When people think of rock and roll, they usually don't think of Jewish culture, but they should. Like all other areas of show business, Jews have had a significant impact in the development of the art and business of rock, and of pop music as a whole. Indeed some of the most influential performers, producers and promoters come from Jewish backgrounds. Many of them end up adopting stage names to hide the heritage that may distract from their talents, an unfortunately necessary tradition as old as show business itself.

In the 1990's, no Jewish rock musician had a greater impact than Perry Farrell. He was born Peretz Bernstein in Queens, New York in 1959. In 1962, Ferrell's mother took her own life. His family would later move to Miami, Florida. Young Peretz grew up listening to the revolutionary rock of David Bowie and The Velvet Underground, the musical pioneers of the 1970's. From them he adopted a sense of theatrics and high-energy performance.

Living his post-high-school days as a beach bum in California while holding odd jobs in the food service industry and as a construction worker, Peretz Bernstein soon found his way into the West Coast music scene. He began as the front man for a short-lived gothic rock band called Psi Com out of Los Angeles. After the breakup of Psi Com, Peretz took the stage name Perry Farrell. He never completely dropped his birth name, though. He still occasionally performs as the electronic musician DJ Peretz. Together with Dave Navarro, Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins, he formed the popular alternative rock band Jane's Addiction.

Perhaps his greatest contribution to music in the 1990's, Farrell partnered with producers and promoters in the industry to create the Lollapalooza Festival in 1991. The original concept for the festival was simply an elaborate farewell tour for Jane's Addiction. As more bands and other entities got involved, Lollapalooza evolved into a spectacular traveling show. It featured not only music from the modern alternative rock scene, but also comedy, dance and a sort of wandering market for crafts. Later additions included technology exhibitions and extra stages for up-and-coming bands to get a moment in the spotlight.

Perry Farrell has also been an incredible humanitarian, using his fame and fortune to combat serious human rights problems throughout the world. In his most stirring contribution, he and the other members of Jane's Addiction organized a concert from which the proceeds would pay for the freedom of over 2000 Sudanese slaves. Such is the very definition of living mitzvah.

Perry Farrell continues to make music, pursue political causes and engage in the art of stage performance. He works with his wife, a singer and dancer named Etty Lau Ferrell, in the performance group The Satellite Party. In 2006 they even put together a one-off Jewish musicians showcase cheekily titled PurimPalooza. He is a living example of how music can be used to reach a world full of people and even create great change in it. Perhaps with pioneers like Farrell as icons, Jewish performers of today and tomorrow will keep their names with pride.