Jump to content

Jani Lane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 188.25.238.234 (talk) at 11:41, 27 August 2011. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jani Lane
Birth nameJohn Kennedy Oswald[1]
Born(1964-02-01)February 1, 1964
Akron, Ohio, United States
DiedAugust 11, 2011(2011-08-11) (aged 47)
Los Angeles, California, United States
GenresHeavy metal, glam metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, guitar, drums
Years active1982 - 2011
Websitehttp://www.janilane.net

Jani Lane (February 1, 1964 – August 11, 2011), born John Kennedy Oswald, later changed to John Patrick Oswald,[1] was an American recording artist and the lead vocalist, frontman, lyricist and main songwriter for the glam metal band Warrant.

Childhood and youth

Jani Lane was born John Kennedy Oswald (later changed to John Patrick Oswald) on February 1, 1964 in Akron, Ohio.[1] The youngest of five children to Robert and Eileen Oswald, John grew up just east of Akron in Brimfield Township along with his older brother (Eric); and three older sisters (Marcy, Michelle, and Victoria). Lane's older brother Eric was an accomplished guitarist; Lane himself learned to play drums at the age of 4 with his brother guiding and teaching him. Lane grew up listening to noted Cleveland rock station WMMS (100.7 FM, "The Buzzard"), and was introduced to various bands by his older sister Vicky, and parents Bob and Eileen.[2][3] Lane played drums under the name "Mitch Dynomite" in clubs by age 11 ("Mitch Dynomite" is listed as the drummer in the credits for Warrant's Latest and Greatest CD). Throughout the years, Lane would sometimes jump behind the kit to play with his band, and he had played the drums in various formats and gigs.[2][3]

By age 11, his older siblings had left for college or marriage except Vicky. Between his parents and his sister, he made the rounds as an amateur protege' drummer, making quite a name for himself. Not a shy youngster, he took over the family home inside and out with his drum equipment and fellow musicians until he graduated from Field High School in 1982.[4] Although he chose a path of the most difficult nature, he worked throughout high school to acquire his own drum equipment, setting a fine example to his friends and co-workers that he was not afraid to do anything for his dream of becoming a song writer/entertainer.

It was at this time that Lane realized his true desire was not only to play in the band but to actually sing his own songs up front and not hidden behind a drum kit.[citation needed]

Career

Early years

After graduating from high school, Lane joined the band Cyren, featuring vocalist Skip Hammonds, guitarist John Weakland, bassist Don Hoover (and later, Rusty Fohner), with Lane on drums. After making a name for himself and his band in Ohio, he relocated to Florida in 1983, Lane played drums for Dorian Gray, before forming Plain Jane with future Warrant bandmate Steven (Chamberlin) Sweet. It was at this time that Lane adopted the stage name "Jani Lane." Lane got the name by his German grandparents' pronunciation and spelling of Johnny as "Jani." They said it as Yay-nee and that stuck. While playing drums with Dorian Gray, Lane began vocal training with Central Florida vocal coach/trainer Ron Feldman (who remained friends with Lane until his death, and remains connected to his immediate family to this day). Feldman introduced Lane to Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando where he worked as a programmer of the animatronic character, Dook LaRue, the drummer for the Rock-afire Explosion. His vocal debut was at Fern Park Station in Fern Park, Florida.

Lane and Sweet later relocated to Los Angeles, California, where they took various odd jobs to survive. Struggling to make ends meet as a musician, Lane resorted to working in a pornographic video warehouse.[5]

By 1986, Plain Jane had become a regular feature in the L.A. club circuit. Erik Turner, who had founded Warrant in July 1984, was impressed by Plain Jane's songwriting and vocal performance, and invited Lane and Sweet to join his band.

Early years with Warrant

After generating notoriety on the club circuit, Warrant began to attract the attention of record labels. Following an abortive deal with A&M records over a contribution to the soundtrack for the motion picture Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, the band signed with Columbia Records. The Columbia deal came via the partnering of Warrant and manager Tom Hullet (known for working with The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and others). Tom became Lane's mentor and friend until his death from cancer in 1993.

