In a heartfelt conversation with Talking the Talk with Don, L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns opened up about the late Jani Lane and how the Warrant frontman struggled to cope with the massive changes in the rock scene during the early 1990s.
The shift came as grunge music — led by bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden — replaced glam metal on radio and MTV, forcing many hard rock acts into smaller venues and diminished record sales.
Jani Lane’s Deep Connection to Warrant
(Transcribed by Talking the Talk with Don)
“That [Warrant] was Jani’s band. It was his baby. It was his thing. And he was unstoppable,” Guns said. “But he took it hard [when the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting].”
Guns noted that Lane’s bond with Warrant’s music made the transition especially painful. For Lane, the band’s sound and image were more than a career — they were his personal identity.
Playing to Smaller Crowds in the ’90s
(Transcribed by Talking the Talk with Don)
“We toured with them in the golden age of Nirvana killing us. We were touring and playing to 2,500 people a night. It was terrible,” Guns continued. “And I was with Jani a lot. I’m the one that gave him the f-cking mohawk.”
The change in audience size was a blow to many glam metal bands that once packed arenas. Even so, Guns remembered Lane as a kind, thoughtful person.
(Transcribed by Talking the Talk with Don)
“He was really a gentle guy. If it would have been a hundred years earlier, he would have been the sensitive poet.”
A Search for Acceptance
Lane’s challenges weren’t just professional; they were deeply personal.
(Transcribed by Talking the Talk with Don)
“He just wanted to be accepted, he wanted validation,” Guns added. “And he had some trauma in his life that led to where it led him to. But he definitely made his mark. Whether you love Warrant or hate ’em, man, you know who they are.”
The Grunge Takeover and Rock’s Turning Point
The rise of grunge in the early 1990s reshaped the industry, sidelining many established hard rock acts. For Lane — as Warrant’s primary songwriter — adapting to the changing musical climate was a struggle that went beyond chart performance.
Even with the challenges, Lane’s legacy in rock remains secure, with anthems like “Cherry Pie” and “Heaven” continuing to be celebrated by fans worldwide.
