Formed in 1984, the group endured several line-up changes and soul-searching before coalescing around vocalist Jani Lane, guitarist Erik Turner, guitarist Joey Allen, bassist Jerry Dixon, and drummer Steven Sweet. In January 1988, Warrant signed a contract with Columbia Records. They then released their debut album, which they titled 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich'. Although coming in at the tail end of the 80s pop metal boom, their tuneful rock brought them some critical and commercial acclaim, the album reaching the #10 slot on the Billboard 200 top albums chart.
The band's second record, 'Cherry Pie', was released in March 1990, and spawned the hits "Cherry Pie", "Uncle Tom's Cabin", and "I Saw Red". It reached the Top Ten in the United States, and went on to sell over three million copies. The group found the title song, written by the band under studio pressure with the lyrics literally composed on a pizza box, a 'throw-away' type tune, giving them a commercial breakthrough. Yet their other tracks showed a desire to branch out into diverse subject matter and styles. For example, their southern rock inspired track "Uncle Tom's Cabin" alludes to the famous 1852 novel on racial divisions and features lyrics discussing shocking, covered-up murders while power ballad "Bed of Roses" discusses a romance beset by poverty and struggles reminiscent of Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer".
Through riding high after their multi-platinum success and passionate touring, the band found itself in the middle of the rise of alternative music in the early 90s. In 1992, Warrant released 'Dog Eat Dog'. The record, an attempt by the band to evolve in the face of changing musical trends, received some critical acclaim but achieved only moderate commercial success. Single "Machine Gun", the title alone showing the change in direction, still managed to reach the top 40 rock charts.
After this, the band would begin a long string of member changes, including even singer Jani Lane leaving the band briefly. Lane achieved some small success producing work without the group, doing some covers of other hard rock and metal bands. He would then return before the band released 'Ultraphobic' in 1995 and 'Belly to Belly, Vol. 1' in 1998. These were released on a smaller label and featured a new darker sound. Neither album would remotely come close to the success of the earlier albums. A live album and an album of re-recorded classic tracks as well as an all-covers disc, titled 'Under the Influence', followed these.
Jani Lane would once again leave the band in 2004. Ironically, all the other original members would return to the band the same year. Vocalist Jaime St. James, known for serving as the frontman of Black 'n Blue, would take over as singer. In 2006, Warrant released 'Born Again', which was their first album to not have Lane on vocals.
On March 4, 2008, Warrant announced that Lane had returned to the band. Lane toured with the band through 2008, but he left the band once again soon after. On August 11, 2011, Lane was found dead in a hotel room in Woodland Hills, California. He was 47, and condolences poured in from hard rock fans.
There is another band with the same name:
2) Warrant is, secondly, the name of an 80s-era Speed Metal band from Germany. This Warrant was formed in 1983 in Düsseldorf and has featured an aggressive heavy metal sound akin to contemporaries Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. The band's original line-up was Jörg Juraschek (vocals and bass), Thomas Klein (guitar) and Lothar Wieners (drums). Oliver May (guitar) followed shortly afterwards.
In early 1985, Warrant released the EP 'First Strike', and they soon also released 'The Enforcer'. They went on tour with Warlock later that year. The band sadly split up not too long later, with Juraschek and May going on to form Punchline while Wieners formed Monroxe.
In 1999, the band (with Jörg and Oliver) briefly reunited and recorded two new songs. Both of Warrant's albums were reissued on a single disc in 2000, with those new tracks included. In 2010, 'First Strike' and 'The Enforcer' were re-released, this meaning new artwork as well as the inclusion of some some live recordings.
The band also notably performed several live shows with Necronomicon and starred in some music festivals. In August 2010, they signed a deal with PSR. Fans rejoiced as the group had new life breathed into it.
D.R.F.S.R.
