Simon Rushworth
Warrant – Heaven (Oswald, Cagle, Dixon, Chamberlain, Turner) b/w In The Sticks (Oswald, Cagle, Dixon, Chamberlain, Turner) 1988
This chart busting power ballad came along before the rest of the world switched onto Warrant in the shape of their anthemic Cherry Pie.
But the slick production, soaring guitar solo and understated keyboard hook suggested these boys were destined for greatness in an era when style often overshadowed substance.
Issued in the UK as a limited edition poster bag it’s not difficult to imagine the iconic Jani Lane and co. adorning the walls of 80s permed teenage girls (and boys…) everywhere.
There’s little doubt Warrant had the ‘look’ to make it big in the MTV era and they did when Cherry Pie, the title track to their second major label album, took off.
But it was songs like Heaven, from the outstanding Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, which earned the LA crew shows with the likes of Motley Crue, Queensryche, Paul Stanley and Cinderella.
When Lane left the band it was never quite the same but 2006’s Born Again suggested there was plenty of life in the old dog yet. We’d like to think there still is as these guys were true heroes of the hair metal scene.