WARRANT Drummer STEVEN SWEET Undergoes Emergency Surgery

WARRANT drummer Steven Sweet underwent emergency surgery on Thursday, October 6 after his appendix burst. According to his bandmates, "He is recovering. Everyone is grateful it did not happen on the Monsters Of Rock cruise ship earlier [last] week! We are sending good vibes to Steven!"

WARRANT is next scheduled to perform on October 14 in Champaign, Illinois.

Guitarist Erik Turner recently told Backstage Axxess that WARRANT has tapped DOKKEN and FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson to produce the follow-up to 2011's "Rockaholic" album, tentatively due early next year via Frontiers Music Srl.

Asked how diminishing music sales in the streaming age have affected WARRANT's desire to make new music, Erik said: "Well, nobody sells millions of records, but we started out playing music 'cause we can't help it. We just love writing music, recording music, playing music. And that's what we love doing, and we still love doing that. So that, first and foremost, is why we continue to make CDs and digital downloads and whatever they are. And the other thing is that it is a great way to keep the WARRANT name out there and alive and [it helps] with our touring. We do about fifty shows a year every year, and touring has been very good to us. So we love going out playing shows."

At the helm for "Rockaholic" was mega-producer Keith Olsen (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, SCORPIONS),while the mixing duties were handled by Pat Regan (KISS, DEEP PURPLE, TED NUGENT).

WARRANT solidified its current lineup in 2008 when ex-LYNCH MOB vocalist Robert Mason joined the four original WARRANT members: Turner, bassist Jerry Dixon, drummer Steven Sweet and guitarist Joey Allen.

Former WARRANT singer Jani Lane suffered from "acute ethanol poisoning" when he died in August 2011 at a Comfort Inn motel room in Woodland Hills, California. The singer had battled alcoholism for years and also had a history of alcohol-related arrests.