When he was 14 years old, Warren formed a band with other Westlake Boys High School students including a young Don McGlashan, called Ethos.
[3] Lip Service often supported Th' Dudes at concerts, which is where Warren met future DD Smash band-leader Dave Dobbyn.
[3] In 1981 Dave Dobbyn had decided to leave Th' Dudes and approached Warren and Lip Service bandmate Rob Guy (Revox) to form a new band, DD Smash, which initially also included Lisle Kinney previously of Hello Sailor (band).
[5][6] DD Smash lasted for eight years, with three albums being released which sold well in New Zealand and Australia.
[8] Later, in Australia, After he left DD Smash,[2] Warren was involved with projects including: Pop Mechanix,[9] the band Rooda (named after his nickname),[10] 'all star collection'[11] The Party Boys.,[12] toured New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and United States with guitarist Midge Marsden,[2] and joined Serbian band Disciplin A Kitschme.