Ratt
Encyclopedia
Ratt is an American
heavy metal
band
that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round
," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love
", "Slip of the Lip
", "Back For More
", "Dance
", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman
", and "Way Cool Jr.
" Ratt has been recognized as instrumental in the formation of the early 1980s Los Angeles
hard rock and glam metal scene.
Their 7th studio album, Infestation
, was released April 20, 2010. The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus.
band called Mickey Ratt, which was formed by founding member vocalist Stephen Pearcy
. Several CDs have been released of the Mickey Ratt line-ups, including several demo compilations and a live concert.
Mickey Ratt went through various line-ups. Members included guitarists Jake E. Lee
, Chris Hager
, Paul DeNisco, and Bob DeLellis, bassists Matt Thorr
, Tim Garcia, and Dave Jellison, Mike New, and drummers John Turner, Seth Faver, Dave Alford
, and Bob Eisenberg.
In 1980, the band moved to Los Angeles to increase their chances of landing a recording contract with a major label.
The band recorded a single called "Dr. Rock" / "Drivin' on E", which was given to fans at their early Los Angeles club shows.
Guitarist Jake E. Lee joined the Mickey Ratt line up.
In 1981, the band's name was shortened to Ratt. Robbin Crosby
played with the band later in the year. Jake E. Lee, Chris Hager, Matt Thorr, and Dave Alford all left Mickey Ratt to form another band called Rough Cutt
. Guitarist Warren DeMartini
joined in January 1982 (recommended by Lee). Bassist Gene Hunter (from Jake E. Lee's Teaser) and drummer Khurt Maier (who played drums on the early "Tell The World" recording) would temporarily play in Ratt before Bobby Blotzer
and Juan Croucier
(also with the band Dokken
). DeMartini was only 18 years old when he was called up to Los Angeles to join Ratt. At the time he was attending college in San Diego and reluctant to drop out to join a band that had, so far, had only limited success. Marq Torien briefly replaced DeMartini, though Warren returned in time for the recording of their EP, later in 1982.
released a 7-track version of the EP in Europe which included the additional track You're In Trouble.
and immediately started writing and recording what would be its first proper album Out of the Cellar
. Released in March 1984, the breakthrough album was critically praised by both fans and critics alike at the time of its release. Milton Berle
's guest appearance, dressed in his Uncle Miltie drag character, in the video for "Round and Round
" helped draw even more attention to the band.
Out of the Cellar combined the then-prevalent Van Halen
and Aerosmith
influenced bravado elements with the then-novel muted, staccato
guitar-picking style of Judas Priest
.
The album scored much radio and MTV
play with the blockbuster anthem "Round and Round
" (which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Wanted Man", "Back for More", and "Lack of Communication". Pearcy's raspy yet bluesy vocals melded well with the pyrotechnic guitar playing of twin leads Robbin Crosby
and Warren DeMartini
. Their music video
s, especially for that of "Round and Round", exposed them to an impressionable teen audience first tuning into the then fledgling MTV cable network.
Out of the Cellar became a commercial success, going platinum many times over in the United States
as well as making them stars in the Far East
. The album catapulted the band to the top, capped off by an incredibly successful world tour that saw the band sell out countless stadiums and arenas worldwide. Out of the Cellar is today widely regarded as the band's best work and a definitive moment in 80s heavy metal.
Tawny Kitaen
, High School sweetheart of Crosby, who'd graced the cover of the band's EP from the previous year, agreed to appear on the cover of their debut full-length album. She also appeared in their video for "Back For More" as the girl in the 50s skirt at the jukebox.
In 1984 the band toured extensively, sharing the stage with such acts as Billy Squier
, Ozzy Osbourne
, Blackfoot
, Iron Maiden
, Mötley Crüe
, Twisted Sister
and Lita Ford
.
"Round and Round
" was chosen as #61 on VH1's Greatest Hard Rock Songs Show.
was released July 1985.
It peaked at #7 (which is the same position that Out of the Cellar
peaked). The album met mostly positive reactions from fans and critics. Allmusic.com has called it "another batch of solid pop-metal tunes". It contained the favorites "You're in Love
" and "Lay It Down" (which made #40 on the Hot 100) that assured the band a presence on radio and MTV. The music video for "You're In Love" is a live clip from the band's performance at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Warren DeMartini & Robbin Crosby's impressive guitar solos and Stephen Pearcy's highly sexual lyrics helped to further define the Ratt sound.
Although it did not achieve the sales figures nor the legendary status of their monumental debut, Invasion of Your Privacy nonetheless was certified double platinum (selling over two million copies) and remains highly regarded amongst fans.
A couple months after the album release, the band released a home video titled Ratt: The Video. The video featured the music videos from the Ratt EP, Out of the Cellar and Invasion of Your Privacy. The video is currently out of print and is very rare and difficult to find. The video was the first commercially available video to certify Gold sales status in the USA and eventually reached Platinum.
The model on Invasions cover is Playboy Playmate
Marianne Gravatte
, who also made an appearance in the "Lay It Down" music video. Using a beautiful female model on an album cover later became a trend copied by many glam metal bands of the 1980s, such as Great White
, and Slaughter
. Pearcy himself would soon pose for Playgirl (August '86 issue). Invasion of Your Privacy was also one of the many albums that received the attention of the PMRC since the cover and the album title were a reference to voyeurism
. The Tipper Gore
-led organization presented it at a U.S. Congressional hearing on September 19, 1985 dealing with parental advisory
labels on albums that display "inappropriate" content.
The band toured extensively in the United States and Japan sharing stage with the likes of Bon Jovi
, Ozzy Osbourne
and Iron Maiden
. In August 1985 the band played on the Monsters Of Rock festival in Donington, England, along with ZZ Top
, Bon Jovi, Metallica
and Magnum
.
in September 1986. The album was a relative disappointment with most music critics at the time of its release. From a commercial standpoint however, the album kept Ratt's string of consecutive Platinum albums alive.This is the first album as well to see Crosby's lead guitar duties minimized in favor of DeMartini.
In an effort to be taken more seriously, Ratt broke from the tradition of featuring a girl on the cover. They instead opted for gritty black-and-white photos of each of the five band members. Likewise, the album does not contain a single power ballad amongst its ten tracks and even features experimental forays into thrashier
and heavier
sounds.
The song that reflected this most strikingly was "Body Talk", which was featured on the soundtrack for the 1986 Eddie Murphy
film The Golden Child
. The more straight-ahead style of the album (especially with this song) lead many fans to believe that Ratt was headed in a direction more akin to the thrash
style promulgated by such bands as Anthrax
, Megadeth
, and Slayer
. However, that proved not to be the case as the slightly experimental
undertones of the album were quickly replaced with a bluesier sound throughout their next three releases.
Other popular tracks generated by the album included "Dance
" and "Slip of the Lip
".
Through 1987, Ratt embarked on a U.S. tour with newcomers Poison
, and played in Europe as a part of the Monsters Of Rock Tour (widely bootlegged). Their tour with Poison was the 6th highest grossing tour of 1987. Ratt also played Madison Square Garden.
. For all the criticisms, Reach for the Sky nevertheless contained the popular tracks "Way Cool Jr.
" and "I Want a Woman
" which received some airplay. Those two songs are now regarded as glam metal classics.
The surreal, Dali-esque album cover featured a statue wearing night vision goggles
, a human hand emerging from a bundle of twine
, a World War II
fighter plane, and a wicker
chair. The band has remained mum as to what the album cover is supposed to symbolize so as to facilitate the diverse interpretations of their fans. Early pressings of the album cover revealed the breast
part of the statue as requested by lead singer Stephen Pearcy. According to Pearcy, he wanted to use that version of the cover but the other band members feared that this would keep the record out of certain music stores. The revised version of the album contained the same tracks, but in a different order. After the revised version hit the record stores, producer Beau Hill stepped down from producer duties and tensions within the band increased.
The band started the new year with a concert at the Tokyo Dome headlined by Bon Jovi The other bands in the bill were Kingdom Come and Britny Fox. Ratt would soon play the Tokyo Dome on their own. Both appearances have been widely bootlegged.
The tour that followed in the spring of '89 (supported by Kix, Warrant and Britny Fox) was eventually cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
was released in August 1990. Sir Arthur Payson took over as producer for the band following Beau Hill
's departure after the lackluster results for Reach for the Sky
. The album garnered mixed reactions. Critics claimed it lacked the live sounding energy of the band's earlier work, while some claim the sound more akin to "hair metal" (especially when compared to their raw early works) but still showing a band of experienced and refined musicians maturing and striving to expand their sound. Detonator featured among its tracks "Shame Shame Shame" and "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job
". The band co-wrote most of the album's songs with Desmond Child
while Jon Bon Jovi
appeared as a guest background vocalist on "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose". Pearcy also co-wrote Givin' Yourself Away
with Diane Warren
. Detonator's sales were around 800-900,000. Robbin Crosby
played on the album (acknowledged in a KNAC interview), despite rumors to the contrary. (Juan Croucier stated on his message board that Crosby's guitar parts are on the disc but were low in the mix.) Plagued by addiction for some time, Crosby authored just one song, "Can't Wait on Love", and contributed notably to another, "All or Nothing". Crosby entered a rehab facility during the early stages of recording.
During the seven shows of the Japanese leg of the 'Detonator' tour in February 1991, Crosby's substance abuse had reached a point where his playing had become increasingly inconsistent onstage. The band had already removed the acoustic intro to Back For More
, which Crosby performed, along with modifying sections of other songs that featured Robbin as lead guitarist. During one particular show, after the band performed two songs using non-standard tunings, Crosby did not properly switch out guitars with his guitar technician. As a result, he was not in tune with the band for the next two songs. The last show of the Japanese tour, in Osaka, would be Robbin's last with Ratt. He would not record or perform with the band again.
When the band returned to the United States, Robbin checked into a rehab facility and Ratt continued on with Michael Schenker
, formerly of Scorpions
, UFO
, Michael Schenker Group
, and McAuley Schenker Group
.
to promote their most current album and new single, sharing the stage with all-female rock
band Vixen
. Michael Schenker
was still performing with Ratt at the time of this taping.
At the end of 1991, Ratt released the final single of their career, "Nobody Rides for Free
" which appeared on Point Break
s soundtrack album. The song and video clearly signal a change in the band. Robbin did not participate in the recording of the song and was not present for the shooting of the video in which only the four remaining members appeared.
The band never again recorded or performed with the original five members.
Atlantic Records released a greatest hits compilation entitled Ratt & Roll 81-91
in September 1991. The album featured five songs from Detonator, more than any other album featured on the compilation. It also featured the aforementioned song "Nobody Rides For Free". This greatest hits compilation achieved Gold sales status.
drummer Fred Coury
called Arcade
, before moving on to VD
in '95 and the industrial-tinged Vertex
in '96.
Robbin Crosby started Secret Service, which included bassist Krys Baratto (Samantha 7
, Juice 13). In 1993, Crosby performed on Rumbledog's self titled debut album.
Warren DeMartini (who had left after Pearcy in '92) was in Whitesnake in 1994 and issued two solo releases: a single, 1995s
Surf's Up!, and a full length, 1996's
Crazy Enough to Sing to You
.
Bobby Blotzer and Juan Croucier both started to live more normal lives outside the public eye and the two of them became producers for underground bands.
Juan Croucier ran a recording studio called 'The Cellar', and, in 1994, received a lifetime achievement award in Los Angeles (Crosby was there). During that year, Robbin Crosby was diagnosed with HIV
, which later developed into AIDS
.
After meeting with Robbin, it was decided that he was not in any physical shape to record or perform with the band. As the talks continued to progress, bassist Juan Croucier made the decision not to participate in the reunion as well. Rudy Sarzo was first thought as a replacement but would end up rejoining Quiet Riot. Ratt eventually moved forward with Pearcy, DeMartini and Blotzer, along with new member, Robbie Crane
(formerly of Vince Neil
's solo band and Pearcy's Vertex
tour) on bass. The band issued a compilation album called Collage in July 1997, which consisted of B-sides, alternate recordings, and new versions of songs from the Mickey Ratt period. In 1998, Ratt secured a worldwide record deal with Sony
. The 1999 self-titled Ratt
album featured new material with a more conventional blues rock feel.
With A&R guru John Kalodner in control over how the album turned out, bringing in outside writers in the process, the album didn't come close to the platinum success that Ratt typically achieved, though the album's first single, "Over The Edge", did graze the Top 40 Mainstream Rock charts.
as a second guitarist. In 2000, Pearcy left the group again, going on tour as Nitronic, and soon after, as 'Ratt Featuring Stephen Pearcy'. His record label Top Fuel Records released some archived Ratt material and Pearcy solo work.
Meanwhile, DeMartini and Blotzer would carry on their version of Ratt replacing Pearcy with singer Jizzy Pearl
and replacing Kelli with guitarist John Corabi
. After a legal battle, the Demartini/Blotzer version would eventually win the rights to tour as 'Ratt' .
In 2001, former guitarist Robbin Crosby publicly announced that he was HIV positive. He died on June 6, 2002 from a heroin overdose. He was 42 years old.
For the next two years, they would be featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour
alongside other 1980s hard rock/heavy metal bands. In 2001, Pearcy attempted to sue the band for touring under the "Ratt" name, but lost. Pearcy then toured as 'Stephen Pearcy' and occasionally nicknamed his solo band the Rat Bastards.
On January 7, 2005 a fan asked Juan Croucier on his message board how long Blotzer and Croucier decided to put the band to rest back in 1992 after Pearcy and DeMartini left the group to which he responded:
With this message on his website, Croucier became the first member of Ratt to explain the events that ensued following the breakup in 1992. Corroborating previous interviews given by band members (including Pearcy, Blotzer, and DeMartini) that they did disband in 1992.
On May 11, 2006, Ratt was profiled on VH1
's Behind the Music
. In the episode, it was revealed for the first time publicly that former guitarist Robbin Crosby died of a heroin overdose, and not AIDS-related complications as was sometimes erroneously reported.
During the group's quiet years, the members (and former members) continued to work on their own side projects. Blotzer, Corabi, and Crane joined forces with Keri Kelli
in the classic rock
cover band named "Angel City Outlaws". Warren DeMartini
and Jizzy Pearl
worked on their respective solo careers and continued to record new material. In a surprising turn of events, Juan Croucier and Stephen Pearcy toured with one another during the summer and fall of 2006. Even further surprisingly to many, Blotzer joined them onstage at a show on October 27, 2006.
and Great White
. On April 12, Bravewords reported that White Lion
would open for Poison and Ratt, while Great White was still 'in talks' to join the tour.
On March 20, 2007, the official Ratt website was finally updated with only the band's logo after a year and a half of being dormant. One week later, Blabbermouth.com reported that Ratt would take part in the "Rocklahoma" festival on July 13–15, 2007 in Pryor, Oklahoma, with original singer Stephen Pearcy and without Juan Croucier who decided to not participate in the reunion tour for the second time (Robbie Crane stayed on bass instead).
Tramp's White Lion was removed from the tour due to legal issues, and Vains of Jenna
took their place. The summer tour started June 13, 2007 at the Bi Lo Center in Greenville, S.C., and ended August 19, 2007 at the Coors Amphitheatre in Denver. The tour, which brought Poison and Ratt onstage together for the first time since 1999, visited amphitheaters, festivals and fairs in such cities as Boston, Detroit, New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles.
Festivals the tour performed at include Birmingham, Ala.'s City Stages (June 16), Bay City, Mich.'s Bay City River Roar (June 22), Pryor, Okla.'s Rocklahoma (July 13), Sturgis, S.D.'s Buffalo Chip (August 5) and Newton, IA, Iowa Speedway (August 4).
On July 31, 2007, Ratt released a DVD entitled Ratt - Videos From the Cellar: The Atlantic Years
which chronicle the band's video history. On August 21, 2007, they also released a best-of CD entitled Tell The World: The Very Best Of Ratt
.
In November 2007, Ratt toured Japan and Australia, the Australian leg featuring Winger
as support act. Throughout October the band was to tour Europe, but instead, the band planned to return in June 2008 to perform at some of Europe's most popular rock festivals including Spring and Airbrake as well as several other key dates in the UK and Scandinavia. At the end of January 2008 they played at Motley Cruise, a 4-day cruise in the Caribbean (Miami, Key West and Cozumel, MX) with Vince Neil
, Skid Row, Slaughter
, Endeverafter
, and Lynam
.
In May and June 2008, Ratt toured the UK. On June 5, 2008, they were supported by local Leeds band King Nothing at the legendary rock club Rio's.
In August 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio's Hair Nation channel reported that former Mötley Crüe
singer John Corabi had resigned as rhythm guitarist for Ratt and was rumored to be replaced by former Quiet Riot
guitarist Carlos Cavazo
. Bobby Blotzer confirmed these rumors stating that Cavazo was set to replace Corabi and would make his debut with the band on August 27. His first show with Ratt was in Baton Rouge, LA.
". In April 2009 Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records
announced the signing of a worldwide deal with Ratt. Their new album, Infestation
, was released in April 2010. Infestation reached #30 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. A video for the first single titled "Best of Me" was filmed. A world tour in support of Infestation followed. Infestation also marked something of a return to Atlantic, as Roadrunner has been owned by Atlantic since 2006.
In a March 18, 2010 interview with Metalholic Magazine, guitarist/founder, Warren DeMartini
said of the new album, Infestation; "It really exceeded our expectations. Conceptually we kinda wanted to revisit the period of Out Of The Cellar
and Invasion Of Your Privacy
. We were sort of loosely trying to shoot for something that could fit between those two records. We were looking for more uptempo ideas and the double leads that Robbin Crosby
and I started doing back in 1983."
RATT were confirmed playing the main stage at the Download Festival
2010 at Donnington Park, UK in June 2010. However, on June 8, 2010, it was announced on Download Festival's website that RATT had pulled out of the festival due to surgery of one of the band members.
On October 26, 2010, it was announced Ratt would be going into an indefinite hiatus after tensions within the band reared their head. It was announced that it is not known whether the band will be calling it a day or not, but in an interview with bassist Robbie Crane
, he has confirmed that following the end of the band's tour supporting their latest album Infestation
, the band is currently on an indefinite hiatus. He has also confirmed that all members are busy with their own projects: him touring with Lynch Mob
, frontman Stephen Pearcy
touring with his solo band for next six months, Warren DeMartini
is touring with his and Dee Snider
's Christmas band, and Carlos Cavazo
and Bobby Blotzer
are working on a new project together. Rumors are that bassist Robbie Crane may be out of Ratt whether the band decides to continue or not. On October 27, 2010, vocalist Stephen Pearcy confirmed that Ratt is going to be on hiatus "for a while.". More recently Stephen Pearcy posted that a RATT tour would be possible for 2012 after his current commitments.
and heavy metal
bands such as Aerosmith
, Sweet
, Van Halen
, Led Zeppelin
, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath
, and KISS
. They fused this style with NWOBHM
influences, including Iron Maiden
and Judas Priest
.
Although they later incorporated more of a blues-rock
sound into their music, the band was one of the first glam metal style groups that appeared in the early 1980s in California. Their image bore similarities to that of Rough Cutt
, which had several members who were previously in Mickey Ratt (from which Ratt evolved).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round
Round and Round (Ratt song)
"Round and Round" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt which proved to be the biggest hit of their career, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It appears as the third track of their album Out of the Cellar...
," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love
You're in Love (Ratt song)
"You're in Love" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the first track on their 1985 album Invasion of Your Privacy, and the second single released from the album by Atlantic Records. It hit #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #34 on the Maintream Rock Tracks chart...
", "Slip of the Lip
Slip of the Lip
"Slip of the Lip" is a song recorded by American heavy metal band Ratt in 1986 from the album Dancing Undercover and is also on their greatest hits album Ratt & Roll 81-91...
", "Back For More
Back for More
Back for More may refer to:* Back for More ** Back for More Live, a concert DVD by Natalia* Back for More * "Back for More"...
", "Dance
Dance (song)
"Dance" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the first track off their 1986 album Dancing Undercover and the tenth track of their compilation album Ratt & Roll 81-91. It reached #59 on the Billboard Top 100...
", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman
I Want a Woman
"I Want a Woman" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the second track on their fourth album Reach for the Sky and the second single released by Atlantic Records to promote the album...
", and "Way Cool Jr.
Way Cool Jr.
"Way Cool Jr." is single by American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the third track of their 1988 album Reach for the Sky. It reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100....
" Ratt has been recognized as instrumental in the formation of the early 1980s Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
hard rock and glam metal scene.
Their 7th studio album, Infestation
Infestation (album)
Infestation is the seventh studio album by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the band's first original effort since their self-titled album in 1999. It marks the Ratt studio debut for guitarist Carlos Cavazo, formerly of Quiet Riot...
, was released April 20, 2010. The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus.
Early years (1976–1982)
The origins of Ratt go at least as far back as 1977 with a San DiegoSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
band called Mickey Ratt, which was formed by founding member vocalist Stephen Pearcy
Stephen Pearcy
Stephen Erica Pearcy is the lead singer of the 80's metal band Ratt. He has also been in the bands Arcade, Vicious Delite, Vertex, Nitronic, and Band From Hell...
. Several CDs have been released of the Mickey Ratt line-ups, including several demo compilations and a live concert.
Mickey Ratt went through various line-ups. Members included guitarists Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
, Chris Hager
Chris Hager
Chris Hager is a guitarist who played in Mickey Ratt , Ratt, and Rough Cutt., a Warner Bros recording artist. He also released an album titled Trash with his former Mickey Ratt bandmate Stephen Pearcy as Pearcy/Hager...
, Paul DeNisco, and Bob DeLellis, bassists Matt Thorr
Matt Thorr
Matt Thorne a.k.a. Matt Thorr is a bassist who has played in Ratt, Rough Cutt, and Jailhouse. He co-wrote the song "Back For More" with Stephen Pearcy on Ratt's album Out of the Cellar...
, Tim Garcia, and Dave Jellison, Mike New, and drummers John Turner, Seth Faver, Dave Alford
Dave Alford
Dave Alford is a drummer who has played in the bands Max Havoc, Mickey Ratt , Rough Cutt, Jailhouse, and Kryme.-With Mickey Ratt:* The Garage Tape Dayz 78-81 * In Your Direction -With Rough Cutt:...
, and Bob Eisenberg.
In 1980, the band moved to Los Angeles to increase their chances of landing a recording contract with a major label.
The band recorded a single called "Dr. Rock" / "Drivin' on E", which was given to fans at their early Los Angeles club shows.
Guitarist Jake E. Lee joined the Mickey Ratt line up.
In 1981, the band's name was shortened to Ratt. Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 1980s. Crosby was HIV positive, but died from a heroin overdose in 2002....
played with the band later in the year. Jake E. Lee, Chris Hager, Matt Thorr, and Dave Alford all left Mickey Ratt to form another band called Rough Cutt
Rough Cutt
Rough Cutt was an American heavy metal band from San Diego, California in the 1980s. They were based in Los Angeles after signing a recording contract with Warner Brothers...
. Guitarist Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
joined in January 1982 (recommended by Lee). Bassist Gene Hunter (from Jake E. Lee's Teaser) and drummer Khurt Maier (who played drums on the early "Tell The World" recording) would temporarily play in Ratt before Bobby Blotzer
Bobby Blotzer
Robert John Blotzer, better known as Bobby Blotzer and nicknamed "Blotz" , is a drummer most famous for playing drums for glam metal band Ratt...
and Juan Croucier
Juan Croucier
Juan Croucier is a Cuban-American heavy metal musician.-Career:Croucier attended Torrance High School in Torrance, California. Formerly a bassist for well known metal bands Dokken and Ratt during the 1980s, Croucier was also very briefly in Quiet Riot...
(also with the band Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
). DeMartini was only 18 years old when he was called up to Los Angeles to join Ratt. At the time he was attending college in San Diego and reluctant to drop out to join a band that had, so far, had only limited success. Marq Torien briefly replaced DeMartini, though Warren returned in time for the recording of their EP, later in 1982.
Ratt EP (1983)
In July 1983, Ratt signed with independent Los Angeles recording label Time Coast Records. Later that same year, Time Coast released a 6-track version of the band's debut Ratt EP in the United States. Newly formed independent UK label Music For NationsMusic For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
released a 7-track version of the EP in Europe which included the additional track You're In Trouble.
Out of the Cellar (1983–1984)
After a well-received, self-titled independent EP, the band signed with Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and immediately started writing and recording what would be its first proper album Out of the Cellar
Out of the Cellar
Out of the Cellar is the breakthrough album by heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984. It is currently certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Beau Hill, the album features their best-known hit, "Round and Round", and other hits such as "Wanted Man", "Lack of Communication" and a...
. Released in March 1984, the breakthrough album was critically praised by both fans and critics alike at the time of its release. Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
's guest appearance, dressed in his Uncle Miltie drag character, in the video for "Round and Round
Round and Round (Ratt song)
"Round and Round" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt which proved to be the biggest hit of their career, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It appears as the third track of their album Out of the Cellar...
" helped draw even more attention to the band.
Out of the Cellar combined the then-prevalent Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
and Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
influenced bravado elements with the then-novel muted, staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
guitar-picking style of Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
.
The album scored much radio and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
play with the blockbuster anthem "Round and Round
Round and Round (Ratt song)
"Round and Round" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt which proved to be the biggest hit of their career, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It appears as the third track of their album Out of the Cellar...
" (which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Wanted Man", "Back for More", and "Lack of Communication". Pearcy's raspy yet bluesy vocals melded well with the pyrotechnic guitar playing of twin leads Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 1980s. Crosby was HIV positive, but died from a heroin overdose in 2002....
and Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
. Their music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s, especially for that of "Round and Round", exposed them to an impressionable teen audience first tuning into the then fledgling MTV cable network.
Out of the Cellar became a commercial success, going platinum many times over in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as making them stars in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. The album catapulted the band to the top, capped off by an incredibly successful world tour that saw the band sell out countless stadiums and arenas worldwide. Out of the Cellar is today widely regarded as the band's best work and a definitive moment in 80s heavy metal.
Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen
Julie "Tawny" Kitaen is an American actress and media personality. She became famous in the 1980s for appearing in several hard rock videos for the band Whitesnake, including the hit "Here I Go Again". Kitaen was married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale from 1989–1991...
, High School sweetheart of Crosby, who'd graced the cover of the band's EP from the previous year, agreed to appear on the cover of their debut full-length album. She also appeared in their video for "Back For More" as the girl in the 50s skirt at the jukebox.
In 1984 the band toured extensively, sharing the stage with such acts as Billy Squier
Billy Squier
William Haislip "Billy" Squier is an American rock musician. Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. He is best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Blackfoot
Blackfoot (band)
Blackfoot is a Southern rock musical ensemble from Jacksonville, Florida organized during 1970. Though they are primarily a Southern rock band, they were known also as a hard rock act....
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
and Lita Ford
Lita Ford
Lita Ford is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.-Early life:...
.
"Round and Round
Round and Round (Ratt song)
"Round and Round" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt which proved to be the biggest hit of their career, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It appears as the third track of their album Out of the Cellar...
" was chosen as #61 on VH1's Greatest Hard Rock Songs Show.
Invasion of Your Privacy (1985–1986)
The band's second full-length album Invasion of Your PrivacyInvasion of Your Privacy
Invasion of Your Privacy is the second album by American Heavy metal group Ratt. It was released in 1985 and featured the singles "Lay It Down", "You're in Love" and "What You Give Is What You Get"...
was released July 1985.
It peaked at #7 (which is the same position that Out of the Cellar
Out of the Cellar
Out of the Cellar is the breakthrough album by heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984. It is currently certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Beau Hill, the album features their best-known hit, "Round and Round", and other hits such as "Wanted Man", "Lack of Communication" and a...
peaked). The album met mostly positive reactions from fans and critics. Allmusic.com has called it "another batch of solid pop-metal tunes". It contained the favorites "You're in Love
You're in Love (Ratt song)
"You're in Love" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the first track on their 1985 album Invasion of Your Privacy, and the second single released from the album by Atlantic Records. It hit #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #34 on the Maintream Rock Tracks chart...
" and "Lay It Down" (which made #40 on the Hot 100) that assured the band a presence on radio and MTV. The music video for "You're In Love" is a live clip from the band's performance at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Warren DeMartini & Robbin Crosby's impressive guitar solos and Stephen Pearcy's highly sexual lyrics helped to further define the Ratt sound.
Although it did not achieve the sales figures nor the legendary status of their monumental debut, Invasion of Your Privacy nonetheless was certified double platinum (selling over two million copies) and remains highly regarded amongst fans.
A couple months after the album release, the band released a home video titled Ratt: The Video. The video featured the music videos from the Ratt EP, Out of the Cellar and Invasion of Your Privacy. The video is currently out of print and is very rare and difficult to find. The video was the first commercially available video to certify Gold sales status in the USA and eventually reached Platinum.
The model on Invasions cover is Playboy Playmate
Playmate
A Playmate is a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of Playboy magazine as Playmate of the Month . The PMOM's pictorial includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster, as well as a short biography and the "Playmate Data Sheet", which lists her birthdate, measurements, turn-ons, and...
Marianne Gravatte
Marianne Gravatte
Marianne Gravatte is an American model and actress. She was chosen as Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the October 1982 issue, then as the 1983 Playmate of the Year...
, who also made an appearance in the "Lay It Down" music video. Using a beautiful female model on an album cover later became a trend copied by many glam metal bands of the 1980s, such as Great White
Great White
Great White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"...
, and Slaughter
Slaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
. Pearcy himself would soon pose for Playgirl (August '86 issue). Invasion of Your Privacy was also one of the many albums that received the attention of the PMRC since the cover and the album title were a reference to voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
. The Tipper Gore
Tipper Gore
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
-led organization presented it at a U.S. Congressional hearing on September 19, 1985 dealing with parental advisory
Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory is a message affixed by the Recording Industry Association of America to audio and recordings in the United States containing excessive use of profane language and/or sexual references. Albums began to be labeled for "explicit lyrics" in 1985, after pressure from the Parents...
labels on albums that display "inappropriate" content.
The band toured extensively in the United States and Japan sharing stage with the likes of Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. In August 1985 the band played on the Monsters Of Rock festival in Donington, England, along with ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Bon Jovi, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
.
Dancing Undercover (1986–1987)
Ratt's next release was Dancing UndercoverDancing Undercover
- Side Two :-Personnel:* Stephen Pearcy - Lead vocals* Warren DeMartini - Lead guitar, backing vocals* Robbin Crosby - Lead guitar, backing vocals* Juan Croucier - Bass guitar, backing vocals* Bobby Blotzer - Drums, percussion-Certifications:...
in September 1986. The album was a relative disappointment with most music critics at the time of its release. From a commercial standpoint however, the album kept Ratt's string of consecutive Platinum albums alive.This is the first album as well to see Crosby's lead guitar duties minimized in favor of DeMartini.
In an effort to be taken more seriously, Ratt broke from the tradition of featuring a girl on the cover. They instead opted for gritty black-and-white photos of each of the five band members. Likewise, the album does not contain a single power ballad amongst its ten tracks and even features experimental forays into thrashier
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and heavier
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
sounds.
The song that reflected this most strikingly was "Body Talk", which was featured on the soundtrack for the 1986 Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
film The Golden Child
The Golden Child
The Golden Child is a 1986 American comedy film starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy plays Chandler Jarrell, a social worker who is confronted by a young Asian woman , who tells him that he is The Chosen One destined to save The Golden Child, the savior of all mankind, from the clutches of the demon Sardo...
. The more straight-ahead style of the album (especially with this song) lead many fans to believe that Ratt was headed in a direction more akin to the thrash
Thrash
Thrash may refer to:*Thrashing , where increasing resources are used to do a decreasing amount of work*Thrash , mascot of the Atlanta Thrashers-Music:*Thrash metal, a subgenre of heavy metal music...
style promulgated by such bands as Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
. However, that proved not to be the case as the slightly experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
undertones of the album were quickly replaced with a bluesier sound throughout their next three releases.
Other popular tracks generated by the album included "Dance
Dance (song)
"Dance" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the first track off their 1986 album Dancing Undercover and the tenth track of their compilation album Ratt & Roll 81-91. It reached #59 on the Billboard Top 100...
" and "Slip of the Lip
Slip of the Lip
"Slip of the Lip" is a song recorded by American heavy metal band Ratt in 1986 from the album Dancing Undercover and is also on their greatest hits album Ratt & Roll 81-91...
".
Through 1987, Ratt embarked on a U.S. tour with newcomers Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
, and played in Europe as a part of the Monsters Of Rock Tour (widely bootlegged). Their tour with Poison was the 6th highest grossing tour of 1987. Ratt also played Madison Square Garden.
Reach for the Sky (1988–1989)
The group's follow-up, Reach for the Sky was released in November 1988. Although the album achieved Platinum sales status and reached #17 on Billboard's album charts, it was widely panned by critics. Complaints ranged from it being formulaic and sophomoric to the album being uneven and lacking in focus. After this album, the band parted ways with long-time producer Beau HillBeau Hill
Beau Hill is an American record producer who is best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Kix, Winger, Streets, Warrant, Fiona, Europe and Ratt....
. For all the criticisms, Reach for the Sky nevertheless contained the popular tracks "Way Cool Jr.
Way Cool Jr.
"Way Cool Jr." is single by American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the third track of their 1988 album Reach for the Sky. It reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100....
" and "I Want a Woman
I Want a Woman
"I Want a Woman" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the second track on their fourth album Reach for the Sky and the second single released by Atlantic Records to promote the album...
" which received some airplay. Those two songs are now regarded as glam metal classics.
The surreal, Dali-esque album cover featured a statue wearing night vision goggles
Night vision goggles
A night vision device is an optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. They are most often used by the military and law enforcement agencies, but are available to civilian users...
, a human hand emerging from a bundle of twine
Twine
Twine is a light string or strong thread composed of two or more smaller strands or yarns twisted together. More generally, the term can be applied to any thin cord....
, a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fighter plane, and a wicker
Wicker
Wicker is hard woven fiber formed into a rigid material, usually used for baskets or furniture. Wicker is often made of material of plant origin, but plastic fibers are also used....
chair. The band has remained mum as to what the album cover is supposed to symbolize so as to facilitate the diverse interpretations of their fans. Early pressings of the album cover revealed the breast
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
part of the statue as requested by lead singer Stephen Pearcy. According to Pearcy, he wanted to use that version of the cover but the other band members feared that this would keep the record out of certain music stores. The revised version of the album contained the same tracks, but in a different order. After the revised version hit the record stores, producer Beau Hill stepped down from producer duties and tensions within the band increased.
The band started the new year with a concert at the Tokyo Dome headlined by Bon Jovi The other bands in the bill were Kingdom Come and Britny Fox. Ratt would soon play the Tokyo Dome on their own. Both appearances have been widely bootlegged.
The tour that followed in the spring of '89 (supported by Kix, Warrant and Britny Fox) was eventually cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
Detonator (1990–1991)
Ratt's fifth album DetonatorDetonator (album)
Detonator is Ratt's fifth studio album, released in August 1990.Though their previous album, Reach for the Sky, went platinum, it met with much criticism regarding the quality of their songs. In an attempt to regain the popularity that Ratt had in the mid-1980s, the band parted ways with long-time...
was released in August 1990. Sir Arthur Payson took over as producer for the band following Beau Hill
Beau Hill
Beau Hill is an American record producer who is best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Kix, Winger, Streets, Warrant, Fiona, Europe and Ratt....
's departure after the lackluster results for Reach for the Sky
Reach for the Sky
Reach for the Sky is a 1956 British biographical film of aviator Douglas Bader, based on the 1954 biography of the same name by Paul Brickhill. The film stars Kenneth More and was directed by Lewis Gilbert. It won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film of 1956.-Plot:In 1928, Douglas Bader, a...
. The album garnered mixed reactions. Critics claimed it lacked the live sounding energy of the band's earlier work, while some claim the sound more akin to "hair metal" (especially when compared to their raw early works) but still showing a band of experienced and refined musicians maturing and striving to expand their sound. Detonator featured among its tracks "Shame Shame Shame" and "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job
Lovin' You's A Dirty Job
"Lovin' You's a Dirty Job" is a single by the American heavy metal band Ratt. It was released as the first single from their 1990 album Detonator. The song was co-written by Ratt bassist Juan Croucier, guitarist Warren DeMartini, lead singer Stephen Pearcy and songwriter Desmond Child. The song is...
". The band co-wrote most of the album's songs with Desmond Child
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
while Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
appeared as a guest background vocalist on "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose". Pearcy also co-wrote Givin' Yourself Away
Givin' Yourself Away
"Givin' Yourself Away" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt. It would mark the final single released featuring the original line-up as co-lead guitarist Robbin Crosby left just after a short tour for the Detonator album was completed....
with Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
. Detonator's sales were around 800-900,000. Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 1980s. Crosby was HIV positive, but died from a heroin overdose in 2002....
played on the album (acknowledged in a KNAC interview), despite rumors to the contrary. (Juan Croucier stated on his message board that Crosby's guitar parts are on the disc but were low in the mix.) Plagued by addiction for some time, Crosby authored just one song, "Can't Wait on Love", and contributed notably to another, "All or Nothing". Crosby entered a rehab facility during the early stages of recording.
During the seven shows of the Japanese leg of the 'Detonator' tour in February 1991, Crosby's substance abuse had reached a point where his playing had become increasingly inconsistent onstage. The band had already removed the acoustic intro to Back For More
Back for More
Back for More may refer to:* Back for More ** Back for More Live, a concert DVD by Natalia* Back for More * "Back for More"...
, which Crosby performed, along with modifying sections of other songs that featured Robbin as lead guitarist. During one particular show, after the band performed two songs using non-standard tunings, Crosby did not properly switch out guitars with his guitar technician. As a result, he was not in tune with the band for the next two songs. The last show of the Japanese tour, in Osaka, would be Robbin's last with Ratt. He would not record or perform with the band again.
When the band returned to the United States, Robbin checked into a rehab facility and Ratt continued on with Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
, formerly of Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker Group
The Michael Schenker Group is a guitar-oriented hard rock band formed in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist, Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1992. After that, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed.The...
, and McAuley Schenker Group
McAuley Schenker Group
McAuley Schenker Group was a band featuring core members Robin McAuley and Michael Schenker , a successor to Schenker's earlier band Michael Schenker Group. McAuley was initially contacted to replace singer Gary Barden in MSG...
.
MTV Unplugged, Nobody Rides for Free and Ratt n' Roll 81–91 (1991–1992)
Ratt was featured on the first season of MTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
to promote their most current album and new single, sharing the stage with all-female rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Vixen
Vixen (band)
Vixen is an all-female American hard rock band which achieved some commercial success during the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the Los Angeles, California glam metal scene.-Early years:...
. Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
was still performing with Ratt at the time of this taping.
At the end of 1991, Ratt released the final single of their career, "Nobody Rides for Free
Nobody Rides For Free
"Nobody Rides For Free" was a single by the American heavy metal band Ratt. It was originally taken from the Point Break soundtrack.The song was written several years before its release by songwriter, Steve Caton, who performed it live many times in various Los Angeles and Hollywood clubs with his...
" which appeared on Point Break
Point Break
Point Break is a 1991 action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The title refers to the surfing term point break, where a wave breaks as it hits a point of land jutting out from the coastline.The film was a box office success upon...
s soundtrack album. The song and video clearly signal a change in the band. Robbin did not participate in the recording of the song and was not present for the shooting of the video in which only the four remaining members appeared.
The band never again recorded or performed with the original five members.
Atlantic Records released a greatest hits compilation entitled Ratt & Roll 81-91
Ratt & Roll 81-91
Ratt & Roll 8191 is a compilation album collecting most of the biggest hits from 1983 to 1991 from the American glam-metal band Ratt. It charted at #57 and remained a consistent seller in Ratt's catalog , with sales around 700,000 by 2002 , when another compilation , The Essentials, was released...
in September 1991. The album featured five songs from Detonator, more than any other album featured on the compilation. It also featured the aforementioned song "Nobody Rides For Free". This greatest hits compilation achieved Gold sales status.
Ratt "disbanded" or "on hiatus" (1992–1996)
In February 1992, Stephen Pearcy exited the group to form a new hard rock band, with former CinderellaCinderella (band)
Cinderella is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. They were famous for being a glam metal band, but then shifted over towards a more hard...
drummer Fred Coury
Fred Coury
Fred Coury is best known as the drummer for the glam metal band Cinderella. Coury lists Neil Peart, Peter Criss, Bobby Blotzer, Eric Carr, Tommy Lee and Tommy Aldridge as his drumming inspirations....
called Arcade
Arcade (band)
Arcade is a rock band formed in 1991 by ex-Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy, ex-Sea Hags guitarist Frankie Wilsex , ex-Talas/Michael Monroe guitarist Johnny Angel, and Cinderella drummer Fred Coury. Its originally proposed name was to be Taboo....
, before moving on to VD
VD
VD may stand for:* Valentine's Day* The Vampire Diaries* Vapor Density* Vaud, a canton in Switzerland* Vd, design diving speed for an aircraft, see V speeds for further information* Ivan "Vd" Vdović , Serbian drummer...
in '95 and the industrial-tinged Vertex
Vertex (band)
Vertex was a band formed in 1995 featuring singer Stephen Pearcy , guitarist Al Pitrelli , and drummer Hiro Kuretani .They released a self-titled album in 1996 as well as a single for the track "One Like a Son"...
in '96.
Robbin Crosby started Secret Service, which included bassist Krys Baratto (Samantha 7
Samantha 7
Samantha 7 was a short-lived band founded in 1998 by C.C. DeVille, lead guitarist from the rock band Poison. They released the self titled album Samantha 7 in 2000. C.C. Deville performed lead vocals and guitar on the album...
, Juice 13). In 1993, Crosby performed on Rumbledog's self titled debut album.
Warren DeMartini (who had left after Pearcy in '92) was in Whitesnake in 1994 and issued two solo releases: a single, 1995s
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
Surf's Up!, and a full length, 1996's
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
Crazy Enough to Sing to You
Crazy Enough to Sing to You
Crazy Enough to Sing to You is the first solo album by Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini released in 1996 .-Track listing:-Musicians:* Warren DeMartini * Eric Singer...
.
Bobby Blotzer and Juan Croucier both started to live more normal lives outside the public eye and the two of them became producers for underground bands.
Juan Croucier ran a recording studio called 'The Cellar', and, in 1994, received a lifetime achievement award in Los Angeles (Crosby was there). During that year, Robbin Crosby was diagnosed with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, which later developed into AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
First reunion and self-titled album (1996–2000)
In 1996, the five classic era members of Ratt began discussing a reunion and a subsequent album after their publishing had to be renewed.After meeting with Robbin, it was decided that he was not in any physical shape to record or perform with the band. As the talks continued to progress, bassist Juan Croucier made the decision not to participate in the reunion as well. Rudy Sarzo was first thought as a replacement but would end up rejoining Quiet Riot. Ratt eventually moved forward with Pearcy, DeMartini and Blotzer, along with new member, Robbie Crane
Robbie Crane
Robert Crane is the current bassist of the band Ratt.He moved to the Fairfax District of Hollywood, California at the age of 9 were he attended Bancroft Junior High and Fairfax high school. For his 14th birthday his father bought him his first bass guitar from Fairfax Music School in Hollywood...
(formerly of Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
's solo band and Pearcy's Vertex
Vertex (band)
Vertex was a band formed in 1995 featuring singer Stephen Pearcy , guitarist Al Pitrelli , and drummer Hiro Kuretani .They released a self-titled album in 1996 as well as a single for the track "One Like a Son"...
tour) on bass. The band issued a compilation album called Collage in July 1997, which consisted of B-sides, alternate recordings, and new versions of songs from the Mickey Ratt period. In 1998, Ratt secured a worldwide record deal with Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. The 1999 self-titled Ratt
Ratt (album)
Ratt is the self titled and sixth album of Ratt. Often referred to as "1999" by fans . This album saw the band's musical direction to a more blues influenced rock sound and further away from their previous glam metal roots...
album featured new material with a more conventional blues rock feel.
With A&R guru John Kalodner in control over how the album turned out, bringing in outside writers in the process, the album didn't come close to the platinum success that Ratt typically achieved, though the album's first single, "Over The Edge", did graze the Top 40 Mainstream Rock charts.
Two versions of Ratt, Death of Crosby and new era (2000–2006)
After this, Ratt added Keri KelliKeri Kelli
Keri Kelli is an American hard rock guitarist, until recently playing for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Alice Cooper. He occasionally also plays with Skid Row. He played guitar and co-wrote songs on the 2008 Alice Cooper studio album, Along Came A Spider, released worldwide July 29...
as a second guitarist. In 2000, Pearcy left the group again, going on tour as Nitronic, and soon after, as 'Ratt Featuring Stephen Pearcy'. His record label Top Fuel Records released some archived Ratt material and Pearcy solo work.
Meanwhile, DeMartini and Blotzer would carry on their version of Ratt replacing Pearcy with singer Jizzy Pearl
Jizzy Pearl
Jizzy Pearl is an Irish-American vocalist born on March 17, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He first fronted the rock band Data Clan, which became Love/Hate, and has also sung for L.A...
and replacing Kelli with guitarist John Corabi
John Corabi
John Corabi is a heavy metal singer and guitarist who has worked with such bands as Angora, The Scream, Mötley Crüe, Union and ESP , Ratt , Twenty 4 Seven , Zen Lunatic, Brides of Destruction, and Angel City Outlaws John Corabi (born on April 26, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a heavy...
. After a legal battle, the Demartini/Blotzer version would eventually win the rights to tour as 'Ratt' .
In 2001, former guitarist Robbin Crosby publicly announced that he was HIV positive. He died on June 6, 2002 from a heroin overdose. He was 42 years old.
For the next two years, they would be featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour
Rock Never Stops Tour
Rock Never Stops is a U.S. rock tour that features various rock groups of the 1980s and 1990s. The tour started in 1998 with L.A. Guns, FireHouse, Slaughter, Warrant and Quiet Riot. However, the line-up has changed through the years adding various bands of the genre.-Tour lineup:The tour's lineup...
alongside other 1980s hard rock/heavy metal bands. In 2001, Pearcy attempted to sue the band for touring under the "Ratt" name, but lost. Pearcy then toured as 'Stephen Pearcy' and occasionally nicknamed his solo band the Rat Bastards.
On January 7, 2005 a fan asked Juan Croucier on his message board how long Blotzer and Croucier decided to put the band to rest back in 1992 after Pearcy and DeMartini left the group to which he responded:
On May 11, 2006, Ratt was profiled on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
. In the episode, it was revealed for the first time publicly that former guitarist Robbin Crosby died of a heroin overdose, and not AIDS-related complications as was sometimes erroneously reported.
During the group's quiet years, the members (and former members) continued to work on their own side projects. Blotzer, Corabi, and Crane joined forces with Keri Kelli
Keri Kelli
Keri Kelli is an American hard rock guitarist, until recently playing for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Alice Cooper. He occasionally also plays with Skid Row. He played guitar and co-wrote songs on the 2008 Alice Cooper studio album, Along Came A Spider, released worldwide July 29...
in the classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
cover band named "Angel City Outlaws". Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
and Jizzy Pearl
Jizzy Pearl
Jizzy Pearl is an Irish-American vocalist born on March 17, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He first fronted the rock band Data Clan, which became Love/Hate, and has also sung for L.A...
worked on their respective solo careers and continued to record new material. In a surprising turn of events, Juan Croucier and Stephen Pearcy toured with one another during the summer and fall of 2006. Even further surprisingly to many, Blotzer joined them onstage at a show on October 27, 2006.
