Cherry Pie

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some sweet trivia about Cherry Pie by Warrant, spinning now on THE ZOO! This glam metal anthem, released in August 1990 as the lead single from the album of the same name, was a last-minute addition to the record. Originally titled Uncle Tom's Cabin, the album needed a catchy rock anthem, and Columbia Records president Don Ienner pushed frontman Jani Lane to deliver something akin to Aerosmith's Love in an Elevator. Lane wrote Cherry Pie in about 15 minutes, reportedly jotting the lyrics on a pizza box, which is now displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Destin, Florida. The song, inspired by Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me, hit number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, but many band members, including guitarist Joey Allen, felt it overshadowed their stronger material, calling it a double-edged sword for their fame.

The iconic Cherry Pie music video, featuring model Bobbie Brown, stirred controversy and heavy MTV rotation. Brown, a Star Search spokesmodel winner, caught Lane's eye, leading to her casting. The video's playful innuendos, like Brown in a baseball uniform swinging a bat, were deemed "offensively sexist" by Canada's MuchMusic, which refused to air it. Director Jeff Stein defended it as a parody of hair metal videos, but the controversy only boosted its notoriety. Lane and Brown began dating soon after filming and married in 1991, though they divorced two years later. Lane's relationship with the song was complex; in a 2006 VH1 interview, he famously said he could "shoot myself in the head for writing that song," citing personal struggles like a divorce and his mother's death, but later clarified he didn't truly hate it.

Jani Lane's frustration stemmed from Cherry Pie defining Warrant's legacy, despite their diverse catalog. Fans on Reddit's hairmetal community echo this, praising tracks like Uncle Tom's Cabin and I Saw Red for their lyrical depth and songwriting. Lane wrote I Saw Red after catching his girlfriend with his best friend, a betrayal that delayed Warrant's debut album due to his nervous breakdown. Cherry Pie was dedicated to Sony Music's Don Ienner, a nod to the label's pressure, and included a parental advisory for the album's final track, Ode to Tipper Gore, a collage of live performance swears. The song's legacy endures, with Warrant revisiting it in 1999 for their Greatest & Latest album and Lane recording an acoustic version in 2004.

Warrant, the Los Angeles glam metal band behind Cherry Pie, formed in 1984 with a sound that mixed raucous party anthems and heartfelt power ballads. The lineup solidified around vocalist Jani Lane, guitarist Erik Turner, guitarist Joey Allen, bassist Jerry Dixon, and drummer Steven Sweet. Starting in Hollywood's club scene, they built a following with their energetic live shows and mischievous humor. Their 1989 debut, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, went double platinum, driven by hits like Heaven, which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Signed to Columbia Records in 1988, Warrant's early success came from relentless touring and Lane's knack for crafting catchy hooks and emotional ballads like Sometimes She Cries. Despite lineup changes and the grunge wave of the early '90s, they continued releasing albums, with Cherry Pie remaining their peak, selling over three million copies.

Connect with Warrant and their fans online! Visit their official website at warrantrocks.com for tour dates and merch. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwback posts. Fans can join the vibrant Warrant - Official Fan Page on Facebook to share memories and discuss favorite tracks. For more fan-driven content, check out Heavy Harmonies, a site dedicated to hard rock and AOR discographies, including Warrant's full catalog. Zoo Freaks, keep rocking with THE ZOO and dive into Warrant's glam metal legacy!