My own little tribute to Jani Lane (RIP)

As I waited for Puffing Billy to arrive at Emerald Station to pick up my little family and I to take us back to Belgrave Station, [the train station that takes you back to Melbourne], I had a quick look at my Facebook wall and rolled past a post by my friend Lea.

It was a Warrant clip and some words about leaving us too soon. I instantly knew it that Jani Lane had passed away.

A text message to my friend Peter of I Heart Guitar and his death was confirmed.

My heart filled with sadness and my head was confused as I was having a wonderful day out of Melbourne with my family as I mourned the passing of a fragment of my teenage years.

Now, I have to be honest, aside from 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich' and 'Cherry Pie', I did'nt follow the band until present day. I was one of the many people that was part of the mass migration from hard rock/glam/heavy metal to Grunge upon listening to Nirvana and Soundgarden

In 1988, I saw 'Down Boys' on MTV Australia and immediately loved the song, I telephoned my friend Jodii and we planned a trip to Metal For Melbourne to buy their album.

My friends and I went to see Warrant play when they toured and we hung out infront their hotel in hope of meeting them. From memory, I did'nt meet Warrant, but I snapped photos of them as they rushed in and out of taxi's as some of us screamed "Jerry!", "Erik!" and "Jani!".

I still listen to the two aforementioned records to this day and everytime I do, I remember a life that was innocent and carefree. We live in a society that is obsessed with looking young, but as I reflect on my wonderful teenage years, no amount of Botox can ever make you BE young.

For me personally, Jani's tragic passing is sad firstly because his children, loved ones and family will live with the pain of losing him for the rest of their lives and for me, one of the voices of my youth went before I could Tweet him and say, "hey, you're awesome and we still love your music, regardless of the fact you're no longer Warrant's front man".

If you're troubled and feel like you don't have anyone to talk to, contact your GP or Beyond Blue.

And to my old friends that are reading this blog post, remember how many times we quoted this? "Call me crazy, call me insane, call me Jani, fuckin' Lane!".

Bestest early Birthday Present ever!

As some of you may know, I have been on the search for frankie magazine issue # 2 for quite some time now.

Well, on Saturday my wish came true. My pal Eddie gave his mint condition copy to me as an early birthday present, and it took alot of self control not to jump up and down like a person who has scored front row Bon Jovi tickets.

I think aside from the fact that Ed is a generous person, it may also my magazine karma.

You see, about 3 months ago, I gave my friend Pete of i heart guitar my treasured copy of Guitar World, featuring a very young and spunky Steve Vai on the front. I had the magazine since I was 15 or 16 years old, which makes the issue "vintage".

As Pete lives and breathes guitar - and is also a huge Steve Vai fan, I felt that the time had come to pass it on.

So if you have a collectable, or something that you have been hoarding for a long time, and you think that someone you know may appreciate more than you do, wrap it up and give it to them...as you don't know what collectable karma will come to you!

Some of you will know Steve Vai from this David Lee Roth music video: