Warrant

Warrant

Warrant has recorded their first live record, Warrant '86-'97 featuring live versions of some of their biggest hits such as "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "Cherry Pie," "Heaven," and "Down Boys" along with material off all their previous albums. the album gives a great overview of the band's broad musical scope and evolvement over the past 11 years. Although Columbia did relese a greatest hits package last year, the band felt compelled to put out a live version of some of the same material. Without the support of radio and video airplay, live performances have become the only way to reach the public, so they felt that only a live album would really give a true representation of what Warrant is about.

Sometime in 1992, Warrant vocalist Jani Lane walked into the Columbia Records offices in Los Angeles, as he had many times over the years, (during that time the band had been one of Columbia's multi-platinum acts). Out of habit, his eyes went to the space on the wall by one of the secretary's desks where for years, a large framed poster of Warrant had hung. In its place was a large framed poster of Alice In Chains. "That was the moment I saw the proverbial writing on the wall," Lane recalls. "We were no longer a priority at the label, because there was a new movement coming and we didn't fit in." It was a frightening time for all of the members of Warrant, whose third record, "Dog Eat Dog" was just being released, and their fears turned out to be justified. "No one did anything to help," explains guitarist Erik Turner. "We couldn't get a decent tour, we couldn't get our videos on MTV, we couldn't get on the radio." Still the album did better than most people realize, having gone gold, but compared to the multi-platinum sales of the bands first two albums, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin' Rich," and "Cherry Pie," "Dog Eat Dog" was a let down.

The band's fifth album and second for CMC, is titled Warrant '96 - Belly To Belly and marks the group's debut as their own producers. "When we began writing for the record, we planned to have Beau produce this one as well," explains guitarist Rick Steier, "but the more we worked, the more the idea to do it all ourselves got stronger and stronger." With "Ultraphobic," Lane, Turner and Dixon were writing together as a unit for the first time, and Steier was new to the family. Now, however, Rick's creative position in the band has grown and along with new drummer Bobby Borg, the band is feeling like a unit more than ever before. "It's as if after four albums and eight years, we've finally found ourselves musically," says Lane. "So we wanted to produce our own record to make sure everything stays in our niche."
The band wasn't sure how the label was going to react to their request to self-produce, but CMC President, Tom Lipsky was especially receptive. "The whole idea behind CMC," explains Tom "is to create new opportunities for artists that have proven their ability to create and deliver successful music. Warrant is a band that has sold over 6 million records, and we believe, still has many more to sell. If I didn't believe in their talents, abilities and importance today, I wouldn't have signed them in the first place."

The wisdom of Lipsky's decision and the newfound musical maturity and self-confidence the members of Warrant are feeling is evident in the new album. Although "Ultraphobic" was important to bridging the gap for Warrant between the commercial pop sounds of their earlier records and the harder edged rhythms of their current sound, "Belly to Belly" should be the album that truly establishes Warrant as that timeless sort of rock and roll band whose musical appeal is not dictated by what else is out there. Songs like "Indian Giver," and "Feels Good" combine strong guitar riffs with Jani's signature, gentle vocals, and a rhythm that is somewhere between dance and rock. The blending of these elements offers the listener the best of both worlds - alternative, hard rock and dance, and the meshing of these sounds works well. Through all of the tunes, like the first single, "Feels Good," or the beautiful love ballad "All 4 U" (which is a duet) is that pop feel that historic Warrant fans will enjoy. The band remains true to themselves and their history while displaying their new maturity not only as songwriters, but as players, and now as producers as well.

"This is the first time I've finished a record and felt so satisfied from the creative side, that I already consider this a successful release," explains Lane. "If we have a hit commercially, all the better, but if we can continue to grow musically, I will want to do this for a long,long time to come."

http://www.rocknrollhell.com/warrant

http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=2815

http://www.marstalent.com/bio_warrant.htm