Warrant's Jani Lane dead at 47

Jani Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald)

February 1, 1964- August 11, 2011

According to TMZ and now various other news reports, former Warrant lead singer Jani Lane was found dead in a LA hotel last night. He was 47 years old. Lane was pronounced dead by Fire Department personnel, who had responded to a call before 5:30 pm. The cause of death, at this time, is unknown. Lane is survived by a wife and four children (although Lane had been married three times). 

Lane will probably be best known as the singer of hard rock band Warrant, who hit the big time in the late 1980's. Lane was actually the band's second lead singer but he would become the main songwriter in the band. Warrant's debut album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, was released in 1989. The album was a success thanks to hits like "Down Boys" and the power ballad "Heaven". The band were at their peak when they released their second album, Cherry Pie, in 1990. The album, as well as the tongue-in-check self titled track, were smash hits. Lane briefly left in 1993 but returned the following year. By that time, the band's popularity began to tone down. Still, Lane was in Warrant until 2004. He rejoined again in 2008 for an attempt to reunite the "classic" line-up but he was later dismissed before the year ended. 

Before his death, Lane appeared in an episode of That Metal Show which will air sometime in October for the show's eighth season. 

I'll be honest: I wasn't particularly a Warrant fan. I liked a couple of their songs and I do think they are a good band. Jani had a great voice and he wrote some great songs. It's a big loss in the rock world and 47 is just too young.

RIP Jani.