Classic Rock Revisited founer recently caught up with Warrant vocalist Robert Mason, who discussed replacing founding singer Jani Lane and being asked to joing Ratt many years ago. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

Jeb: Did you think you would still be a member of Warrant in 2016 or did you think you would just come in and fill in and then go do your own thing?

Robert: "Wow, that is an awfully good question.  It is a little bit of a tough one." 

Jeb: That situation had to have all rolled around in your head...

Robert: "Not to dodge this or cop-out, but you do think of every possibility and everything that could happen.  It wasn’t born out of paranoia for me, but… I had that twinge… I will be honest with you.  I don’t think I’ve said this to anybody.  I had that minute of, 'Okay, Lane really needs to get himself together.  If he does that, then he belongs in this band.' 

Boys and girls out there in Internet land… in the background we are listening to Ratt right now playing before we go on.  There was a time when Stephen (Pearcy) had quit Ratt and Bob (Blotzer) and Warren (DeMartini) put the pressure on me pretty hard to replace Stephen, and I told them ‘no’. I love those guys… I really do.  I really do like them all.  That is just Bobby out there right now… We get along great… now.  When I said 'no' to them I told them to go get their singer back because he was right for Ratt.  I was not the right singer for that band. 

I had another thing I was trying to do at the time.  I had a different project and I was writing and doing sessions and doing work for hire stuff, too.  I said no to them and in retrospect I think they know I’m right.  They were pissed at me for a couple of years.  As much as I really like Ratt - I’m a fan - it was not right for me.  I am a Warrant fan, too, in a lot of ways.

We were playing last year in Atlanta and Lynch Mob was opening for us.  Joey Allen and I were standing behind the stage and George was on stage right. George Lynch is the reason my left ear doesn’t work as well as my right one today.  He used to set up on stage left so I have no idea why he setting up on stage right now.  Anyway, we were standing behind his backline watching him.  I looked at Joey and I said, 'Dude, are you thinking what I am thinking right now?  I used to go sing these songs and then go eat dinner and watch you guys sing the songs that I sing now.'  Isn’t life weird?  It is a fortunate set of circumstances for all of us." 

Go to this location for the complete interview

Warrant posted the following video on August 11th in honour of late vocalist Jani Lane:

"Sadly we lost our rock brother 5 years ago today- way too soon. He will live on through songs! Thank you Rockaholics for your dedication and support for the love of music! Enjoy and look for the good in everyday. If you have a bad day... roll down the windows and crank up the music....here is a cool slide show , dedicated to Jani...play it loud and proud! Peace!"

In 2011, the rock world lost an incredibly gifted singer and songwriter, a man whose voice reverberated around the world on such blockbuster hits as “Cherry Pie”, “Down Boys”, “Sometimes She Cries”, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, and the unforgettable ballad “Heaven”.

Jani Lane joined Warrant in 1985, and together the band lit up the L.A. club circuit, becoming an international sensation with multi-platinum albums and an adoring fanbase. Always a music lover at heart, after Lane left Warrant in 2004, he continued to write and record, often paying homage to some of his musical heroes by participating in tribute projects to Cheap Trick, Judas Priest and others.

Now a new CD compilation collects some of these superb solo performances in one convenient package and for the first time ever on vinyl. Catch A Falling Star, which includes Lane’s takes on UFO’s “Doctor, Doctor”, Def Leppard’s “Photograph” and Bon Jovi’s epic “Lay Your Hands On Me”, will be released on February 26th via Deadline Music.

In addition to guest appearances by two of Lane’s bandmates, guitarist Erik Turner and bassist Jerry Dixon, Catch A Falling Star includes liner notes by former Warrant drummer Bobby Borg who shares his personal recollections of Lane.

There is “no better tribute to Lane than a collection of covers,” Borg writes, “Those who saw Warrant perform live know that Lane loved to mix cover songs into the show… songs by The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Joe Walsh, Queen, and other artists throughout our live sets. (I loved that about the band).”

Speaking of Lane’s distinctive vocal style, Borg writes, “Lane was able to convey the subject matter of a song emotionally - whether soft and heartfelt or loud and aggressive - while always maintaining a certain charm as if he were grinning warmly.”

This collection is the perfect way to remember both the man and immense musical gifts, and is sure to leave a warm grin on the face of his fans everywhere.

Tracklisting:

“I Want You To Want Me” feat. Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper / Slash’s Snakepit)
“Panama”
“Photograph”
“The Ocean”
“Doctor, Doctor”
“Electric Eye”
“Free For All” feat. Jake E. Lee
“No Surprise” feat. Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.)
“Lay Your Hands On Me” feat. Erik Turner & Jerry Dixon (Warrant)

Buy the CD here, and the LP here.