Tragic singer Jani’s body found in California hotel room after years-long struggle with alcoholism – cause of death not confirmed
Jane Lane, 1964-2011
Former Warrant singer Jani Lane has been found dead in a California hotel room. He was 47.
Lane, real name John Kennedy Oswald, wrote some of the band’s biggest hits including Cherry Pie, Heaven, I Saw Read and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
He split with Warrant in 2008 after a second stint fronting the band which lasted just six months. He’d left in 1993 then rejoined a year later before departing again in 2004.
He’d struggled with alcoholism for many years – a problem which he recently admitted was beginning to affect his health.
In February this year he cancelled a solo tour two days before it was meant to commence, without giving a reason. Last month he was ordered to serve 120 days in jail after pleading no contest to a charge of drunk driving, following his arrest in May.
Lane had been in rehab on more than one occasion, and in a recent interview spoke of his determination to beat his drink problem.
He said: “In the last year I’ve suffered consequences from drinking that I’ve never suffered before. It’s made me take a step back and go, ‘Is this how you want to finish up?’ The answer is ‘No’.
“I don’t like these consequences. I don’t like how it affects my family and my career. To be honest I get tired of giving ammo to the people who don’t wish me well.”
Lane’s last recorded TV appearance was filmed last month for VH1′s That Metal Show, and is due for broadcast on October 1. Stryper singer Michael Sweet, who also appeared, says: “I had the pleasure of meeting him on set and he was a great guy. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Glenn Hughes of Black Country Communion, who’s often spoken about his own struggle with addiction issues, says: “It’s a sad day. We must remember that the unlucky ones who lose their life to alcohol and drugs are those who could not completely surrender.”
Former Guns n’Roses drummer Steven Adler says: “Jani, you were a great talent. The world will miss you.” Mark Slaughter of Slaughter says: “Fly to the angels, Jani. Rest in peace my friend.”
Much has been written about the highly underrated former Warrant frontman Jani Lane following his tragic passing last night. The fact is that he was a highly skilled singer/ songwriter and one of a couple of artists from the so-called hair band era who still maintained the ability to write a mainstream hit. He really did deserve much better than that “just another hair band singer” image he was saddled with. An interesting footnote in the life of Jani Lane is that his infamous “Cherry Pie”, released in 1990 by his band Warrant, was likely the catalyst for the grunge music revolution.
“Cherry Pie” was arguably the very moment 80′s rock music jumped the shark; or perhaps was eaten by it. There had already been numerous over the top commercial rock songs that trivialized and cheapened the rock music of the era. This single, however, was a new plateau of ridiculous that represented the perfect caricature of virtual self parody that party rock had become. Though Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a year away, “Cherry Pie” was the last good time party song to be considered a hit in the glam rock era. A few power ballads managed to chart in 1991, but the 80′s rock party ended on November 3, 1990 when “Cherry Pie” peaked at number 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100. One can only ponder if the grunge rock revolution would have taken hold had Warrant’s Jani Lane not penned the song as a last minute addition to their pending album at the urging of Columbia Records President Don Ienner.
That’s absurd. “Cherry Pie” was a ridiculous song but you are giving it WAY to much credit. You can’t put the blame of 80s glam rock on one band… let alone one song. It’s too bad that one cheesy song combined with the imagery overshadowed all the other great songs Lane penned. RIP Jani.
Very Very Sorry, He was a talent a great song writer.
I’ll miss you.
Cherry Pie was a catalyst for grunge music, in that it was so obnoxious, and generally a semi-retarded song, that along with things like Rick astley and Paula Abdul dominating the airwaves, thing were ripe for a rock revolution.The Rock music scene was a joke by 1990, and needed something to change, and bands like Warrent,Great White and other crap,didn’t have the songs to back up the makeup and hair.
Thanks Warrant for the signed picture of you guys and it was great to talk with you Jani back in 1991, rest in peace.