Jani's
BIO
I was born on the north coast of America.. Well, almost. Akron, Ohio to be exact. February 1st, 1964. The name on my birth certificate reads 'John Kennedy Oswald', but my parents had to change my middle name to Patrick due to numerous complaints. I grew up in Brimfield, OH, and attended Hoban and Field high schools. I played all sports, loved theatre (summer stock & school plays) and excelled at making girls run screaming in the opposite direction. That was until I started playing in a band!
I've played drums from the age of six, guitar from 13, and I've sung my whole life. I love playing anything I can get my hands on, but what I really dig is writing songs. Since the day I wrote my first one, I've been hooked! Check some of the hundreds of songs I've written in my discography section.
I started playing out in clubs at the tender age of 11. Chaperoned by my suprisingly supportive parents of course. By 15 I was making a living at it. I'll never forget the bouncer at the local rock bar saying "You little fucker!" when he saw my I.D. on my 18th birthday. I graduated and moved to Florida. That lasted 2 years before the siren call of LA LA land was too much to take. My friend in LA had a gorgeous girlfriend, and he kept saying that she was the worst looking one in her whole group of friends. Needless to say, I had to see it to believe it.
I moved to LA in 85' and joined a band called Plane Jane. I was spelling Johnny like "Jani", but everyone pronounced it like "Jay-nee", so I went with it! Shortly thereafter, Plain Jane broke up, but during that time I wrote 'Down Boys', 'Heaven', 'Sad Theresa' & 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin Rich', among many others. It was then that I got an invitation to a rehearsal. The band was called Warrant, and the bass player Jerry was very persuasive. They also wanted Steven Sweet, my roommate fellow Ohioan and drummer. It was a match made in heaven, purgatory and hell, depending on where and when you caught us. We overdid everything. We were like Dennis Rodman at a half-off Victorias Secret sale! We also sold a lot of records. (about 10 million). And to think, all I wanted was to be on the radio once! We played with just about every rock band under the sun, from Alice in Chains to Zeppelin. (Page & Plant).
I have two gorgeous daughters, Madison 8, and Taylar, who is 13. I keep my platinum records stored in two suitcases. I've been nominated for Grammys, AMA's, VMA's etc, (but never won). My legacy is my songwriting. My songs make my world spin round! Like a record baby!
Listen, you know my history, (hot girls, rock & roll, chaos...) Buckle up and forge ahead. You might learn something you didn't know, or maybe you'll run screaming too! - Jani
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