It's hard to believe it was 1989 when Warrant first blazed onto the worldwide scene with the multi platinum selling "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich". 1 and 1/2 years and 300 shows later the band released the 3million selling "Cherry Pie" album, spawning the worldwide smash singles "Cherry Pie" and "I Saw Red". Worldwide tours, lots of blood, sweat and beers and another 200+ shows later, the band released what is considered by some to be their best and most underrated work, the heavier "Dog Eat Dog" album. What then followed was more than a decade of line up changes and a couple of CD releases which were not really the Warrant that many knew them as.
Then to the suprise of many, 2006 saw the return of the original Warrant line-up, minus former frontman Jani Lane, replaced by Black N Blue frontman, Jaime St.James. The totally kick-ass new album "Born Again" followed, seeing the band sounding stronger than ever, a definite album for the Warrant "diehards".
Just days away from heading out on the best part of a 2 month long summer tour in the USA, Warrant founding member and guitarist Erik Turner was kind enough to devote some of his time to having a chat about this, that and everything else!
ET: I remember getting off the plane at 6 am and being greeted by happy faces pushing wheel barrels filled with cold beer at the airport. The shows were packed and the audiences were great. Made a lady friend or two as well, which is always nice when your young and single ;-) For some reason I came home with a couple cracked ribs! We had a crazy time and who would have thought it would be our last time, Platinum record, Gold single, thousands of tickets sold. Go figure the music business?
Warrant is now legally allowed to drink in the USA as you’re over 21 years together now. Was there ever a time when you thought the band may have broken up for good?
ET: Not really, maybe we should have given the band a rest for awhile, but the machine has never stopped rolling. 19 straight years pretty much, out playing live shows. A bit crazy to think about it.
We do want to take the time to say thank you for Warrant’s music over the years, in particular “Dog Eat Dog” which is in our top 5 albums of all time. Obviously the music scene changed around this time, how did the time between “Dog Eat Dog” and “Ultraphobic” change the band?
ET: So much shit went down I could write a book on just those years, the little black book of bullshit. Jani quit, we lost our deal, got sued by Brokum, our manager Tom Hulett died, we all went BK, Jani came back, Joey quit, Steven got let go. We got a new record deal, James Kottak and Rick Steier join the band along with Dave White, divorces, drugs, arrests, getting ripped off, fights etc… fun times…Yeah right! We fucking survived some how.
Over the years, members have come and gone, but how did getting Joey Allen and Steven Sweet back as well as a new front man in Jaime St James lift the band?
ET: I tried to get Joey & Steven back in the band around 2001, Jerry, Obi our manager at the time, Steven, Joey & I all met and talked about getting the original line up back together, but when we talked to Jani about it he wasn’t into it to say the least. Jani quit again in Jan. 2004. I called Joey and he said he would come down and jam see how it feels, Steven said no thanks, Jaime who we have known for years from Black N Blue fame was into it. Mike Fasano from an earlier Warrant line up was in. We played one show with that line up and then Steven changed his mind and said he was interested in coming back. April 2004 we have four out of 5 original members and have been that way ever since. Almost 200 shows together and counting.
ET: Thanks for the nice words regarding Born Again! No anxiety, just a lot of music bursting out of our skin. It was like busting a nut again after 10 years! It felt great to write and record and create something that we are proud of. We gave birth to a new old school 80’s rock baby…
You’ve dabbled in producing a bit, working with such bands as “The Things” as well as producing your own material and Warrant’s newer work. Have you gotten any tips from producer mate Butch Walker? Also, how does being behind the scenes differ from actually playing in the studio?
ET: I co produced the THINGS with my good friend Tommy Thayer, cool CD and Band. I have no plans on producing any projects at this time. Butch has been very successful, because he has tremendous talent and just as much drive and energy to go with it. Check out our DVD for footage of us in the studio … Shameless plug!
ET: Thanks Dude! I don’t paint anymore, I will again if I ever get inspired…or really fucking high…Ha Ha! I spend my time writing music, playing Warrant Music live, golfing and hanging with the family & friends…enjoying good spirits and great food.
Golf seems to be a big hobby of yours, what handicap are you playing off at the moment? Are you beating Dixon?
ET: Sometimes I win ;-) I got my handicap down to a 9 for awhile. I’m probably closer to a 13 right now. I got lazy and stopped tracking my scores. We play match play a lot for $ and drinks. That’s how I measure my game now. How many drinks am I buying?
ET: milftonrock.com ! ErikTurner.com! You can check some links on my site. The website stuff I do now is mostly updating sites. PGATour.com is a must for me. WarrantRocks.com ;-)
Warrant fans have been known to be pretty hardcore. How do you feel when you meet fans that have Warrant tattoos? Now be nice, I have one ha ha!
ET: I love it, I think it’s awesome! Keep the tattoo ink flowing Warrant fans!
ET: I love writing with other people and creating something from nothing that will last forever! People might not be listening, but its there … Ha! I’m good with guitar riffs and titles. I need a good lyric and melody person to take my ideas to the next level. When you finish a new song and recorded it and it turns out cool you get a buzz from it, at least I do.
ET: It’s a very catchy, fun, high energy song about sex. Sounds like a timeless hit to me! The video turned out great for the time and strippers make $ off the song too…Now that is America! We have played the song about 1000 times so far live, according to my calculations ;-)
In 3 words, it’d be cool if you gave us your thoughts on the Warrant albums:
Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich: First everything successful
Cherry Pie: Second everything successful
Dog Eat Dog: The Heavy Warrant
Ultraphobic: Not really Warrant
Belly to Belly Volume 1: Warrant tries Grunge
Warrant Live 86 – 97: Not too bad
Greatest and Latest: New and different
Under the Influence: Very cool songs
Born Again: Kick Ass Rock
You have a bunch of shows coming up on the horizon, so no doubt there's been lots of talk on setlists. If you could add 1 track from your extensive back catalogue into your live set that you’ve been dying to play for years, what would it be?
ET: I’m not dying to play this song, but would like to add it to the set list for awhile; Cold Sweat. That is vintage Warrant in my humble opinion.
ET: You guys are fucking Die Hard rock fans! How about a kangaroo with some vodka in its pouch?
ET: Thanks for the good questions. Well kids, I hope we all learned something today? What that is…I have know fucking idea ;-) If you read this whole interview till the end you will be blessed with eternal confusion and happiness!
"Imagination gives you the picture. Vision gives you the impulse to make the picture your own."
Robert Collier
Be sure to drop on by the following links for everything else Erik Turner and Warrant!
_files/shapeimage_3_link_0.png)
_files/shapeimage_4_link_0.png)