Warrant was formed in Los Angeles by guitarist Erik Turner in July 1984. Turner was soon joined by bassist Jerry Dixon replacing Chris Vincent who was in the band for a few months before Dixon joined. The band's early members included vocalist Adam Shore, guitarist Josh Lewis, and drummer Max Asher. Vocalist Jani Lane and drummer Steven "Sweet" Chamberlin joined the band in September 1986, and guitarist Joey Allen completed the line-up in March 1987. The recruitment of Lane proved pivotal in the band's future, with the singer quickly assuming the role of Warrant's song writer.

In January 1988 Warrant signed a contract with Columbia Records and soon began recording their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. It was a significant success, spawning 3 hits: the #2 power ballads "Heaven" and "Sometimes She Cries", and the rock anthem "Down Boys".

Shortly following the release of the album, Warrant toured with Paul Stanley, Queensryche, Cinderella, Poison, Mötley Crüe and Kingdom Come.

The band's second album, Cherry Pie, was released in September 1990, and featured guest appearances by Poison's C.C. DeVille, Danger Danger's Bruno Ravel and Steve West, and Fiona. The album, which spawned the hits "Cherry Pie", "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "I Saw Red", reached the Top Ten in the United States, and went on to sell 3 million copies. The record's title track, only included on the album as a result of record company pressure, received strong exposure on MTV and became the band's most successful single.

The release of "Cherry Pie" was followed by a tour with the band Poison, which ended in January 1991 after a conflict between the two bands over stage room.

The band's European tour with David Lee Roth was cut short after Lane fractured several ribs in a stage dive in England. Warrant soon continued touring, however, performing headlining shows in America on their 'Blood, Sweat And Beers' tour, supported by FireHouse and Trixter.

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The 1990s were characterised by frequent changes to the band's line-up. In 1992, Warrant released Dog Eat Dog. The record, an attempt by the band to make an album that they liked, rather than an album that they were told to make, received critical acclaim but achieved only moderate commercial success, but still selling over 500,000 copies. Ironically, while the record suffered poor sales performance in America, the band finally snared a European touring slot, playing a number of shows on the "Monsters Of Rock" festival, headlined by Iron Maiden.

Later that year, vocalist Lane temporarily left the band, which was then dropped by Columbia, following the arrival of grunge and the death of Warrant's long-time manager Tom Hulet. In May 1994, guitarist Allen left Warrant and was followed by drummer Sweet in the following month. In November 1994, Rick Steier replaced Allen on guitar and James Kottak replaced Sweet on drums. Lane returned to the band and a new record deal was signed with Tom Lipsky of CMC Records in September 1994. A Japanese deal was signed with Pony Canyon Records at the same time. Ultraphobic, released in March 1995, was even less successful than Dog Eat Dog.

Drummer Kottak left the band in March 1996 and was replaced by Bobby Borg, formerly of Beggars & Thieves, Left For Dead, and Opinion. Belly to Belly was released in July 1996 in Japan and October 1996 in the United States. In October 1997, drummer Borg left the band, and was briefly replaced by touring drummer Vik Foxx, who was himself replaced by Danny Wagner a.k.a. Mitch Dynomite in September 1998.

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The band was featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour in 1998 and 2003. Guitarist Steier and drummer Dynomite left the band in January 2000. Keri Kelli replaced Steier on guitars and Mike Fasano replaced Dynomite (Wagner) on drums. Keri Kelli and Mike Fasano had previously played together in Dad's Porno Mag. In August 2000, Kelli left Warrant to tour with Slash's Snakepit and was replaced by Billy Morris.

Warrant's next record was an album of cover versions, Under the Influence, released in May 2001. The band toured with Poison again in the summer of 2001, but the tour was cut short due to back injuries sustained by Poison bassist Bobby Dall. In April 2003, Warrant replaced drummer Fasano with Kevin Pharis.

Lane left Warrant again in January of 2004, taking Morris and Pharis with him. Lane was forced to cancel his first series of solo shows in Michigan after former band members took legal action to prevent the Warrant logo from being used on tour posters. Mike Fasano was briefly rehired, before Steven Sweet rejoined the band. Allen also rejoined in February 2004. Warrant is currently fronted by former Black N' Blue vocalist Jaime St. James.

Warrant released their 7th studio album entitled Born Again on February 4, 2006 with producer and engineer Pat Regan, who has previously worked with KISS, Deep Purple, Mr. Big and L.A. Guns.

Apart from a new but capable lead singer, the band line up is that which was the tour de force of Warrant's glory days.

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