“Jani Lane was an amazing person first, and an amazing musician and songwriter second.” — Billy Morris
Metal Sludge — Gone but not forgotten.
Jani Lane, once among Rock’s brightest talents, died tragically in 2011, the former Warrant star singer found lifeless next to a bottle in a hotel room in Los Angeles.
His best friend, former Warrant and current Tuff guitarist Billy Morris, is keeping Lane’s memory alive May 20 in Cleveland with a special Jani Lane tribute show at Temple Live club.
Bobbie Brown, Lane’s former wife and the legendary star of Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” video, is co-hosting, with Morris’ solo band, Tuff and Medusa providing the entertainment.
This should be a good night in Ohio.
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METAL SLUDGE: How much are you looking forward to this Jani Lane event?
BILLY MORRIS: I am so looking forward to the performance part of the event. It’s a huge undertaking dealing with the venue – which is an amazing concert venue in Cleveland – is an old Masonic Temple turned into a concert place, which is amazing.
From flying in Bobbie Brown, Taylor Lane and Maddie Lane, to organizing the show with the opening bands, plus the crews.
But come showtime, that’s when the party begins.
METAL SLUDGE: Bobbie Brown has found God but before that found Jani Lane. Did Jani confide in you about his failed marriage?
MORRIS: No, Jani never did discuss his failed marriage with Bobbie. He was too busy discussing his failing marriage with Rowanne.
I actually watched him get so pissed off that he took off his wedding ring and threw it out the window of the bus while we’re driving down the road. I was shocked.
METAL SLUDGE: Speaking of Bobbie, how great was she on MTV videos? Best ever?
MORRIS: Bobbie was an absolute 80s hair metal video icon, the best at what she did.
All of her videos were great, but her iconic role in the “Cherry Pie” video will go down in Glam history.
Come on now, she’s the “Cherry Pie” girl. Rock Hall of Fame material.
METAL SLUDGE: What’s the best rock and roll food in the world?
MORRIS: The absolute best rock food comes off the Smoke and Rock ‘n Roll food truck. It’s the Judas Beef – melt in your mouth, slow cooked beef brisket. Quality you can taste. Created by none other than Todd Chassion. Cleveland’s rock and roll chef.
METAL SLUDGE: Compare your guitar style to Joey Allen and Erik Turner.
MORRIS: Well, the three of us have a lot of the same influences growing up, so I’d say we’re pretty much the same style.
The guitar playing on the early Warrant records was amazing. I know who played what and Joey’s guitar solos definitely rock. Much respect to Joey. I think he’s a beast on the guitar.
Also, I shared the stage with Erik Turner for many years playing those great songs. He will always be a brother to me. Much respect to Erik as well.
METAL SLUDGE: Give us three thoughts about Jani Lane.
1, To me Jani was the best of the late 80s Sunset Strip front men/songwriters. He knew how to run a party and that’s what he told me. It’s just a rock ‘n’ roll party, and he was the host.
He made people feel good and isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll really should be about?
2, One of the best songwriters of that era as well. He could write a killer, exciting rock ‘n’ roll song. And turn around and write a heart crushing ballad with great melodies and amazing vocal harmonies. He played all instruments and was an amazing drummer on top of everything.
3, He had a passion for food. We cooked so many meals together and he taught me a lot about food and cooking. Everything from a great cooked steak to a microwave truck-stop burrito!
Many times the tour bus would stop in the middle of the night at a truck-stop, and he would come back on the bus with the “bomb burrito” and open my bunk curtain and have me get up and enjoy some fine truck-stop cuisine.
METAL SLUDGE: Does this 23 year old guitarist kid have big shoes to fill in Tuff?
MORRIS: Dougie Manross?? Absolutely he does. Talent, work ethic, confidence– the kid has it all. Mark my words, Tuff will be a stepping stone for big things in the future.
He’ll be moving up to Bang Tango and beyond!
Read our Dougie Morris interview ‘THE NEW GENERATION … Dougie Manross talks to Metal Sludge about playing Guitar for TUFF this Summer‘
METAL SLUDGE: We both work with Stevie Rachelle – what’s your favorite Tuff song?
MORRIS: I love all of the heavy stuff like “Good Guys Wear Black,” “God Bless This Mess” and stuff like that. But my favorite song is “Put Out or Get Out,” which, ironically, we don’t play. Maybe I’ll make the power-play and require the band to play the song in the future!
METAL SLUDGE: What did Jani buy with the “32 Pennies”?
MORRIS: What can you really buy for 32 pennies? But this reminds me of a time when we were at Cleveland Browns Stadium, and he bought the entire row beers during a Browns game. It was a late night before and we’re both kind of hungover but we got up and endured a rainstorm and watched the Browns beat the Redskins, and he told me it was one of the happiest days of his life.
METAL SLUDGE: Do you ever visit the Rock Hall of Fame?
MORRIS: I’ve never actually been to the Rock Hall as a visitor. Being from Cleveland I’ve played there many times, and it’s pretty cool to know that the term rock ‘n’ roll was coined in your hometown, and I get to go up on that stage and play music. Especially the great songs Jani wrote.
METAL SLUDGE: Final thoughts?
I would just like to keep the memory of Jani Lane alive. He made my rock dreams come true by asking me to join Warrant.
It was the band I wanted to be in, and we did some pretty cool things together. Jani was an amazing person first, and an amazing musician and songwriter second. So many good things to talk about him. We all miss him so much.
Billy Morris @ WebSite – Facebook – Twitter – Twitter 2 – Smokin’ Rock N’ Roll – Audio Bay Studios
Reach Gerry Gittelson at gerryg123@hotmail.com.
