The band Warrant is another success story from the hair metal movement of the 1980’s. They emerged from the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles and continue to tour to this day. Their sound has evolved through the years, but their glam metal hits are what their faithful fans enjoy the most. Warrant was formed in 1984 by guitarist Erik Turner. Drummer Max Asher, bass guitarist Chris Vincent, singer Adam Shore and guitarist Josh Lewis completed their original lineup. After swapping Vincent out for Jerry Dixon on bass, the band started playing regular gigs in California, opening for Ted Nugent, Stryper and other popular rock bands.
In 1986, Asher and Shore left Warrant to form the band Hot Wheelz. Later that fall, Turner attended a concert featuring local rockers Plain Jane. He later invited the group’s drummer Steven Sweet and frontman Jani Lane to join Warrant. They graciously accepted the invitation, and along with new guitarist Joey Allen, became the final pieces of Warrant’s now-classic lineup.
They made a name for themselves in the Los Angeles club circuit, and began shopping their demo around. Columbia Records signed the group in 1988, and they quickly began work on their debut album. Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
debuted in January 1989 and soon became a top 10 hit on the Billboard 200 album chart. Their songs were featured heavily in MTV rotation and the group began touring with Queensryche, Motley Crue, Poison, Cinderella and other popular rock bands.
Their follow up album, Cherry Pie
, was released in September 1990, and was an even bigger success than their first record. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and sold over three million copies. Warrant soon embarked on lengthy tours with Poison, David Lee Roth, Trixter and FireHouse.
Warrant’s third studio album, Dog Eat Dog
, came out in August 1992. While it was critically acclaimed, it was not nearly as popular as their first two efforts. The group went on a European tour in support of the record, including several shows during the Monsters of Rock tour that was headlined by Iron Maiden.
After the tour, Lane took a break for about a year to perform as a solo artist. At about the same time, Columbia dropped Warrant from their record label. Lane returned in 1994 and the band played a small series of club dates in the United States. Later that year, guitarist Joey Allen and drummer Steven Sweet. They were replaced by Rick Steier and James Kottak, respectively. Warrant signed with CMC Records that fall and started working on their next album.
Their fourth release, Ultraphonic, came out in March 1995 and was stylistically different from their previous albums. The group realized the popularity of grunge rock, and adapted their style accordingly. Warrant continued to tour extensively, playing many cities in the US, Europe and Japan.
Kottak left the band in 1996 and was replaced behind the drum kit by Bobby Borg. The band’s first greatest hits album, The Best of Warrant, also came out that year and was a solid seller. The group went by the moniker WARRANT 96 to signify their change in music direction and released their fifth studio album, Belly To Belly, that October. It continued their grunge elements and was described as more of a concept album. It featured some insightful songwriting by Lane, but didn’t go over so well with their loyal fans.
Warrant opened for Alice Cooper along with their friends in Slaughter and Dokken in the summer of 1997. Their first live album, Warrant Live 86-97, was released that July. That fall, drummer Bobby Borg departed and was temporarily replaced by Vikki Foxx. The group’s second hits collection, Greatest & Latest, debuted in 1999 and featured re-recorded versions of some of their classics.
Guitarist Rick Steier and keyboardist/drummer Danny Wagner left Warrant at the start of the new decade. Kerri Kelli joined the group on guitar and Mike Fasano became the group’s next drummer. Their sixth album, Under The Influence
, came out in May 2001. It was Warrant’s first album of cover songs (along with a couple of new original tracks). Warrant toured with Poison that summer, but the tour was cut short due to a back injury suffered by Poison’s bass guitarist Bobby Dall.
In 2002, singer Jani Lane released his debut solo album, Back Down To One. The album’s poppier sound was quite a departure from his work in Warrant. The band was featured on the Rock Never Stops tour in 2003 and 2004, with Kevin Phares on drums. Lane later entered rehab for drugs and alcohol.
After rehab. Jani decided to leave Warrant. He tried to start his own version of the band, but was met with the threat of legal action by his former bandmates. Steven Sweet and Joey Allen rejoined Warrant in 2004, and Jaime St. James was introduced as the new singer. Their seventh studio record, Born Again, debuted in February 2006. The band went on tour again, playing at the annual Rocklahoma music festival in 2007.