As lead vocalist with Warrant, Lane wrote three Top 40 hit singles: "Heaven," "Down Boys" and "Sometimes She Cries" for Warrant's debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200.[6] and another three Top 40 hit singles: "Cherry Pie," "I Saw Red," and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" from the second album Cherry Pie, which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200.[7] Lane also co-wrote and performed with Warrant the song "The Power" in the 1992 movie Gladiator.

Later years with Warrant

Lane left Warrant in March 1993, following the release of the band's critically acclaimed record Dog Eat Dog which peaked at number 25 on The Billboard 200.[8] He returned to the band in September 1994, helping the band to secure a new record with Tom Lipsky of CMC International. The band then recorded Ultraphobic in 1995, Belly to Belly in 1996, Greatest & Latest in 1999 and a cover album Under the Influence in 2001.

Due to personal and business disagreements, Lane left Warrant in 2004. In January 2008, the band's agent, The William Morris Agency issued a new photograph of the band with Lane prominently featured, confirming his return to the band. It was the first time that all original members had been in the band since 1992. The band's first show with all original members was in May 2008 in Nashville. Warrant then performed a series of shows during the summer of 2008, but by September 2008, Warrant and Lane agreed to move forward separately, due to "too much water under the bridge." Warrant and Lane both continued to perform Lane's compositions live and Lane continued to write for himself and other artists.

Solo career

Lane lent his vocals to numerous tribute CDs during the beginning years of 2000 and released his solo effort, Back Down To One in 2003 in Europe and (2006) in the US on Immortal/Sidewinder Records. Lane also had success with the VH1 Metal Mania Stripped discs where an acoustic version of "I Saw Red" is on disc 1, and an acoustic swinging version of "Cherry Pie" is on disc 2.

Lane became involved in acting in the early 1990s. He made a brief appearance in Caged Fear, and also appeared in High Strung in 1991.

Between 1997 and 2000, demos of Lane's solo material began surfacing on the Internet, with some bids on eBay reaching an estimated $US100.00 per copy. [citation needed] The project, titled Jabberwocky, represented a significant musical departure from Lane's previous work. The CD has never been officially released.

Lane's official debut solo album, Back Down to One, was released on June 17, 2003 through Z Records. It carried a "power pop" sound which was more closely aligned with the sound of Warrant than the unreleased Jabberwocky project.

In August 2004, Lane withdrew from the Bad Boys of Metal tour after only eight shows.

Lane contributed vocals on the track "Bastille Day" and "2112 Overture/Temples Of Syrinx" for the Magna Carta 2005 Rush tribute album Subdivisions.

In Fall 2004, Lane contributed the lead vocals for the first ever theme song to a novel, The Devil of Shakespeare, by author, Billy McCarthy, along with JY from Styx, Ron Flynt 20/20, Chip Z'Nuff of Enuff Z'Nuff.

In 2005, Lane was featured on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club 2.

Keri Kelli and Lane wrote a song for Alice Cooper, titled, "The One That Got Away." It was recorded by Cooper on his 2008 record, Along Came a Spider. Lane also finished work on his side project, Saints of the Underground. This project also consists of Bobby Blotzer and Robbie Crane (both from Ratt), and Keri Kelli (from Alice Cooper). Their album, Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner was released on April 22, 2008.

In the Summer 2010, Lane went on tour with Great White, filling in for singer Jack Russell, who was recuperating from surgery after suffering internal complications. Also Lane had plans to make a new solo album and tour to support it, but it all got scrapped in early 2011.

Personal life

Lane cited his parents as the "go-to people" in his personal life. In speaking of his parents, he described his mother, who was a 2nd cousin of Clark Gable, as "his most trusted source of advice" and his father, a multilingual author, as having a "significant impact on my creative and spiritually, 'free thinking' side." Lane's parents have both passed away (Robert in 1995 and Eileen in 2004). In speaking of the passing of his mother Lane was quoted saying "I'm still, and never will be, over my mother's death."

Jani met his mentor and manager, Tom Hulett (who also managed The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Moody Blues), in 1988. Tom was responsible for Lane's first record deal and played an almost "father-like" role in Jani's early career. Tom died of cancer in 1993 leaving Jani in a state of "career limbo" through the rest of the 90's. Jani publicly stated (in referring to his parents and Hulett), "I miss all three of them so much! They were all trusted friends, sources of unconditional love and support and helped keep my moral compass pointed in the right direction!"

