Riff Raff

Spin Off Over the past four weeks, former Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell has spun a few sets at various underground warehouse parties here in the Bay Area under the moniker DJ Peretz (his real last name). It seems the singer-cum-DJ was gearing up for a set at the annual Bill Graham Menorah Lighting in Union Square, where (as covered in Riff Raff) he was an honored guest last year. The gig was set up through Kevon Banks, a founding member of local DJ promoters Funky Tekno Tribe, and scheduled to go from noon to 8 p.m. -- Farrell would spin alongside DJ Alika. But last Friday, Farrell insisted that Funky Tekno Tribe land him another slot at a local club after the lighting.

Banks contacted his friend and fellow promoter Kelly Edwards, owner of Spundae Productions and manager of the Sunday night party of the same name. Edwards agreed to give Farrell the midnight-to-1:30 a.m. slot in the upstairs room of Ten 15 Folsom. Edwards says the main floor is out of the question for an untested DJ -- even if it is Perry Farrell. "I put him upstairs because I had friends who caught his set at one of the warehouse parties," says Edwards. "They said he was pretty bad, spinning trance records without any mixing skills." Still, Edwards thinks it's great that someone with Farrell's clout is supporting DJ culture, and proceeded to fax out press releases to the media and various record stores.

Word spread quickly. By 12:30 a.m. last Sunday night a couple of hundred people were gathered around the turntables in the small upstairs room, waiting for Farrell to show. Two hours later, the bartender announced last call to the crowd, which was still waiting. Perry Farrell simply didn't show. Cold feet? Hurt feelings about being relegated to a small room? Edwards says he never received so much as a phone call, let alone an explanation from anyone. "He just didn't show up" says Edwards. Spokespersons for Funky Tekno Tribe and Perry Farrell could not be reached for comment. (R.A.)

If That Damn Bird Doesn't Straighten Up and Fly Right, He's Out of the Band As reported earlier in Riff Raff, it was announced last month that starting in January of 2000, Ticketmaster will replace Concord-based Bass as Bill Graham Presents' ticketing company. While Ticketmaster and BGP have both been quick to point out that the new relationship won't result in major changes in quality or service, a billboard we spotted recently is starting to make us wonder. On the corner of Third and Berry streets in SOMA, we came across the outdoor advertisement pictured on this page. Using a black-and-white-iconography design similar to Apple Computer's "Think Different" campaign, the ad implores us to "Think Ticketmaster" while plugging the San Jose Arena, which has been working with Ticketmaster exclusively since this August. Now, we're not paranoid types here at Riff Raff Central, and maybe it's just a matter of poor advertising design, but it would appear that Ticketmaster is hell-bent on not just handling ticketing in the entire Bay Area, but indeed redefining the term "power trio." While Agassi, Bird & John doesn't have quite the same ring to it as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, we're still bracing ourself for this latest supergroup's drug rumors, ugly lawsuits, and infighting. One thing's for sure, though: It can't be any worse than the Black Sabbath reunion tour. (M.A.)

Mission Accomplished Recently Chris Meyers and Adam White, co-owners of the much-enjoyed Mission Records, moved from their old location between 21st and 22nd into the long-vacated Seven Coins Bar between 18th and 19th streets. The young entrepreneurs had been forced to find new digs after their former landlady suddenly noticed the cash potential of her property -- which neighbors Bruno's, Doc's Clocks, and the upcoming Foreign Film Lounge. Meyers and White realized they couldn't fight the encroaching avarice, forfeited their deposit, and took over Seven Coins just as the former occupants had left it -- with bullets still lodged in the walls, cigarettes still in the ashtrays, and a truckload of half-empty booze bottles sitting on the bar. The notorious Seven Coins had been vacant for over three years, but the erstwhile owners hadn't bothered to come back and clean up after a fatal shooting shut the place down. Undaunted, Meyers and White threw a little party with the leftover booze to toast their good fortune. They built a soundproof room with a small stage, where they hope to carry on their tradition of live in-stores.