Martyn LeNoble
A foundational bassist whose deep, melodic grooves provided the rhythmic heartbeat for Perry Farrell's post-Jane's Addiction projects.
Born 1969 (age 57)·Dutch bassist·Birthday: April 14·Generation X
Biography
Dutch-born Martyn LeNoble entered the alternative rock scene at its early-90s zenith, becoming a crucial sonic architect for Porno for Pyros. Co-founded by Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, the band needed a bassist who could bridge funk, psychedelia, and rock, and LeNoble's intuitive, fluid playing fit perfectly. His bass lines were never mere background; they were central, melodic hooks that wove through the band's textured soundscapes on their influential self-titled debut. While his time with the band was intermittent, his impact on their foundational sound is indelible. Beyond that flagship group, LeNoble became a sought-after collaborator, lending his distinctive low-end to artists like The Cult and Macy Gray, proving his versatility far beyond the alternative sphere that first made his name.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Martyn was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martyn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Martyn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a founding member and the original bassist for the alternative rock band Porno for Pyros.
- Performed on Porno for Pyros' influential self-titled debut album in 1993.
- Toured and recorded with a diverse range of artists including The Cult, Macy Gray, and Patti Smith.
Did You Know?
He was initially hired by Perry Farrell after being recommended by Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery.
He left Porno for Pyros in 1995 to join The Cult, contributing to their album "The Cult" (1994).
He is also a visual artist and has exhibited his paintings.
“The bass line is the hidden river that carries the song.”
