Warrant’s Jani Lane: The Dizzying Rise & Tragic Fall 

My Warrant story--- In early 1988, I got to see Warrant playing in a small club in St. Louis called First Rock. DRFSR had not been released yet but I saw a little blurb about Warrant in Hit Parader magazine and thought they looked pretty cool. As it happened, Bon Jovi and Skid Row were playing at the St. Louis Arena that same night. Bon Jovi (or one of his people) called the club and asked if Warrant could wait to start their show until Bon Jovi could make it down to the club after their show. So Warrant didn't start playing until midnight, but the whole of Bon Jovi and Skid Row showed up. The club sectioned off a part of the club so Jon and Company could enjoy the show without being mobbed. The club was way over capacity, you could barely move. Jani tried to get Jon to come up on stage and do a song with them but he respectfully declined. However, the guys in Skid Row were happy to get up and jam. So Sebastian, Snake, Scotti, and Rachel all got up with Warrant (Scotti, Snake, and Rachel all strapped on guitars) and after a way-too-long "argument between Jani and "Bas about who's dick was bigger they played "Train Kept A-Rollin'" complete with 4 guitar solos. It was about quarter to 2 at this point so the cops came in to shut it down before the band could do another song. It was kind of the perfect ending to the night. Cut to about 5 or 6 months later, Warrant played a show at Sandstone Amphitheater, outside Kansas City. They filmed the live portions of their "Heaven" video at the show. I'm in it, but I had long/big blonde hair and I was surrounded by about a dozen hot blonde women so even I can't pick myself out in the video. LOL

what is a real tragedy is jani's unreleased solo music, is in the hands of prior management, and none of it belongs to his family, and most importantly, his children. this music is among the best stuff he ever wrote. it should be heard, as evidenced by the positive impact his music had on thousands of people. jani truly knew how to convey the emotions we all feel, in a way in which most people can't express. his live performances were 9 times out of 10, brilliant. we all know someone who struggles with dependency issues, and jani was no different. the people that bash warrant for not being at his funeral don't understand the half of it. jani and his illness had a tragic effect on many people, but that pain will ease with time. he should be remembered for the wonderful gift he gave us with his music, and the happiness and joy he brought to many. i met jani in 2001 backstage during the glam, slam, metal jam tour with poison. he was trying to bum a cigarette from some hot chick, but he saw me standing there patiently, asked the lady to hold on a second, and then walked over and introduced himself. i shook his hand, and told him that i had waited a good 10 years to see him play, and moreso to meet him. i took the moment to tell him that bitter pill was one of the finest songs i had ever heard, and that it was very important to me. he got serious, and told me that hearing that from fans gave him the confidence to keep making music. he shook my hand again, and i told him to be safe on the rest of his tour. a moment i will truly never forget. saw him 2 years later in vermont at their county fair. there was about 50 people in an ampitheater to see them, which a lot of bands would have phoned it in for. jani and warrant came out, and played an energetic set, and jani sang most of the songs from the crowd. most artists would have just gotten through it, but he chose to have fun with those that came to see him.

My warrant story I was 13 years old and I absolutely loved Jani and warrant. They came to a record store when DRSR first came out. I was 13 and I Made a shirt for them to sign. The band signed and at the end of the table was Jani!!! He was so excited that I took the time to make a special t shirt and I said Jani I love you. He stood up and came around the table and gave me the biggest hug and kiss on my cheek and said he loved me too and then he said thank you so much for being such a huge fan and always believe in me. I wish I could have seen them live and both times I had tickets I was sick. Jani was one of the greatest front man and singer. Bobbie Brown was on ex wives of rock and Jani called her a few weeks before he died and asked if he could rent her spare room but, she was living with her boyfriend at the time. Jani was getting really bad and his wife kept calling 911. He had been in a coma, kept falling, and he was getting pissed because Kim his wife was calling 911. It really hunts Bobbie til this day.

I know that Janie didn’t like cherry pie, but that is actually an extremely well written song. It’s incredible that he was able to write it so fast.

I got the same kind of stories from the mid nineties and early 2000s. I met him and drank with him and I never seen him miss a note until that last Warrant gigs. ✌🏼

Great vid guys...I'm going to have to check out ultraphobic...I never really gave it a chance back in the day...love DRFSR, Cherry Pie and Dog Eat Dog tho....Bugs me that ultraphobic isn't on Spotify... good stuff guys!

