HEAVY Rotation: Warrant’s “Cherry Pie”

To most, Warrant is a one-hit wonder like so many ‘80s Sunset Strip glam bands, but despite other hit singles, their innuendo-riddled “Cherry Pie” is the song the band will most be remembered for.

As the story goes, lead singer Jani Lane received a phone call from Columbia Records president Don Ienner leading up to the release of their then-untitled sophomore album. Ienner wanted a rock anthem a la Aerosmith’s “Love in an Elevator” to be on the record–something that would get copious amounts of radio airplay. Within fifteen minutes, Lane had written the lyrics to Warrant’s most well-known single–on a pizza box. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Charts and the album of the same name went double-platinum.

But with mainstream success came accusations of selling out. That three-and-a-half minute song overhauled the marketing of their second album and overshadowed other singles like “Heaven” and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

I could shoot myself in the f**king head for writing that song. Jani Lane VH1’s HEAVY (2006)

Members of the band didn’t even think it was their best music. In an interview with the VH1 rock doc, HEAVY: The Story of Metal, Lane expressed deep regret for penning the track and giving it to Columbia.

“All of a sudden, the album’s called Cherry Pie, the record’s called Cherry Pie, I’m doing cherry pie-eating contests, the singles ‘Cherry Pie,'” he said. “I could shoot myself in the f**king head for writing that song.”

He later clarified that the producers had caught him on a bad day, but it seems Lane may still have had some resentment for one smash hit almost negating everything else that they ever recorded.

With the recent passing of Lane, hopefully more people will be introduced to Warrant’s music–not just a slice of “Cherry Pie.”

Rest in Peace
Jani Lane
February 1, 1964 ~ August 11, 2011

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Lived Fast & Died Young: The 27 Club

In the wake of Amy Winehouse’s untimely death, fans have noticed that the English singer died at the age of 27. Historically, many famous and legendary rockstars have died at 27, creating a sort of superstition about posthumous musical success.

Select Members of the 27 Club:

Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones ~ February 28, 1942 – July 3, 1969 (accidental drowning)

Alan Wilson, Canned Heat ~ July 4, 1943 – September 3, 1970 (drug overdose)

Jimi Hendrix, The Jimi Hendrix Experience ~ November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970 (asphyxiation on vomit)

Janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company ~ January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970 (heroin overdose)

Jim Morrison, The Doors ~ December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971 (cause of death unknown)

Dave Alexander, The Stooges ~ June 3, 1947 – February 10, 1975 (pulmonary edema)

Kurt Cobain, Nirvana ~ February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994 (purported suicide)

Others Who Died Young:

‘50s

Buddy Holly ~ September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959 (22, airplane crash)

Ritchie Valens ~ May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959 (17, airplane crash)

The Big Bopper ~ October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959 (28, airplane crash)

‘70s

Duane Allman, The Allman Brothers Band ~ November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971 (24, motorcycle accident)

Cass Elliot, The Mamas & The Papas ~ September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974 (32, heart attack)

Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977 (28, airplane crash)

Steve Gaines, Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ September 14, 1949 – October 20, 1977 (28, airplane crash)

Cassie Gaines, Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ January 9, 1948 – October 20, 1977 (29, airplane crash)

Keith Moon, The Who ~ August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978 (32, prescription medication overdose)

Sid Vicious, Sex Pistols ~ May 10, 1957 – February 2, 1979 (21, heroin overdose)

’80s

Bon Scott, AC/DC ~ July 9, 1946 – February 19, 1980 (33, asphyxiation on vomit)

John Bonham, Led Zeppelin ~ May 31, 1948 – September 25, 1980 (32, asphyxiation on vomit)

Bob Marley, Bob Marley & The Wailers ~ February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981 (36, melanoma)

Randy Rhoads, Ozzy Osbourne (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982 (25, airplane crash)

Karen Carpenter, The Carpenters ~ March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983 (32, heart failure)

Razzle, Hanoi Rocks ~ December 2, 1960 – December 9, 1984 (24, car accident)

Cliff Burton, Metallica ~ February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986 (24, tour bus accident)

Hillel Slovak, Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988 (26, heroin overdose)

‘90s

Bradley Nowell, Sublime ~ February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996 (28, heroin overdose)

Jeff Buckley ~ November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997 (30, accidental drowning)

Hide, X Japan ~ December 13, 1964 – May 2, 1998 (33, purported suicide)

’00s

Dimebag Darrell, Pantera/Damageplan ~ August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004 (38, shot onstage)

A memorable memorial

It was a funeral fit for the King of Pop.

At the public memorial service for Michael Jackson, a select 17,500 people filled the Staples Center in Los Angeles while an estimated worldwide audience of one billion watched at home.

The memorial was broadcast worldwide by CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and CBC, as well as many other networks such as MTV and VH1. Before the memorial, CNN showed dozens of satellite trucks parked outside the Staples Center.

A handful of musicians, actors and athletes took the stage to pay their respects, including Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Reverend Al Sharpton.

Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson all performed songs in tribute to Jackson. Partway through the service, a montage of his accomplishments was shown with footage of him performing, accepting awards and clips from his music videos.

It also showed him making newspaper headlines and on the cover of tabloid magazines through the years, a brief reminder of the controversies surrounding his private life.

The Jackson family was on-hand to attend. Brothers Jermaine and Marlon Jackson each spoke at the funeral while fans wept, but it was Michael Jackson’s daughter who gave the most heartfelt speech an 11 year-old should never have to make.

“Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” said Paris Katherine Jackson through tears.

“I love him so much.”