Biography
Childhood and youth
Lane was born as John Kennedy Oswald on February 1, 1964 in Akron, Ohio, the youngest of five children. Due to several complaints, his parents changed his name to "John Patrick Oswald", but his birth certificate still states the former name. He played drums under the name Mitch Dynomite in clubs by age eleven. If you read the credits on Warrant's Latest and Greatest cd, you'll notice he uses the same name under the drummer for the cd. Throughout the years, Lane would sometimes jump behind the kit to play with his band. He has played the drums in various formats/gigs.
Looking for success
Graduating from Field High School in Brimfield, Ohio in 1982, Lane joined the band Cyren, featuring vocalist Skip Hammonds, guitarist John Weakland, bassist Don Hoover (and later, Rusty Fohner) with Lane on drums. After relocating to Florida in 1983, Lane played drums for Dorian Gray, before forming Plain Jane(1985) with future Warrant bandmate Steven Sweet. It was at this time that Lane adopted the stage name "Jani Lane".
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. [1]
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.
As lead vocalist with Warrant, Lane wrote six Top 40 hits: "Heaven", "Down Boys", "Sometimes She Cries", "Cherry Pie", "I Saw Red", and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"; see further Warrant.
Later years with Warrant
Lane left Warrant in 1992, following the release of the band's critically acclaimed record Dog Eat Dog. He returned to the band in September 1994, helping the band to secure a new record with Tom Lipsky of CMC International.
Lane would continue to show his writing diversity, when Warrant released Ultraphobic in 1995 with the guitar ballad, "Stronger Now". Then, in 1996, Warrant released the more experimental, yet catchy, Belly to Belly.
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.
Solo career
Jani has lent his vocals to numerous tribute CDs during the beginning years of 2000 and finally released his solo effort, Back Down To One in 2003 in Europe and (2006) in the US on Immortal/Sidewinder Records. Lane also has had recent 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. The project, titled Jabberwocky, represented a significant musical departure from Lane's previous work. Although featuring the singer-songwriter's distinct vocal melodies and lyrics, the music had more in common with Elton John, Sting, Tom Petty, and Bob Seger than Warrant. 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 8 shows, following a dispute with Quiet Riot's Kevin DuBrow.
Lane contributed vocals on the track "Bastille Day" and "2112 Overture/Temples Of Syrinx" for the Magna Carta 2005 Rush tribute album Subdivisions. Lane also performed solo live shows in early 2005, with a band including Chad MacDonald on bass and Bryn Mutch on drums.
Lane continues to perform his Warrant compositions live and recently released "Back Down to One." On Immortal/Sidewinder Records. He also just finished a project with current members of Ratt and Alice Cooper. The project was originally titled "Angel City Outlaws," but ultimately became known as "Saints of the Underground."
Personal life
Family and relationships
In 1990, Lane began a relationship with model Bobbie Brown. Brown is perhaps best known for her role in the music video for the Warrant single "Cherry Pie". Lane married Brown in 1991 and fathered his first daughter, Taylar Lane with her in January 1992. In 1993, in the midst of band troubles, Lane and Brown divorced. [2]
According to the band, "about this time in 1993, Lane started seeing Rowanne Brewer." Brewer is a former model and pageant winner. In 1995, they moved to Orlando, Florida and in 1996 they were married. Eleven months later, in 1997, Lane's second daughter Madison Michelle Lane was born. In early 2005, Lane and Brewer divorced. Lane has been in a relationship with former model, actress, director Sheila Lussier since December of 2005.
Celebrity Fit Club
Lane was featured on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club 2 (2005)
Future projects
As of 2007, Lane has written many tunes for his second solo effort. He also has added that the long-awaited Jabberwocky project may be released via 2-discs sometime in 2007.
Lane has 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 is due April 2008.
You can purchase the cd early at http://www.warriorrecords.com/saintsoftheunderground/
Jani Lane has rejoined Warrant as of 2008 with all the original members.
In Popular Culture
The Glam metal band Tuff recorded the song "Dear Jani Lane," which questions the singer's career after leaving Warrant.
With Plain Jane
- Demos
With Sean E. River Project
- Demos
With Warrant
- 1989 Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
- 1990 Cherry Pie
- 1992 Dog Eat Dog
- 1995 Ultraphobic
- 1996 Belly to Belly
- 2001 Under the Influence
Solo
- 2002 Back Down to One
With Saints of the Underground
