Late Thursday night, former Warrant singer Jani Lane was found dead in a California motel room. While an autopsy performed on Friday proved inconclusive pending the results of toxicology tests, a half empty bottle of vodka and prescription medication were apparently found in his motel room. It is also unclear as to why Lane was staying in a motel since he had a home in the South Bay area. However, apparently Lane had been visiting numerous hotels in the weeks prior to his death. Lane apparently trashed one room so badly that he was banned from returning to that particular hotel.
Lane’s death has gained an enormous reaction from the rock and metal community, including from his former band mates in Warrant. In addition to paying tribute to the late singer during their show in North Dakota Friday night, the band released the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Jani’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Jani was a very important part of our lives for a long time. We will always be incredibly proud of the music we created together. He was a true talent and will be missed by all of us.”
Warrant guitarist Erik Turner added the following via Twitter:
“Still coping/absorbing the reality of last night’s sad news. A brother is gone. We have heavy rock ‘n’ roller hearts today.”
Lane’s sister Vicky Oswald-Ley held an exclusive interview with RadarOnline. In the interview, Vicky said the following:
“Alcoholism is not something he chose. It’s something he fought everyday and it just won. There were no drugs, that was one thing he could not tolerate, he couldn’t stand them. He did not do drugs. We don’t have the autopsy report back yet, but he was a heavy drinker and I can only guess that alcoholism has a lot to do with it.”
Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach also gave a heartfelt response:
“People have been asking me about Jani Lane and I really don’t know what to say. Picturing him by himself in a Comfort Inn in Woodland Hills with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of pills is so typical of what a rock musicians life actually is. It is a life marked by extremes. Extreme attention from people you don’t know, while all the work and travel takes you away from those you actually do know. Playing to thousands of people and then going back to your hotel room and shutting the door. When the door shuts… the quiet is the exact opposite of the volume of the concert. The solitude of the empty hotel room becomes the diametric parallel of the adulation of strangers. For some, the bottle of vodka or whatever becomes a friend that is always there for you while others come and go.
Yes, I have felt these emotions myself. If you see me going head over heels over a girl, it’s because all I have ever wanted is to have a girl to love and share my life with, and for the one I love to be with me wherever I’m at, travel with me to distant locales and stay in nice kick-ass hotel suites and have fun and sing and dance and see the world. But so far this is a fantasy. Just like Jani, I spend most of my time alone in a hotel room dreaming of a girl I love who is somewhere else. I bet Jani Lane felt exactly what I feel. How could he not?
I remember decades ago being invited to Jani’s house for a barbeque, which we went to. But Jani didn’t show up. So I spent the afternoon with Jani’s dad cooking burgers and steaks and having a wonderful day with his family. My condolences to his family and especially Jani’s children who now only have memories of their dad to hold on to. That is truly heartbreaking. Let this be yet another lesson to tell someone some kind words sometimes… before it’s too late… while they are still alive. I can guarantee Jani Lane would not have anticipated everyone coming out of the woodwork extolling the life and times of Jani Lane. Which is why he probably died alone. In a hotel room. With his only real friend…that killed him in the end.”
Stryper frontman Michael Sweet tweeted the following statement:
“I’m still in shock over the sudden passing of Jani. I was just sitting in a dressing room with him less than a month ago. Had I known, I would have spent more time with him. He was a good-hearted guy with a gentle soul. I know he had a tough life and many battles, but who doesn’t? He seemed to be genuinely working so hard at sorting things out and getting things in order. It’s a true shame.”
Lane had recently filmed a guest spot on That Metal Show’s eighth season. The episode was suppose to originally air in October 1, but will now air on August 27 in lieu of events. Canter’s Deli in LA also paid tribute to the late singer by selling $1 slices of cherry pies (referencing Warrant’s big hit “Cherry Pie”) this past weekend. Our condolences go out to Lane’s family and friends.