I remember seeing the video for Down Boys back in ‘89 and getting the CD the next day. Been a fan ever since. Jani’s death was a huge loss to music. Such a talent.

Thank you guys for sharing such personal stories. I really appreciate it.

I saw Warrant at the Al Rosa Villa in Columbus in 99 or 2000. Jan was sober but his confidence was shot. He apologized for the ballads and crammed them into a medley. Contrast that with SeBas who I saw at that venue around the same time who put on a masterclass. It was a shame because Jani had a talent level that transcended the genre.

The woman who he wrote I saw red actually gave him a nervous breakdown. I saw Red is my all time favorite song ever not just warrant song but my favorite song ever

Love that you’re doing this… love Jani

I’ve seen Warrant only once and that was when Warrant was supporting Poison at the old Montreal Forum back in 1990. I will say, Warrant absolutely unequivocally blew Poison off the stage that night. As a footnote glam metal was massive in Montreal and Warrant were well received by fans that night. Rest in peace Jani

I was like HairmetalGuru but for me it was Skid Row. I live in South Dakota and followed them to Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls and a show in MN. Got to meet Sebastian & Scotti on the tour bus. The manager Kenny let us on. That was in 1991 or 1992. When I was 19 & 20. Was amazing. Also saw Warrant twice opening for Poison. Once in Minneapolis & once in Sioux Falls. Warrant was really good. I had their albums as well. Was a very sad day when Jani passed. Sounds like we led very similar lifestyles and at the same time. I was drinking constantly then too. That's the only part of the 80s and 90s that I don't miss. Rock on brother. ✌️oh I just remembered they played at the Pomp Room in Sioux Falls after the show. I wasn't 21 so I couldn't go. But he invited everyone to the dive bar to come down. He sure liked to party.

Very nice video. Loved your stories and your honesty. Im glad you mentioned his brief time with Great White. I watched some of those concert clips and he was sober and in good voice and they sounded really solid. Please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read those were his final live shows before he passed.

Warrant was my first concert when they played with Kingdom Come at the Louisville State Fair 1989. I was immediately hooked. Listened and bought everything through Belly to Belly. FFWD years after the state fair show I got to see them in a Nashville club. It was an intimate show and Jani came out into the crowd and was standing on a table near us for a portion of a song. After which I was able to give him a hand down for which he was appreciative. I always wanted to meet the band but never got the opportunity. But being able to at least help him down and just rock out with the guys that night was pretty awesome. I still spin the music today as I do many other metal bands but Warrant, well they were my first metal band love. As for Jani, he was a hell of a song writer and much more to me than one silly song.

There is a video of Maddie Lane doing heaven at a tribute for her Dad. I honestly cried my eyes out. It’s on here.

Unfortunately I never got to see Jani live. I've only seen Warrant once and that was in 2014 in Fargo at Scheels Arena where they played with Winger, L.A. Guns and JRs Great White. That was a really good concert. Stephen Pearcy's other guitarist is Eric Ferentinos. He does a show on RU-vid with Chris Akin called Chris Akin Presents. Chris Akin also does a show with Wendell Neeley called The Classic Metal Show.

Great discussion, just a real shame Jani could not shake the monkey on his back . The man was such a talent and a good person.

I just discovered your channel Metal Guru. I saw Warrant on the Cherry Pie tour. Jani Lane was an incredible frontman and singer. I had no idea how good he was until I actually saw the man live. I quit drinking in 2008 . I would almost certainly be dead if I hadn't. I'm really glad that you got sober and I'm happy I found your Channel. Rest in peace Janie Lane.😢

we want more of these videos !

Interesting interview. I used to be a booking agent and writer back in the day and hung with the guys many times. I was also working in a record store and the story about smash or pass was very familiar. I played family picnic and the whole album over the store speakers and people loved it and wanted to know who the cool/rocking band was... They always wanted to buy until I said Warrant and then they would walk away. The music was there.