In 1990, during the filming of the videoclip for the Warrant single "Cherry Pie," Lane met model Bobbie Brown. By July 1991, the couple were married and in January 1992, they welcomed their first child, a daughter, Taylar Jayne Lane. In 1994, in the midst of band troubles, Jani and Bobbie divorced.[9] Lane married his second wife, Rowanne Brewer, in 1996. In 1997, the couple welcomed their daughter, Madison Michelle Lane. Brewer and Lane later divorced. Jani married his third wife, Kimberly Nash, on March 13, 2010. In Jani's own words he described Kimberly as follows: "What makes Kimberly different is everything. She is … I say no matter what I have, no matter how many houses, cars, what was in the bank account, what was going on with the band and songwriting, something was always missing. I truly believe it was that, I hate to use a corny term like “soul mate,” but it really is. When you have a connection with somebody and you can come to them and they have a good idea of the difference between tough love and being mean, it’s very good for me. This is a person who is very in control of her life, is her own person and, fortunately for me, is not into the party scene. It’s hard enough to get her to take a Tylenol when she has a fever. That’s an absolutely great person for me to be around at this point in my life. The last year, I’ve suffered some consequences from drinking that I’ve never suffered in my entire life. It’s really made me take a step back and go, “Is this how you want to continue? Is this how you want to finish up?” The answer is no. That’s where the song “Changes” came from."

Death

On August 11, 2011, Lane was found dead, with half a bottle of Vodka and a prescription medication at a Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, California. He was 47 years old.[10][11][12] [13]Lane is survived by his wife, Kimberly; a brother, Eric; three sisters, Marcine Williams, Michelle Robinson and Victoria Oswald-Ley; a daughter from his first marriage, Taylar Lane; a daughter from his second marriage, Madison Lane; and two stepdaughters, Ryan and Brittany.[14]

Discography

With Warrant

Solo

With Saints of the Underground

Soundtracks

  • 1992 Gladiator OST: "We Will Rock You" (Queen cover)
  • 1992 Gladiator OST: The Power
  • 2001 Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure OST : "Game Of War"

Songwriting

Other Work

Singles

As Jani Lane

Music videos

Year Video Director
1991 Voices That Care (As Jani Lane) (Various) David S. Jackson

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Hughes, Mark (August 12, 2011). "Jani Lane, Former Frontman for Glam Band 'Warant', Found Dead". Forbes.com. Forbes.com LLC. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |acccessdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Klosterman, Chuck (July 19, 2001). "Glam Slam Metal Jam - Bands from 1980s at Blossom Tonight". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. E12 - Entertainment.
  3. ^ a b Abram, Malcolm X (August 13, 2011). "Former Warrant Singer Jani Lane, 47, Akron Native - Hits Include 'Cherry Pie', 'Heavan' ". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. B1.
  4. ^ Johnson, Kevin C. (June 22, 1995). "B.I.G. Big on Pop Charts: Rapper a.k.a. Biggie Smalls to Be at Gund with Ice Cube, Others". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. E2 - Entertainment.
  5. ^ WARRANT | MusicMight
  6. ^ "Allmusic (Warrant awards & charts)Billboard albums".
  7. ^ "Allmusic (Warrant charts & awards) Billboard albums".
  8. ^ "Allmusic (Warrant charts & awards) Billboard albums".
  9. ^ Downboys.Com - Warrant History
  10. ^ "Warrant's Jani Lane Found Dead in Los Angeles Hotel Room". Warrant’s Jani Lane Found Dead in Los Angeles Hotel Room. BackstageOL. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Former WARRANT Singer JANI LANE Dead At 47". BlabberMouth.
  12. ^ "Jani Lane, lead singer of Warrant, dead at 47". cbs8. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  13. ^ http://www.bellenews.com/2011/08/12/arts-culture/warrant-lead-singer-jani-lane-died/
  14. ^ "Investigators Probing Why Former WARRANT Singer Was At Motel Room". BlabberMouth.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jani_Lane&oldid=446960341"