Although Peter DiStefano is most known to alternative rock fans as the lead guitarist in the short-lived Jane's Addiction offshoot Porno for Pyros, the California native had a varied career even before his time in the Lollapalooza sun. Born in Santa Monica in 1965, DiStefano spent his teens and early twenties in the local surf and skate-punk scene, eventually starting his own minor band in the style, "K-38," who only lasted for one mid-'80s single. Kicking around the fringes of the Los Angeles alt rock scene, DiStefano befriended Jane's Addiction leader Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins, and when that band broke up, he joined their new project Porno for Pyros in 1993. After two albums, Porno for Pyros and Good God's Urge, the band disintegrated along with DiStefano's personal life: already addicted to heroin, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After treatment and rehab, newly married and personally stable, DiStefano began a new project called Venice Underground that explored a hybrid of downtempo electronica and guitar-heavy alt rock. Following that band's 2000 debut, DiStefano self-released a pair of solo albums in 2001 and 2002, Words in Red and Solo at DiPiazzas (both were extremely limited releases) . Signing to the British indie label Sanctuary Records, he returned to his solo career with 2004's Gratitude, followed by 2005's Soul Trigger and 2006's Integrity. Along with his wide-ranging solo career, DiStefano has maintained a parallel career as an in-demand session guitarist for film and television scores, as well as a stint as co-writer and touring bandmember for former Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy. ~ Stewart Mason