Finally, for the first time since 1996 Warrant have a brand new studio album to support. Not another rehash of old material or cover versions, but a full album of new music. Following the departure of founder Jani Lane and the return of prodigal sons Steve 'Sweet' Chamberlain and Joey Allen, along with ex-Black and Blue singer Jamie St James, things are finally looking up for the down boys. Erik Turner is happy to fill us in on just why Warrant feel 'Born Again'.

You’re back, a slightly more updated sound. Jani out, the original guys back in. Is there any point in back-tracking to find out just why Jani left when he did or is it all water under the bridge to you guys now?

"It’s been two and a half years since he’s been gone. It was January 2004 when Jani, Jerry and I had a conference call and... haha, Jani didn’t like the way it went, we didn’t like what he was saying and he didn’t like what we were saying so... lets not talk anymore. We haven’t spoken to him since. Things aren’t bad between us really, we had a lot of good years together so ... let’s maybe leave it there. It was his decision and he basically quit, so we decided to call a good friend of ours, Jamie St James. We know him well and we like him a lot and it was that easy really."

The last real studio album was Belly to Belly' in 1996, now suddenly Steve and Joey are back, Jamie is in and lo and behold within 18 months there is a brand new studio album.

"Jani did not want to make a record for whatever reason. We added bonus tracks to 'Latest and Greatest' but they weren’t Warrant tracks, they were basically tracks from side projects such as Jabberwocky and some songs from his New World Idols project with Kerri Kelly. You know we’d get off the road and say lets make a record and he’d (Lane) say yeah, lets make a record, and then nothing ... same thing always."

You have been tarnished as a ‘hair band’ forever more and how difficult is it now for a band like Warrant to be taken seriously?

"If you go in to it thinking about dreams of grandeur, forget it. These days we just want to make a record and hope that people will buy it or download it for free and enjoy it, haha. We really enjoyed making it and we’re very proud of it, we’ll do what we can to promote it and hope it sells."

It’s been a sliding scale of success though really, hasn’t it? Platinum debut, mega selling 'Cherry Pie', gold on 'Dog Eat Dog'…

"Lets put that in perspective. Jani quit the band after 35 shows on the 'Dog Eat Dog' tour. On the debut album we did 262, 'Cherry Pie' was over 200. 'Dog Eat Dog' was 10 shows in Europe and 25 in the states, then he quit the band. So that record really didn’t have a chance with Jani quitting after 35 shows and Sound Garden and Nirvana and all that. The record really was stabbed in the back. It makes it hard to promote a record with no singer doesn’t it? Funny though, a lot of people tell us that that’s their favourite record."

Jamie St James is a little harder edged than Jani...

"Really? I don’t think so."

So was Jamie your first choice or did you audition anybody else?

"Sure was! He’s a great singer, great front man and a great person, so we didn’t have to audition at all. We were talking to one other guy, but Jamie was always the man."

You yourself have had various projects over the years, Hollywood Underground and stuff.

"Yes, I had Butch Walker and Jessie Hart (Southgang) and some more. There is some good stuff on that record if you can get past the fact that it is only demo quality. That’s why I called it 'Demos for Diehards'. It wasn’t really a side project but people are constantly asking about unreleased stuff and demos, and it happens with Warrant material as well, all the time. I don’t know why we didn’t do that, maybe it’s because people have them already anyway."

Is there much Warrant stuff lying around?

"Yeah, lots of it. People have thrown a lot of money at us for them, but there’s a certain person who doesn’t want to do it. Maybe they can get it on eBay or download it for free ... haha. I see it all the time."

From the creative point of view you had Joey and Steven back, what was that like?

"It was great! The four of us back in the room together for the first time in years. You know, you go ‘Aaaah, this is what it’s meant to be like.’ It was really very simple. Steve and Joey are far better musicians now than they were ten years ago. We have done over 120 shows together since they came back, and with this new record it really validates this line up including Jamie St James."

What has the reaction been from the fan base and journalists you have spoken to?

"It’s been very positive, very positive. Even the journalists I have spoken to are saying nice things about it, surprisingly, but I don’t know why I should be surprised as it’s a really good record. It’s great, we wrote 22 songs and picked the best. This record took almost eighteen months, and hard work too. We demoed them, re-recorded them and then recorded them. The twelve songs you hear are the result of a majority vote, no /A&R guy, just all of us voting for what we think the best songs were.Very democratic, and worked very well. I didn’t get all the songs I wanted on there, and neither did other guys, but that’s not important. The important thing was the compromise that gave us the best songs on the record."

Is there any chance that we will see some of those songs turn up on future records?

"Well, one song in particular I was disappointed didn’t make it, so maybe the next one. You know this record isn’t even out in the US yet and we have another new bunch of songs written so who knows."

So where to next for Warrant? A few years back it looked as if Warrant was falling apart, all of a sudden you are touring harder than ever, a brand new studio record, and things are looking rosy.

"You could say we’re Born Again, haha, pun intended. We’re just doing our thing, one gig at a time. We don’t have a grand plan for anything. We will just keep on playing and recording as long as we enjoy it. I mean you cant win the Super Bowl every year, but at least it’s nice to be in the game. The record comes out in the US on June 21st and we’re also bringing out a DVD at the same time. I guess I should talk about that."

A lot of the majors are digging into the back catalogue and putting out old home video releases. Do you think we’ll ever see DRFSR and Cherry Pie out on DVD?

"Possibly. I have been having some discussions with Sony about that, to see if we can work out a licensing deal or get them to put it out. I mean we did thirteen videos and tons of live stuff that we could use. We have so much stuff over there gathering dust. Some of it had millions of dollars spent on it, so they may as well get something back on their investment and put out one DVD or two DVDs . The new DVD we recorded as we were recording the album in the studio. We also bring a camera with us on the road so we have about 20 minutes of road antics and out take. We call it Mini Monster and we also shot a showcase where we set up a stage and recorded twelve videos for all twelve songs on the record so that will be on there too. Just us in the live room, no audience. Jerry and Steven did a lot of work on it and it looks pretty cool."

So what about touring to support the album? Will you do a summer package tour or solo shows?

"We looked into it, we tried for the Cinderella/Poison tour but they are taking out somebody else so we will be promoting this album by touring on our own. It will be a CD release party at every single show until we have a new record again, haha. We will promote this as best we can."

Well, why not, you had a ten year release party for Belly to Belly!

"Shhhh, we don’t talk about that record. It’s a Warrant record, but it’s not the Warrant record with that Warrant sound we all know and love, haha."

Any chance of seeing a live record from the stadium days ?

"Maybe, possibly. We did speak with some people about it but there really isn’t all that much live stuff still about."

You were supposed to tour the UK in April but it didn’t happen, any idea why?

"Well, MTM shouldn’t have announced that, it was too premature. We had an opportunity but we couldn’t string a decent run together. We had some shows before that, some after that and couldn’t get anything in the UK."

Maybe it was something to do with the fact that the dates being offered were Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday?

"Oh, shit, I didn’t know that. We always had a great time in England and it was a strong market for us. After being away for so long we’d love to get back. If we can make it work we will. Please spread the word we’re still here, much to the annoyance of some, hahaha!"