In early 2008, Lane was featured in Warrant’s publicity photos with the rest of their classic lineup. The group was set to play Rocklahoma again that summer and then embark on a tour with Cinderella. Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled because of Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer’s left vocal cord hemorrhage. Warrant did play a few summer dates, but in September, Lane was out of Warrant again. A compilation DVD of the reunion shows, They Came From Hollywood, was released later that year. Former Lynch Mob member Robert Mason became Warrant’s new frontman.
Warrant released their eighth studio album, Rockaholic, in May 2011. It reached #22 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock albums chart. The group went back on the road for the Rockaholic Tour, playing over four dozen dates with Poison and Cinderella in the US and Canada. Tragedy struck in August, when their former singer Jani Lane was found dead of acute alcohol poisoning in Woodland Hills, California. A public memorial for Lane featuring performances by Great White, L.A. Guns, Quiet Riot and other rock musicians was held at the Key Club in Hollywood, California later that month.
In 2012, Warrant went on tour with Trixter and FireHouse to celebrate the 21st album of their Cherry Pie album. The group’s ninth studio album, Louder Harder Faster, came out in May 2017. It took on more of a country sound on a few tracks, but still remained faithful to their rock and roll core.
Here are ten of the best Warrant songs:
# 10 – Blind Faith
Warrant’s fourth career ballad cracked the top 100 charts in the United States. Released on the album Cherry Pie
, the acoustic intro grabs the listeners’ attention. Lane’s vocals and Erik Turner’s electric guitar quickly turn the mellow ballad into a catchy tune that stays stuck in your head for a long time.
# 9 – The Hole In My Wall
You may remember this Dog Eat Dog
single because of the voice box guitar parts. One of Warrant’s heavier songs, it evokes some strong emotions. Some have interpreted the lyrics to be about Lane’s battles with addictive substances.
# 8 – Sometimes She Cries
The fourth single from Warrant’s debut album quickly became a rock radio hit. It’s a prime example of the talent the classic lineup had. From an excellent guitar solo to inspired lyrics, the track is one that should be in any fan’s best-of list. A soulful, heartfelt song that no other band can replicate.
# 7 – Machine Gun
This Dog Eat Dog song evokes comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and other legendary classic rock bands. It’s an underrated track that shows how Warrant was trying to keep ahead of the likes of Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and other up and coming groups from the grunge movement of the early 90’s. It was also one of the last songs to hit the rock top 40 charts for the band.
# 6 – The Bitter Pill
This track was the fifth single from Dog Eat Dog
. It’s unique because it features an interlude by the “Moron Fish and Tackle Choir.” The choir was composed of janitors, security guards, office personnel, engineers and anyone else who was available when the song was being tracked. Warrant released both electric and acoustic versions of this song.
# 5 – Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The third single from Cherry Pie
is a song that many Warrant fans know should have been the title of that album. It got its title from the famed novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Listening to the lyrics, some have postulated that it alludes to racism and injustice that occurred during the Civil Rights movement in the US in the 1960’s. The band, however, has yet to give a definitive explanation as to what the lyrics really mean.
# 4 – I Saw Red
The second radio single from Cherry Pie had a lot of personal meaning for Jani Lane. It was inspired by true-life betrayal. Lane wrote the lyrics to the song after having walked in on his girlfriend at the time in bed with his best friend. This led to Lane having a nervous breakdown, which ended up delaying the release of Warrant’s first album.
# 3 – Down Boys
The first song off of Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich was many people’s first exposure to Warrant. The record label certainly picked a great, heavy song to debut! It peaked at #13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and remains one of their hardest-hitting songs to date.
# 2 – Heaven
The second single from Warrant’s first record was their most successful track. It charted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. The song was originally written and recorded by drummer Steven Sweet and singer Jani Lane’s former band Plain Jane. The song was so popular that record label executives asked Warrant to re-record it so that it would sound more radio-friendly. It has also taken on new meaning for fans of the band since Lane’s death.
# 1 – Cherry Pie
Although the music video has been lauded as one of the worst of all time, the title track from Warrant’s sophomore album is one of their most loved songs. The track has been described as a rock anthem for a generation. Some of the lyrics are quite obvious in their meaning, while others are a little more subtle. It’s a song that diehard fans will definitely never forget!
Warrant doesn’t play stadium tours or outdoor festivals like they used to, but they’re still very active. They are currently touring in the US for the thirtieth anniversary of their first album. Their performances are still legendary, and they honor their glam metal and hard rock roots. Another great band that’s well worth the money spent on concert tickets and merchandise every time they’re in town.
![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
