The Makers of Gain Detergent Think Warrant is Gooder
Friday, February 25, 2011 at 12:01AM 
Ah, remember the classic Warrant years when Jani Lane was still fronting the band, they sounded awesome and their songs soared up the Billboard chart? The modern Warrant isn't quite as fortunate and, as you know, Jani isn't in the band anymore. While the current version of Warrant features the very awesome Robert Mason on vocals, there's just no denying the classic hits.
"Heaven" is probably Warrant's biggest and most recognizable song next to "Cherry Pie." Now, we've been having a lot of discussions recently about our bands and modern commercials. Madison Avenue sure must have a lot of Glam fans because those marketers do know what songs to pick to evoke emotion. And, I have to admit, I think it's cool when I hear a Glam song on TV - that means one of our faves is getting a payday! Thus, I think it is both cool and funny that Gain detergent is using Warrant's "Heaven" in a new ad campaign. Check it out and happy Friday.
Reader Comments (10)
I know nothing about the new singer (not that new really) but I can't see anyone else singing those songs but Janie.
He seems genuinely sorry that he screwed things up. Who knows, maybe he'll get another chance to prove himself.
I feel the same way about seeing Alice Cooper in a sweatervest on the Circuit City commercials and hearing Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" in a feminine hygeine product ad.
This music needs to rebound, and lessening its value by pimping it out to Gain detergent is not the way to do it.
I would argue that very few artists today are not motivated by money. Just my two cents.
They probably got a quick 50 - 75 K, maybe even a hundred for this, which comes divided up among the band members in the form of ASCAP checks or something in the mail to each of them, with Jani Lane probably getting a substantially larger share for having written the song, every couple of weeks for the duration of the spots airing on TV.
The commercial is funny enough, simple, well cast, well produced and at least the marketer, Procter and Gamble was willing to pay for the actual recording which lends an air of authenticity to the spot.
That's class on the part of P&G and their ad agency on Gain, Leo Burnett Worldwide, based in Chicago, for pushing them to pay for the real thing and not a re-recording.
They knew to put the money into the music and not do an overblown special effects laden commercial with CGI shots of dirt lifting off towels or any crap like that.
Also, believe it or not, this commercial will give Warrant a small lift in song and album sales predominantly on iTunes, which is another reason to give their music over to such an endeavor.
And if Jani really wants back with Warrant, the band should always take a chance the same way STP keeps enduring Weiland's shenanigans. It means more $$$ because having the original line-up, especially when it includes the singer, is the key to completely delivering the bands original sound in concert.
I saw these characters at least half a dozen times back in the day and even dated Eric Turner's cousin for a time. They had the goods and Lane is definitely a h*lluva songwriter, so I really think they'd have a stronger shot than ever at a decent Legacy Act comeback because of the current resurgence of our precious Glam Metal going on right now.
I'm sure Mason's fine and he's certainly got the cred but it's always gonna be better if you got the original singer, especially when he's singin' his own words and can still nail it, which, rumor has it, apparently Lane can do right now.
p.s. Chuck! Fun Fact: Gain is hardly dead with over $1 billion in annual sales.