Hyde – Production, recording engineer, mixing
• Perry Farrell – Production
• Rob Seifert – Recording engineer
• Damien Wagner – Assistant recording engineer
• Chris Belman – Mastering

Additional personnel

• Tom Recchion – Art direction, design
• Bill Hofstadter – Artwork, photography
• Perry Farrell – Artwork
• Barrie Goshko – Lettering
• Cecil Juanarena – Computer imaging
• Ted Gardner – Management
• Don Muller – Booking agent
• Ted Mico – Publicity