WARRANT 👊💀👍

I completely relate to Sometimes She Cries. I feel like it’s about me and I cry every time I hear it. ❤

My man🤘

I hope there is 32 pennies in that Ragu jar behind Chris

im so happy i found your channel brother

My uncle and I where driving from Colombia South Carolina to west palm beach Florida. The only music we had was the cherry pie and pyromania album. I then dug into their catalog. Great music

Excellent discussion here AB. If you ever do an in depth, super detailed show about the 1st time we saw Warrant in MPLS together, I’d love to participate or backstage stories. Hope all is well

A deep dive video into dog eat dog would be good

my best memories are in fargo. in 2010 i met Phill from L.A. guns. i seen the hints about him being a english Romani gypsy. and i met him and said , your a Romani? he said yes i am lol we hung out after show great memories.

Who knew Larry the Cable Guy was a Warrant fan.

i just thought of this, when i seen warrant in early 90s with firehouse and trixter. warrant got fined because they were so loud lol made the local news here in fort smith arkansas. i my ears rang for hours lol good times, side note cherry pie was first cd i ever bought and heard

😢😊Thank you for sharing! The very first thing I noticed was the Ragu jar with 32 pennies in it! Awesome!

For Warrant Jani Lane wrote the songs and he sang the songs he might have been known as the Cherry Pie Guy from the song Cherry Pie but he was a rock star who made a lot of fans to be happy from his songs.

Warrant is one of my top three all-time favorite bands (right up there with Kiss and Bon Jovi), and I consider Jani to be the greatest lyricist who ever lived. Some people try to say that Kurt Cobain was the John Lennon of our generation, which to me sounds like an insult to John Lennon. No! To my ears, Jani Lane was the John Lennon of our generation. I remember seeing him perform at Rick's Bar in Fargo back in about 2002 or 2003 when he was touring to promote his solo album "Back Down To One". In a way it was so cool to see him in such an intimate atmosphere, but on a deeper level I thought it was really sad that he was reduced to playing such small venues. He deserved so much better. This guy was a generational talent, and yet so few of us recognize that. The masses just don't get it.

wow i agree with you 100 percent

Loved Warrant. The last time i saw them was in a club called The Zephyr. When he crowd surfed, i couldn't help myself i grabbed his ass. He then asked when he was back on stage who grabbed his ass. Ha ha. Must have been the Belly to Belly tour i remember them playing AYM.

Hey, I’m sorry I pronounced his name, wrong and spelled it wrong. I really admire your honesty about what you were going through as well,P I was wondering if you could help me find Badlands they had two albums out the self titled in one called voodoo Highway. I can’t find them on iTunes or apple music.

1:10 Is that his real headstone?! I hope not.

Thank you so much for this wonderful video about Jani and for your great tribute to him (More Than "Cherry Pie": My Journey With Jani Lane of Warrant"). I'm a french die-hard fan of Warrant and Jani, who unfortunately never had the chance to see him live. It's one of my deepest regrets, he was such a great frontman, as this concert video proves it : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XrUDPGgTHfs.html I also think that Jani's greatest achievements are Dog Eat Dog and Ultraphobic, I still listen to these two albums regularly, they are masterpieces on every level. This unreleased song from the DED sessions is very cool btw : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-skeRV0btxZ8.html And this magnificent last song written and recorded by Jani breaks my heart... He still had the voice of an angel, and the confessional lyrics make it even more moving. Including this haunting phrase "Let me be the man I could've been"... : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-taHH-CrR0Kw.html

He wrote deep lyrics let's not go that far he is not on the same level the artist i mentioned eddie vedder bob Dylan chris cornell Neil Young david bowie lenorad Cohen

What about the reports that he was raped? At 19 yrs old? That alone can be the beginning of the end for a man who is proud and trying to bury the evil of what happened 💯

Machine Gun ❤❤

After watching this I feel bad for laughing at this poor soul and referencing and laughing about something terrible that happened to him and completely destroyed him inside R.I.P JANI LANE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS IN A SCENE FULL OF SELF ABSORBED DOUCHE BAGS,,🍒🥧🤘🏻

isnt it pronounced Johnny i believe that was his name

Good songwriter but a TAD overrated. I mean, two albums of cultural and critical relevance, and that's it. 20 songs.

saw warrant (with firehouse and la guns) at a casino in 2002. great show. they got snowed in and came to hang out at the bar. Jerry asked me for a cigarette. Jani was getting wasted at a blackjack table with a blonde on his lap. Erik had the flu.