Posted on 08/12/2011 7:36:30 AM PDT by Red Badger
Former hair-metal frontman was best known for hit 'Cherry Pie.'
Jani Lane, the golden-haired former lead singer of 1980s hair-metal band Warrant, was found dead on Thursday in a hotel room in Woodland Hills, California.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, police found the body of Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald), 47, at a Comfort Inn, with no cause of death available at press time. Lane was best known for the Warrant hit "Cherry Pie," which he wrote and which featured a guitar solo by Poison's C.C. DeVille. The double entendre-filled video for the song — packed, of course, with a bevy of video vixens — was a staple of MTV programming when it was released in 1990.
The singer was born in Akron, Ohio, on February 1, 1964. He began his career as a teenage drummer before moving to Florida and playing in a series of metal bands. Eventually he made the trek to Los Angeles with future Warrant drummer Steven "Sweet" Chamberlin in search of fame and a steady gig.
He was recruited to join Warrant in 1986 and the band released their major-label debut, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, in 1989, spawning the hits "Heaven" and "Down Boys." But it was 1990's Cherry Pie that really put them on the map, selling three million copies and making them hair-metal superstars. The title tune was written on the back of a pizza box, which can reportedly be seen on display at the Hard Rock Café in Destin, Florida.
The following years, though, proved tumultuous for Lane, who left the band several times as their fortunes faded and album sales dried up in the wake of the rise of the darker, more aggressive grunge rock sound. He rejoined the band in 2008, only to leave again that same year.
Lane released a solo album, Back Down to One, in 2003. He dabbled in acting, appeared on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" in 2005 and toured with Great White in 2010 as a fill-in lead vocalist.
Though a cause of death was not known at press time, Lane struggled with alcohol over the years, pleading no contest to misdemeanor DUI in 2009 after an arrest for reportedly crashing into a parked car. A similar incident sent him to jail for 120 days in 2010.
A number of Lane's musical cohorts tweeted their condolences overnight, including Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, who wrote, "I just heard the sad news about Janie Lane. So hard to swallow when people have kids. RIP."
Another friend, Poison singer Bret Michaels, said, "We'd like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Jani Lane regarding their loss. Respectfully, Bret and all at MEGI."
Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn also expressed her feelings on Lane, writing, "Super sad news. Janie Lane, dead at 47 ... #RIP Jani Lane."
A number of other cohorts also posted about Lane's death, including Slash, Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, former Guns N' Roses member Steven Adler, Ratt singer Stephen Pearcy and wrestler/rocker Chris Jericho.
Yes.
By the way, does he now qualify to join the “Dead Kennedys”?
It’s sad to another rocker go, but I always hated Warrant and that L.A. Hair metal crowd. I was all Anthrax, Metallica, Megadetj, King Diamond, Mötorhead, Slayer, Rush, Spinal Tap, Testament, Overkill, Fates Warning, AC/DC, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Dio, etc. During that sad era of West Coast rock. I did enjoy WASP and Ratt during those days too...but Warrant...not my bag of clams. However, rest in peace my rock n roll blood brother.
Ah, yes....Lee Harvey and the Ruby Rangers.......................
My Black Sabbath days were in the 70’s.......................
But Brett Michaels from Poison is well know as a conservative, no?
No he was a Heavy Metal rock singer who had a band named ‘Warrant’. He was definitely not he-she..............................
It seems that Heavy Metal artists tend to be closer to conservatives than liberals for some odd reason I can’t explain.......................
I had to take a 2nd look, but then..wham! I spit my coffee on the dog. (don’t worry, she takes it like I do)
Beer.
Performing their Number One hit, "I'm a Patsy."
It seems that Heavy Metal artists tend to be closer to conservatives than liberals for some odd reason I can’t explain.......................”
Let’s be clear: it is typically the libertarian strand of conservatism that finds heavy metal adherents. (When you put it that way, makes a little more sense, doesn’t it?)
I think it’s because heavy metal bands generally don’t “care” about social causes, they’re just in it for the chicks.
One of my favorite concerts of those days. RIP, Jani
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Songwriters: Schwartz, Eddie;
Well you’re the real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
That’s okay let’s see how you do it
Put up your dukes, let’s get down to it
Hit me with your best shot
Why don’t you hit me with your best shot?
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
You come on with a come on, you don’t fight fair
But that’s okay, see if I care
Knock me down, it’s all in vain
I’ll get right back up on my feet again
Hit me with your best shot
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/p/pat-benatar-lyrics/hit-me-with-your-best-shot-lyrics.html ]
Why don’t you hit me with your best shot?
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Well you’re a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
Before I put another notch in my lipstick case
You better make sure you put me in my place
Hit me with your best shot
Come on, hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Hit me with your best shot
Why don’t you hit me with your best shot?
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Yes, and I’m sure that earning millions in money has something to do with it, too...........
well put.
I gotta add, though. Ted Nugent is an excellent conservative who has done a LOT of good in recent years.
Like naming your kid Adolf Hitler von Stauffenberg. Just flat out weird.
Well, some of these acts earn millions. Others, not so much.
Have you ever seen the documentary “This Is Anvil”?
It’s brilliant. (It is NOT for the whole family, as you can imagine a docu about some aging heavy metal guys has some, er, “colorful” language in it). And it even has sort of a “conservative” message of, never give up, and a libertarian message of, stick to your guns and be who you are. By the end of the documentary, you are REALLY, REALLY pulling for these guys. It’s worth checking out. Available on Netflix.
On a more somber note, I am not at all familiar with Lane. But I do find these stories to be awfully sad. I love music, all genres, and I just wish that the rock industry were not so brutal, immoral, inhumane and deadly.
Or maybe he went where the down boys go. I was never a big fan, but still it's sad to see another one gone. RIP, Jani.
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