In the summer of 1989, there was a song on the radio named Heaven. It wasn't an original song title, particularly in a nation whose favourite musical son had had a mega-hit five years prior with the same name. But it was a pretty power ballad and a feel-good summer song, and it was part of the weekly countdown playing on my favourite station on the night I lost my virginity. It became mine and my boyfriend's "our song" after that, and is forever entwined with a wonderful memory.

I saw Warrant play live more than any other band, before or since. This was less because I was an obsessed fan - I definitely liked them, but they certainly didn't incite me to the level of fandom of other bands - and more because they were a frequent support act for other bands, so I would watch them before the headliner (Aerosmith, Metallica, possibly Bon Jovi... it blurs now!).

The most memorable gig, though, Warrant headlined - in fact, I can't remember who the opening band was! The venue was Kingswood Music Theatre in Canada's Wonderland amusement park, and it was a bloody hot day. CD and I were sat a few rows behind the walkway gap in the centre of the two seating sections, so where the seats began to slope up, essentially, and we were grateful that we'd sprung for seats and were under the tent roof and not out on the sunny lawn.

It was the tour in support of the Cherry Pie album and their set kicked off with the title song, with the lead guitarist on his knees in front of a cardboard cutout of the cover art of a diner waitress with a slice of cherry pie falling, triangle-downwards. He enthusiastically mimed cunnilingus then stood up and spat a load of cherry pits onto the ground in front of the stage, to general screams and laughter. It was hilarious, dirty, and a huge amount of fun.

Later, Jani ended up singing from a tiny stage by the sound board, which happened to be located in that walkway gap. Translation: not too damn far from our seats. He'd lost his shirt by then, and was wearing a pair of off-white (natural cotton/canvas?) Bermuda shorts, loose but nearly translucent with sweat. I can't honestly remember when I have been more visually glued to a man's movements* as for those few songs, whilst CD and I did our damnedest to will the fabric into total transparency and discussed whether he was wearing anything underneath. It was a fabulous concert. *g*

I lost track of the band later, along with so many others when I slid into depression in the early 90s. But those summer memories of music and friends and sex remain, so thanks for that, Jani Lane.

My favourite Warrant song is neither of the above, however; it's I Saw Red, a cheating song that's a little bit of a heartbreaker.


* not including men I am actually about to sleep with ;-)