Jani Lane

Jani Lane seemed like a sweet and sensitive guy tortured by his demons. Best known as the lead singer of the glam metal band Warrant, Jani’s life was full of ups and downs.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald. A little over two months later on 2/1/64, John Kennedy Oswald was born in Akron, Ohio. What were Jani Lane’s parents thinking by naming him that?

Jani began playing drums at the age of four (I started when I was two – I win!) and was playing in clubs under the name “Mitch Dynomite” by the time he was eleven. A great football player (quarterback) and even offered scholarships to various colleges, Jani chose instead to pursue his dream of being a singer/songwriter. After graduating from high school, Jani played drums with the bands Cyren and Dorian Gray.

Warrant Beginnings

In 1985, Jani formed the group Plain Jane with future Warrant bandmate Steven Sweet.  The name change to Jani Lane happened during this time.  Jani’s German grandparents pronounced and spelled Johnny as Jani……and Jani Lane was born. I guess the Lane part is because it rhymes with Plain and Jane?

Jani and Steven Sweet moved their Plain Jane group to Los Angeles and were a regular fixture in the clubs by 1986. Erik Turner, who created Warrant in 1984, liked the songwriting and vocals of Plain Jane. He invited Jani and Sweet to join his band. The band went on to have great success with such hits as Cherry Pie, Heaven, I Saw Red, and Sometimes She Cries. They toured with Paul Stanley, Queensryche, Cinderella, Kingdom Come, Motley Crue, Poison, Firehouse, and Trixter.

I saw Jani Lane on Celebrity Fit Club in 2005. I don’t remember him being fat, but I do remember that he liked to drink. He seemed like a very sweet guy.

Trivia

• Married to Bobbie Brown (not that one) from 7/91 to 12/93.
• Married to Rowanne Brewer from 12/96 to 2005.
• Jani’s last marriage was to Kimberly Nash.
• Has two daughters.
• Attended Kent State University.
• Wrote all of the songs on Warrant’s debut album, “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich”.
• First wife, Bobbie Brown, appeared in the Warrant music video, “Cherry Pie”.
• Worked in a pornographic video warehouse while trying to make it in Los Angeles.

Legal Problems

Lane’s ex-wife Bobbi Brown stated earlier this year that Jani had been raped. He admitted to her that he was drugged and raped by a manager (ALWAYS the pervy managers!) and a member of a famous heavy metal band. I wonder how different his life could have been if he had gotten this out in the open (or if it had never happened in the first place). I don’t think we can blame all of the alcohol abuse on this, but I’m sure it’s a big reason.

Sadly, Jani’s alcohol addiction added to the quick decline of his life. Arrested in June 2009 for drunk driving was only the beginning. He got three years of probation for that offense. Less than a year later, Jani got another DUI.  His driver’s license was suspended for three years. The following year, in August of 2011, Jani Lane checked into a Comfort Inn in Woodland Hills and drank himself to death. He was 47.

Jani Lane and his demons are no more. I hope John Kennedy Oswald has found peace.