Warrant Lyrics
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Italian cars as long as my street
I'm gonna wear exotic animals
On my feet
Pretty rocks on my fingers
Pretty bells on my toes
Lots of caviar for my mouth
Maybe I'll even pierce my nose
BRIDGE
Give me, give me just half a chance
to lead you in this corporate dance
And I'll be dirty rotten filthy $tinking rich
Hu Huu Ha Huu Ho Huu
Sign it all in the palm of my hand
Nothing gonna get in the way
Do you understand
I got a house
I got a jet
I got a Rolls Royce painted blue
The only thing that's left
Is for me to own you too
BRIDGE
I'm gonna have more money than you have ever seen
Baby I just want all the frills
I'm gonna insluate my body in green (mee too)
I'm going to light my cigarettes with $100 bills
BRIDGE
Give me give me just half a chance
To take you on a hopeless romance
And I'll be
Dirty rotten fithy $tinking rich
I told you what I want
I want bank accounts
And I want cd's
I want early term roll overs
I want everything!
The lyrics of Warrant's song D.R.F.S.R. present a critical view of the materialistic and capitalist culture of the 1980s. The song is a portrayal of excessive wealth and the desire for opulence that grips society, with the lyrics coming across as a somewhat satirical commentary on the pursuit of riches. The chorus particularly emphasizes the unrelenting desire to chase financial success, regardless of the consequences: "Dirty rotten filthy stinking rich" is chanted repeatedly, reflecting the obsession with wealth that grips the song's narrator.
The lyrics draw attention to the material possessions that people of wealth acquire, specifically jewelry, cars, and exotic animals. The desire for these status symbols is paired with an apparent disregard for the environment and animal cruelty. The line "I'm gonna wear exotic animals on my feet" highlights the callousness and disdain with which people treat nature for their own personal gain.
Ultimately, the song is a critique of capitalism and consumerism, presenting a satirical and cynical view of the culture of the time. It highlights the ways in which the pursuit of wealth can lead individuals to neglect ethical responsibility and ignore the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Dirty rotten filthy $tinking rich
I want to be rich beyond comprehension, even if I have to do unethical things to get there.
Italian cars as long as my street
I want to have all the material possessions that signify wealth, regardless of the actual practicality or cost.
I'm gonna wear exotic animals
On my feet
I am so wealthy that I can afford to flaunt animal cruelty by wearing endangered, exotic animals as shoes.
Pretty rocks on my fingers
Pretty bells on my toes
Lots of caviar for my mouth
Maybe I'll even pierce my nose
I will spare no expense to adorn myself in the finest jewels and food just for the sake of ostentatious displays of wealth.
Give me, give me just half a chance
to lead you in this corporate dance
And I'll be dirty rotten filthy $tinking rich
Hu Huu Ha Huu Ho Huu
I will do whatever it takes to climb the corporate ladder and become ultra-rich, and I want to recruit others to help me achieve this.
Sign it all in the palm of my hand
Nothing gonna get in the way
Do you understand
I will use my influence and money to control everything and everyone, and no one will be able to stop me.
I got a house
I got a jet
I got a Rolls Royce painted blue
The only thing that's left
Is for me to own you too
I already have everything I could possibly want, so now I want to possess other people as well.
I'm gonna have more money than you have ever seen
Baby I just want all the frills
I'm gonna insluate my body in green (mee too)
I'm going to light my cigarettes with $100 bills
I want to have more money than anyone else, so much that I can afford to burn $100 bills for fun and wear green bills as clothing just to show off.
Give me give me just half a chance
To take you on a hopeless romance
And I'll be
Dirty rotten fithy $tinking rich
I am so enamored by money that I believe even love and romance are just tools to help me become rich.
I told you what I want
I want bank accounts
And I want cd's
I want early term roll overs
I want everything!
I am willing to do anything and demand everything to accumulate wealth, even if I don't understand all the financial jargon involved.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIK TURNER, J. LANE, JERRY DIXON, JOEY ALLEN, STEVEN SWEET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind