Friday, August 12, 2011

Jani Lane Dies At 47

Jani Lane the former lead singer of "Warrant" was found dead in a hotel room in the San Fernando Valley (north of Los Angeles) on August 11th, 2011, he was 47.  Death at any age is a tragedy, and inasmuch as that is true, I'm sure that press agencies will be speculating on a cause of death.  Obviously I am not a press agency, but I believe that talking about the man is more important than rampant speculation on a cause of death.

Instead of sensationalism, lets focus on the man and his body of work.  Jani Lane was known for his role as the front man for "Warrant", an '80's hard rock band that gave us such hits as "Cherry Pie", "Heaven", and "Down Boys".  While there catalog of work provided to its fans so many songs, it is indeed "Cherry Pie" that seems to be entrenched in the memories of their fans. 

Lane joined "Warrant" in '80's in the era of the "Hair Band", and enjoyed a tumultuous tenure as their lead singer, but had left and came back to the band on several occasions.  Warrant and Lane were much more than their "era" or "Cherry Pie", together they accounted for most of the bands success. 

While the album "Cherry Pie" garnered #7 on the Billboard 200 in 1990, the singles "Cherry Pie" (#10 on Billboard Hot 100), "I Saw Red" (#10 on Billboard Hot 100) possibly the best song on the album was "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (#78 on Billboard Hot 100).

Interestingly, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" reached #10 on the Billboard 200 in 1989 but gave them the hit "Heaven" which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 200.  Other songs on "DRFSR" that reached the Billboard Hot 100 included "Down Boys" (#27 on Billboard Hot 100), "Big Talk" (#93 on Billboard Hot 100), and "Sometimes She Cries" (#20 on Billboard Hot 100).

Regardless of cause of death, Lane will be mourned by his fans and his musical legacy will continue to live on.  Lane was survived by his two daughters from separate marriages.

Rest in peace young man.

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