‘That Metal Show’ Recap: Jani Lane Appears in Final Major TV Interview
It was the 69th episode of 'That Metal Show' and it was teeming with '80s legends like the late Jani Lane, Faster Pussycat's Taime Downe and Stryper's Michael Sweet. In normal circumstances, these guests, who celebrated and recalled the Sunset Strip, would remind fans and viewers of the '80s glam rock heyday, but given Lane's untimely passing on Aug. 11, it was a bittersweet and unintentional farewell to the former Warrant singer. The episode was originally slated to air later in the season, but was bumped up after Lane died unexpectedly. Two of the show three hosts --Don Jamieson and Eddie Trunk-- even taped an additional segment addressing that very issue.
Lane's interview was sandwiched between Sweet's and Downe's segments. With his platinum shock of spiky hair, he looked healthy and spoke lucidly about his struggles with substance abuse and how he handles himself on the road. "It's about acceptance and understanding your position and what you can and can't do," the singer said.
Lane also revealed that he avoided the temptations of the road because he wanted to put the show and the fans first, saying, "The audience is going to get the best bang for their buck because they deserve it. I try and put myself at as little risk as possible." Lane's words were dripping with poignancy after the fact.
He also spoke about filling in for Great White and his feelings about Warrant soldiering on without him, admitting that "seeing them perform without me on stage is a mixed bag, but I was happy it was done well." He sounded like a man coming to peace with the way his professional life had gone.
Lane didn't deny the issues that surrounded his relationships with the remaining members of Warrant and beyond, acknowledging, "There is a lot of water under the bridge, but hopefully, there is nothing bad said on their part or my part. I hope they do well. I am moving in my own direction. I am writing, writing, writing. I have over an album's worth of music for myself. We'll see what happens."
Once again, a statement that has an extra element of sadness to it.
Stryper's Sweet talked about his Bible-throwing band playing with Slayer, and recalled the '80s Sunset Strip scene, hanging out with Stephen Pearcy of Ratt when the Strip was the hottest thing in Hollywood.
Downe was labeled the "Mayor of the Sunset Strip," and he joked if he did have that role, one of his first orders of business would be to bring back the Strip and make it "dirty" again, when full-page fliers papered the scene and the Internet didn't exist.
Fans of the '80s glam scene and of Jani Lane were easily touched by this episode of 'That Metal Show.'