Last Thursday, July 12th I was schdeuled to interview Jani Lane, former singer/main songwriter of WARRANT! In the late 80's and early 90's, WARRANT had many Top 40 hits such as "Heaven", "Cherry Pie", "I Saw Red", and my personal favorite "Uncle Tom's Cabin"!! Jani left Warrant in early 2004 after releasing his debut solo album, BACK DOWN TO ONE, in 2003!
ok...we got to club at 3pm, went in, on guest list, Jani was walking around...sent Josh 4 drinks cuz I hate ppl up my ass, intro'd myself to Jani, he pulls me in dressing room and says "after soundcheck we will do iview but be forewarned the show may not happen but if it doesnt we're all hittin the titty bar (Michelle's Beach House) and ur invited".....so in walks Mike and he remembered me, Jani was shocked...caught up with Mike, than back out to club 4 souncheck...band runs through 32 Pennies, Uncle Tom's Cabin and Heaven.....
during soundcheck I took a few pix til Jani told me to stop cuz Dario was hamming for camera instead of getting levels, kewl, no problem....in walks Bob, we intro each other....he goes and clears bar for interview....soundcheck over....Jani, josh and I head into bar for interview....due to Mike slammin drums Jani yells at him over wireless mic to shut up for interview so band hits dressing room.......do the interview, 20 minutes or so....interview over....Jani asks if I know where GUITAR CENTER is, said yes and tried to explain, hadnt a clue cuz Sean got em lost en route to club so I offered to drive em there, DEAL!!
Jani than compliments me on interview saying "its nice 2 do iview with someone who does their fucking homework, I wont do em 95% of time cuz its 'what'd ya have for dinner' bullshit, only after I read your other ones did I agree to this and even what u asked blew me away".......once camera is off, Jani than explains to me that b4 they got to Wichita, the clubs deposit 4 gig bounced and the owners tele # had been changed, the owner was avoiding paying him etc and they'd almost cancelled while down in Oklahoma....but due to interview he decided to give it a shot....
he tells me dont be surprised if I tell ya to get yer ass in the van and we bolt, and if I do it means two minutes ago, not 5 from now....cuz shit is gonna get ugly....so we go to guitar center....after 30 minutes we (Josh, Jani, Bob, I) leave 4 subway, eat and Jani goes back 2 get guys to go to hotel, Josh and I putt around and head back 2 club, sit in parking lot (Josh has no clue on club dealings!)....we watched the NAVY BLUE ANGELS buzz us 5x....up pulls Jani and Bob....no band....i think "OH SHIT....THIS AINT GOOD!!"
.....jani pulls me aside asks where GYM is, said go out here/hang right/3 blks right side....he than asks if show happens will i do merch and help Bob, sure notta problem! so i help Jani unload merch....set it up, has 1 shirt left b4 new batch arrives in OKC 2day.....gives it to me! why, i dunno, cant wear it....so, we count in what he thinks we need, we lock it back up in van....he heads to gym....Bob and I help TAINTED set up....they go on at 9pm....good band/shitty drummer......Bob's a drummer so we were mocking him etc....phone rings, its Jani, Bob's in bathroom so I answer, asks if we've been paid, I said no...giving us the run around....Jani is due onstage at 945, he tells me to tell owner that he doesnt get $$, he's gone....YES SIR! Bob comes out, I clue him in, he goes to talk to owner....gets 1/2 of $$....he calls Jani....at this point its 1015, TAINTED keeps playing.....Jani says unless other 1/2 is in mine or Bob's hand by 1115 than we are to...
load out and be out front to go watch titties.....jani tells bob that unless he gets other 1/2 than tour manager (me!) wrecks the place!....Bob goes back asks for the other 1/2.......they tell him to fuck off....he says fine than I'm sending in the tour manager and the last club that fucked us isnt open anymore cuz he trashed it, they ask who manager is, he says HUGE DUDE "CRASH" @ merch table w/ all the tattoos....he said they about shat...they called someone and loaned the $$ from them......money in my pocket, I call jani as Bob gets TAINTED off stage, jani/band walks in hands me promo 8x10's for merch table, says "thanx and I hope that didnt make ya uncomfortable".....replied nope, I was stoked I was gonna break shit, Jani laughs and Mike goes "we need this fucker on the road w/ us"....
Jani and Bob agreed, Bob whispers in my ear, "I'm working on that"....I said "what".....he goes "I want ya out here to tour manage cuz we aint got one".......he said Jani was real attentive to idea....band goes on does 14 songs out of the 25 they usually do, THANK U GOODNIGHT......Jani goes backstage to towel off, 5 minutes later walks out and tells me to pack shit,we're gone.....10-4 Yes Sir........within 2 mins its packed than fans rush him....so he looks at me and goes "they get 5 mins and than get me outta here", 10-4....5 mins goes by, we're gone, off 2 see titties....we get to club, its closed, we hang for a bit, take pics, exchange cards and #'s....off 2 IHOP....my night w/ Jani Lane! In the process of nite Bob tells me "mark my words, i'm getting u n2 lava or on the road w/ us".....
Like w/ anything anyone tells me "I believe it when I see it!!" BUT that night kicked soooooo much ass!!
