A New York Times obituary for former lead singer Jani Lane of the heavy metal band Warrant revealed that Mr. Lane’s birth name (he was born a year after Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy) was John Kennedy Oswald.
Rebellious musicians (Warrant’s debut album was “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich”) often adopt provocative stage names to enhance their image.
But Mr. Lane must be one of the very few to have abandoned a provocative birth name in favor of a bland one.
Nothing succeeds
like success   
Richard Kreimer (whose appearances in “News of the Weird” in 1991 and 2006 achieved “classic” status earlier this year) is back, apparently still defiantly malodorous.
He recently filed four lawsuits against NJ Transit, alleging that he has been illegally prevented from boarding trains just because he is homeless.
NJ Transit says his behavior and lack of hygiene irritate passengers.
A former Kreimer lawyer told the Newark Star-Ledger that Kreimer virtually runs “sting” operations, waiting for people to offend him so he can sue. Kreimer, who tape records all his conversations, told the Star-Ledger that the lawsuits will continue, although he looks forward to one day being able to “close my law practice.”
However, for now, he says, “Business is booming.”
(Send your Weird News to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa Fla. 33679 or go to www.newsoftheweird.com.)