WOODLAND HILLS—An investigation into what killed former lead singer of the rock band Warrant has determined that the rocker succumbed to alcohol poisoning. Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner’s office concluded the singer suffered from “acute ethanol poisoning” when his body was found in a Woodland Hills Comfort Inn motel on August 11.

Jani Lane, born John Kennedy Oswald in February of 1964, was most known for his work with heavy metal group Warrant which he joined in 1986, two years after its formation. As lyricist and songwriter, Lane wrote numerous songs for the group, several of them becoming Top 40 singles, including “Cherry Pie,” “Heaven,” and “I Saw Red,” among others.

Lane had a long history of battling alcoholism and of alcohol-related arrests. Vicky Oswald-Ley, Lane’s sister, believes that the death of their mother seven years ago greatly influenced his addiction saying, “She would always talk him into going into rehab and hospitals,” she continued saying, “I think when she passed, that desire to stay healthy died too.”

In an interview given in June of 2010, Lane commented on his problems with alcohol and the toll it took on his career, he said, “The last year, I’ve suffered some consequences from drinking that I’ve never suffered in my entire life. It’s really made me take a step and go, ‘Is this how you want to continue? Is this how you want to finish up?’ The answer is no.”

In July of 2010, the singer pled no contest to DUI resulting from his arrest two months prior, serving 120 days in jail. Lane’s license was also revoked for three years and he was ordered to take a 30 month alcohol-education program. Prior to serving his sentence, the rocker issued a statement stating in part, “My true hope is that anyone out there dealing with personal problems… the consequences do not get lighter. I can only say I’ve never regretted a good decision or action and never been proud of the bad ones. People have an astounding ability to forgive… I have to start with forgiving myself. That is something that I find far more difficult than I imagined. I think it starts with gratitude.”

Lane is survived by his wife, Kimberly; a brother, Eric; three sisters, Marcine Williams, Michelle Robinson and Victoria Oswald; a daughter from his first marriage, Taylar Lane; a daughter from his second marriage, Madison Lane; and two stepdaughters, Ryan and Brittany.

Photograph is courtesy of Jon Hilton