Jani Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald), former lead singer of the rock band Warrant, was found dead at a hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday evening (August 11th, 2011) according to TMZ. He was 47 years old. Lane’s body was discovered at the Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, CA. So far, no official cause of death has been released. I met Jani Lane a few times, as my friend Mike Fasano was Warrant’s drummer for a number of years, and he never seemed like a very happy guy. It’s sad that someone with a lot of talent couldn’t get the help that he needed to overcome his problems. RIP Jani.
Warrant, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
Original Release Date: March 1989
Re-Released: August 2004
(Columbia)
Hair Metal bands were often distinguished by singers who could actually sing, and few vocalists of that era had a set of pipes rivaling that of Jani Lane. Warrant’s debut, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich draws heavily from the members’ blues rock influences while thoroughly wallowing in pop-metal excess. The mindless pursuit of hedonism rarely sounded as beguiling as it does on the rousing “Down Boys,” while the ultra-schmaltzy ballad “Heaven” was probably the theme song of every metalhead wedding in 1989. Buttressing the excellent vocals and tight, catchy tunes are guitarist Joey Allen’s solos, which are flashy without succumbing to self-indulgent wankery. Achieving platinum sales and number-one chart status shortly before Grunge buried ‘80s Metal forever, D.R.F.S.R. closed out the final decade of Rock ‘N’ Roll decadence in high style.
– Gail Worley
Track Listing
32 Pennies
Down Boys
Big Talk
Sometimes She Cries
So Damn Pretty (Should Be Against The Law)
D.R.F.S.R.
In The Sticks
Heaven
Ridin’ High
Cold Sweat
Only A Man (Demo)
All Night Long (Demo)
This article was originally written for Metal Edge Magazine. With the magazines’ dissolution, the article has been added to the content base of The Worley Gig for our readers’ enjoyment.
