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Singer for heavy rock band 'Warrant' found dead in motel room

47-year-old Jani Lane had previous scrapes with alcohol

The former lead singer for the heavy rock band, Warrant, Jani Lane was found dead in a Los Angeles motel room. Lane was 47 years old. His cause of death has not yet been released.

Jani Lane was the singer and songwriter for Warrant, whose two first albums -- 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich' in 1989 and 'Cherry Pie' in 1990 -- sold more than 2 million copies each.

Jani Lane was the singer and songwriter for Warrant, whose two first albums -- 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich' in 1989 and 'Cherry Pie' in 1990 -- sold more than 2 million copies each.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Lane's body was found at the Comfort Inn in Woodland Hills. He had a history of alcohol-related arrests. Lane was taken into custody in June 2009 for reportedly crashing into a parked car. He later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI and was put on probation for three years.

The following year, he was arrested for a similar incident that landed him in jail for 120 days.

Born John Kennedy Oswald, Lane also served as the lyricist and main songwriter for Warrant. He joined the band in 1986. Lane penned the band's best known single "Cherry Pie." A top 10 hit in 1990, Lane also wrote several other hits for the group, including "Heaven," "Down Boys" and "Sometimes She Cries" from their debut album, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich," and "I Saw Red" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" from the group's second album, "Cherry Pie."

Warrant's two first albums -- "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" in 1989 and "Cherry Pie" in 1990 -- sold more than 2 million copies each.

Lane had a stormy relationship with Warrant and left the band three times over the years, gone for good the last time in 2008.

Lane was featured on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club 2" in 2005 and last year toured with Great White, filling in for singer Jack Russell, who was recovering from surgery.

Authorities are still trying to determine why Lane was at a Woodland Hills motel when he died Thursday. Lane had a home in the South Bay, so it is unclear exactly why he was at the Ventura Boulevard motel. Alcohol and prescription drugs were found in the motel room, the sources said, but there was no indication Lane intentionally took his own life.

An autopsy will determine how the singer died, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner. Lane's body was found about 5:30 p.m. Thursday in a room at a Comfort Inn in the 20100 block of Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills.

"He was discovered unresponsive," Coroner's Deputy Chief Ed Winter said.

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Keywords: jani lane, Warrant, heavy metal, long hair, death under investigation

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