Lunatic visionary. Accidental entrepreneur. Fashion victim. Smack addict.

One of the weirdest characters of the alternative-rock era, Perry Farrell was all of those things and much more. There is, however, no denying that he made two indelible contributions to the music of the 1990s.

As ringleader of the Los Angeles quartet Jane's Addiction, Farrell paved the way for everyone from Nirvana to Marilyn Manson via three groundbreaking, psychedelic and extremely sexual albums (1987's self-titled debut, 1988's Nothing's Shocking and 1990's Ritual de lo Habitual) before the group acrimoniously disbanded in 1990. And as the founder of Lollapalooza, the former Perry Bernstein created a traveling daylong alternative-music festival that focused the energy of the era and spawned a host of lesser imitators -- from H.O.R.D.E. and the Lilith Fair to Ozzfest and Warped Tour.

Both Jane's Addiction and Lollapalooza have recently reappeared. And the 44-year-old Farrell, newly clean and sober (though still dressing strangely and babbling about UFOs), wants to reclaim his past glories.

Farrell first reconvened with his original Jane's bandmates -- Dave Navarro on guitar and Stephen Perkins on drums -- to cut a tune for the Howard Stern's Private Parts soundtrack in 1997. Several reunion tours heavy on their old hits followed, and the band cycled through a procession of hired bassists before recruiting L.A. session player Chris Chaney to fill the slot originally held by Eric Avery.

The reenergized group has just released its first full album of new material in 13 years. Strays isn't an unqualified masterpiece like the last two Jane's Addiction albums, but it is a strong collection of mysterious, sensual grooves characterized by Farrell's helium warble and New Age philosophizing, Navarro's inventive guitar work and Perkins's deft polyrhythms.

As it did during the festival's first year in 1991, Jane's Addiction commands the headlining slot at this summer's revitalized Lollapalooza (the first in six years). The band tops a day's entertainment that also includes Incubus, Audioslave, the Donnas and Jurassic 5 -- among others -- as well as futuristic non-musical attractions such as "the Mindfield" (a trivia contest where participants compete via text messages on their cell phones) and a video game pavilion called "Game Riot" (Microsoft's Xbox and Verizon wireless are two of the tour's big sponsors).

Still, the question remains: With the 17 million members of Gen X having been eclipsed by the 72 million teens and twentysomethings of Generation Y (a group with a very different set of values and musical heroes), can Lollapalooza and Jane's Addiction have the same impact they had in the 1990s?

As the wiggy but groundbreaking musician was gearing up for the start of Lollapalooza, Playboy.com spoke with Farrell about connecting with these new kids, the making of Strays, relations with his bandmates and the sexual energy of Lollapalooza.