Biography
Since the mid-1980s Jerry Dixon has held the bass position in Warrant, the Los Angeles heavy metal band whose sound he continues to drive with forceful, aggressive lines. Along with Dokken, Ratt, Firehouse, and L.A. Guns, both Dixon and Warrant appeared on the Rockfest 2002 tour.
Dixon joined the group in September 1984, three months after guitarist Erik Turner formed it. Already recognized as one of southern California’s heaviest acts, the band advanced further in 1986 when vocalist Jani Lane and drummer Steve Sweet came aboard. In October 1987 the musicians tracked several songs at Prince’s Paisley Park Studios.
Under a three-album deal with Columbia, Dixon and Warrant issued their first album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, in 1989. Although the opening singles “Down Boys” and “Sometimes She Cries” suggested the group’s range, the third single “Heaven” climbed to number two on the Billboard chart and confirmed their stature. The band placed a track on the soundtrack of the 1989 movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and sustained momentum with the 1990 follow-up Cherry Pie, which yielded the Top 20 singles “I Saw Red” and the title song.
Early achievements notwithstanding, Warrant’s audience diminished once grunge supplanted earlier heavy metal styles. Columbia declined to extend the contract after the 1992 release Dog Eat Dog underperformed compared with prior efforts.
Dixon joined the group in September 1984, three months after guitarist Erik Turner formed it. Already recognized as one of southern California’s heaviest acts, the band advanced further in 1986 when vocalist Jani Lane and drummer Steve Sweet came aboard. In October 1987 the musicians tracked several songs at Prince’s Paisley Park Studios.
Under a three-album deal with Columbia, Dixon and Warrant issued their first album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, in 1989. Although the opening singles “Down Boys” and “Sometimes She Cries” suggested the group’s range, the third single “Heaven” climbed to number two on the Billboard chart and confirmed their stature. The band placed a track on the soundtrack of the 1989 movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and sustained momentum with the 1990 follow-up Cherry Pie, which yielded the Top 20 singles “I Saw Red” and the title song.
Early achievements notwithstanding, Warrant’s audience diminished once grunge supplanted earlier heavy metal styles. Columbia declined to extend the contract after the 1992 release Dog Eat Dog underperformed compared with prior efforts.