Warrant guitarist Joey Allen recently discussed the current state of his band and how it has evolved over the past two decades, making pointed comments about the quality of his current bandmates in an interview with Chuck Shute.
Allen’s remarks focused on the maturity and intelligence of Warrant’s current lineup compared to previous iterations of the band.
“But this band has matured so much over the last 20 years,” Allen said. “We’re still friends. We’ve always been friends — Steven [Sweet, Warrant drummer] and Jerry and Erik and I.”
The guitarist elaborated on his long-standing relationships within the band and how the current lineup has surpassed previous configurations in terms of longevity and functionality.
“Erik and I have known each other the longest of anybody, really — a few years before Warrant even started,” he continued. “And now Robert’s [Mason, Warrant singer] been in the band longer than Jani [Lane, original Warrant singer] ever was, so I’ve been in a band longer with him. But it’s like five grownups going on tour.”
Allen then made his most direct comments about the intellectual capacity of his current bandmates versus former members.
“And everybody’s smart,” he said. “There’s no low-IQ guys. There’s no passive-aggressive [behavior]. If there’s a business decision that’s gotta be made, we sit down and we talk about it like adults, and everybody’s got an opinion. And nine out of 10 times when we roll out of a meeting, everybody’s in a great mood.”
The guitarist concluded by emphasizing the band’s current positive dynamic and his satisfaction with the group’s evolution.
“Every once in a while, you get a situation where you might disagree, but it’s not a negative thing,” Allen said. “It’s always learning. Everybody always learns, and everybody’s great. Everybody’s in a good place. The band’s never been in a better place. We’ve worked hard, man. I mean, I’ve been back in the band 20 years now, 21 years.”
