Jani Lane

Jani Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald; February 1, 1964 – August 11, 2011) was an American singer and the lead vocalist, frontman, lyricist and main songwriter for the glam metal band Warrant.

Lane was born John Kennedy Oswald (later changed to John Patrick Oswald), on February 1, 1964, in Akron, Ohio to Robert and Eileen Oswald.

He was raised in Brimfield with four older siblings: sisters Marcine Williams, Michelle Robinson and Victoria Ley, plus older brother Eric, already an accomplished guitarist.

With sisters Micki and Vicky and brother Eric harmonizing and playing guitar, Lane taught himself to play drums, guitar and piano by ear by age five.

He grew up listening to Cleveland rock station WMMS (100.7 FM "The Buzzard") and was introduced to a variety of music by his older siblings.

With connections from his brother Eric around the music scene (and with his parents' help), Lane made a name for himself at a very young age.

He played drums under the pseudonym "Mitch Dynamite" in clubs by age 11 especially with a local band "Pokerface."

By that time, his siblings had left for college or marriage, Lane's Father "Ozzie" continued to network with local bands and club owners to help promote Jani's musical talent in pursuit of his dream.

Lane graduated from Field High School in Brimfield in 1982.

Lane is credited as the vocalist/drummer on Warrant's Latest and Greatest CD.

Throughout his career, Lane would sometimes play drums/acoustic guitar and piano with his band and played the drums in various formats and gigs with other musicians.

After 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 and vocals.

Many of Cyren's shows opened for a popular local band called Risqué.

When Risqué's bassist, Al Collins, noticed Lane's vocal talents, he convinced Lane to form a new band they eventually called Dorian Gray.

The new band also included Steven Chamberlin on drums and Dave Chamberlin on lead guitar.

Dorian Gray was designed to have Lane as the lead vocalist and to perform original material, but Lane wasn't ready to be the lead singer and quickly returned to the drum kit.

Billy Denmead was hired as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

After only a few shows, Collins left the band, vowing to put a band together when Lane was ready to be a lead vocalist.

Lane moved to Florida in 1983 with Dorian Gray.

Eventually deciding to assume a lead vocalist role, he formed Plain Jane with Collins and Chamberlin, adopting the stage name "Jani Lane" (Chamberlin would also soon rechristen himself Steven Sweet).

He took the name "Jani" from his German grandparents, who spelled his name "Jani" and pronounced it "Yay-nee."

Lane began vocal training with vocal coach/trainer Ron Feldmann, who introduced him to Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando.

Lane worked there as a programmer of the animatronic character Dook LaRue, the drummer for The Rock-afire Explosion.

His vocal debut was at The Station in Fern Park, Florida.

Lane, Collins, and Chamberlin recorded the first Plain Jane four-track demos at their rented house in Winter Park, Florida.

Although reluctant to leave Florida, they rented a trailer in the spring of 1984 and moved to California with hopes of landing a record deal.

They were broke by the time they landed at the Hollywood Bowl Motel and resorted to making sandwiches with mustard packets while taking turns calling their parents for cash.

Struggling to make ends meet as a musician, Lane resorted to working in a pornographic video warehouse.

The band, along with a new road crew and a few girlfriends, pooled their wages and lived in a two-bedroom condominium rented by new Plain Jane guitarist Paul Noble.

At one time, there were 13 people living in the crowded space.

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 jam with his band at Hollywood's db Sound in September 1986.

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 Hulett, known for working with The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, The Moody Blues and others.

By 1985, Plain Jane had become a regular feature on the Los Angeles club circuit and opened many shows for a band called Warrant.

Plain Jane's bassist and guitarist both left the band on the same day Warrant's singer and drummer quit.

From Hollywood, California, the band experienced success from 1989 to 1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million.

Lane also released a solo album, Back Down to One, in 2003, and the album Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner with a new group, Saints of the Underground, in 2008.

Lane contributed lead vocals and songwriting to various projects throughout his career.

Lane left Warrant in 2004 and again in 2008 after a brief reunion.