One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Warrant Frontman Jani Lane Died of Alcohol Poisoning, Coroner Confirms
Rocker Jani Lane in recent years
The Los Angeles County Coroner's office has confirmed that alcohol poisoning caused the death of Jani Lane, lead singer for the hair band Warrant. Lane, 47, was found dead in August inside a room at the Comfort Inn in Woodland Hills.
The medical term for what killed Lane is "acute ethanol intoxication," says the coroner's office.
Lane, nee John Kennedy Oswald, changed his name in the early 1980s and moved to L.A. where he formed Warrant. He left the band in 2004, and though he returned briefly, had focused on his solo work and other endeavors since 2008. He struggled with addiction for most of his adult life.
Lane left behind his third wife, and four kids.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