Second reunion (2006–2008)
On December 1, 2006 the website "Metal Sludge" set off a firestorm of rumors after reporting that Pearcy and Croucier would re-unite with Blotzer and DeMartini. On December 4, 2006, Jizzy Pearl announced on his message board that he was no longer a member of the band, increasing speculation and excitement to a fever pitch. On March 17, 2007 another website stated that Ratt would go on the 2007 tour with PoisonPoison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
and Great White
Great White
Great White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"...
. On April 12, Bravewords reported that White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
would open for Poison and Ratt, while Great White was still 'in talks' to join the tour.
On March 20, 2007, the official Ratt website was finally updated with only the band's logo after a year and a half of being dormant. One week later, Blabbermouth.com reported that Ratt would take part in the "Rocklahoma" festival on July 13–15, 2007 in Pryor, Oklahoma, with original singer Stephen Pearcy and without Juan Croucier who decided to not participate in the reunion tour for the second time (Robbie Crane stayed on bass instead).
Tramp's White Lion was removed from the tour due to legal issues, and Vains of Jenna
Vains of Jenna
Vains of Jenna are a rock band formed in Falkenberg, Sweden during January 2005. They have since relocated to Los Angeles, California. They will be performing around the States with the help of and -History:...
took their place. The summer tour started June 13, 2007 at the Bi Lo Center in Greenville, S.C., and ended August 19, 2007 at the Coors Amphitheatre in Denver. The tour, which brought Poison and Ratt onstage together for the first time since 1999, visited amphitheaters, festivals and fairs in such cities as Boston, Detroit, New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles.
Festivals the tour performed at include Birmingham, Ala.'s City Stages (June 16), Bay City, Mich.'s Bay City River Roar (June 22), Pryor, Okla.'s Rocklahoma (July 13), Sturgis, S.D.'s Buffalo Chip (August 5) and Newton, IA, Iowa Speedway (August 4).
On July 31, 2007, Ratt released a DVD entitled Ratt - Videos From the Cellar: The Atlantic Years
Ratt - Videos From the Cellar: The Atlantic Years
Videos From the Cellar: The Atlantic Years is the long-awaited DVD release by Ratt. It combines the two previously released video collections, including their popular music videos -- "Round And Round", "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job" and "Lay It Down"...
which chronicle the band's video history. On August 21, 2007, they also released a best-of CD entitled Tell The World: The Very Best Of Ratt
Tell the World: The Very Best of Ratt
Tell the World: The Very Best of Ratt is a career-spanning compilation album featuring twenty tracks from all seven of Ratt's albums, including their quartet of consecutive platinum LPs from the mid-to-late-'80s: Out of the Cellar, Invasion of Your Privacy, Dancing Undercover and Reach for the Sky,...
.
In November 2007, Ratt toured Japan and Australia, the Australian leg featuring Winger
Winger
Winger is an American hard rock band formed in New York City that gained popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band's two platinum albums, Winger and In the Heart of the Young, along with charting singles "Seventeen", "Headed for a Heartbreak" and "Miles Away", put the band on the...
as support act. Throughout October the band was to tour Europe, but instead, the band planned to return in June 2008 to perform at some of Europe's most popular rock festivals including Spring and Airbrake as well as several other key dates in the UK and Scandinavia. At the end of January 2008 they played at Motley Cruise, a 4-day cruise in the Caribbean (Miami, Key West and Cozumel, MX) with Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, Skid Row, Slaughter
Slaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
, Endeverafter
Endeverafter
Endeverafter is an American heavy metal band from Sacramento, California.-History:Endeverafter was formed in 2004 by lead singer and guitarist Michael Grant. After the rest of the band was assembled, they released their debut EP in 2005 and played regular shows in their hometown, featuring...
, and Lynam
Lynam (band)
-History:Formed in Alabama in 2001 after the breakup of Jacob Bunton's major-label band Mars Electric, Lynam is often aligned with the retro metal movement of the mid-2000s generation. Led by frontman and principal songwriter Jacob Bunton, the band is heavily influenced by Def Leppard and has drawn...
.
In May and June 2008, Ratt toured the UK. On June 5, 2008, they were supported by local Leeds band King Nothing at the legendary rock club Rio's.
In August 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio's Hair Nation channel reported that former Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
singer John Corabi had resigned as rhythm guitarist for Ratt and was rumored to be replaced by former Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
guitarist Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo is a Mexican-born American guitarist best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak. Born July 8, 1957, Cavazo is originally from Mexico City where their first band with his brother Antonio Cavazo was called Speed of Light...
. Bobby Blotzer confirmed these rumors stating that Cavazo was set to replace Corabi and would make his debut with the band on August 27. His first show with Ratt was in Baton Rouge, LA.
Infestation and hiatus (2009–2010)
Ratt joined a variety of other hard rock acts on the November 2009 cruise entitled "ShipRockedShiprocked
ShipRocked is an annual rock music festival at sea, featuring live onboard performances by a number of hard rock and heavy metal performers on multiple stages throughout the ship...
". In April 2009 Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
announced the signing of a worldwide deal with Ratt. Their new album, Infestation
Infestation (album)
Infestation is the seventh studio album by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the band's first original effort since their self-titled album in 1999. It marks the Ratt studio debut for guitarist Carlos Cavazo, formerly of Quiet Riot...
, was released in April 2010. Infestation reached #30 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. A video for the first single titled "Best of Me" was filmed. A world tour in support of Infestation followed. Infestation also marked something of a return to Atlantic, as Roadrunner has been owned by Atlantic since 2006.
In a March 18, 2010 interview with Metalholic Magazine, guitarist/founder, Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
said of the new album, Infestation; "It really exceeded our expectations. Conceptually we kinda wanted to revisit the period of Out Of The Cellar
Out of the Cellar
Out of the Cellar is the breakthrough album by heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984. It is currently certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Beau Hill, the album features their best-known hit, "Round and Round", and other hits such as "Wanted Man", "Lack of Communication" and a...
and Invasion Of Your Privacy
Invasion of Your Privacy
Invasion of Your Privacy is the second album by American Heavy metal group Ratt. It was released in 1985 and featured the singles "Lay It Down", "You're in Love" and "What You Give Is What You Get"...
. We were sort of loosely trying to shoot for something that could fit between those two records. We were looking for more uptempo ideas and the double leads that Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby
Robbin Crosby was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 1980s. Crosby was HIV positive, but died from a heroin overdose in 2002....
and I started doing back in 1983."
RATT were confirmed playing the main stage at the Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
2010 at Donnington Park, UK in June 2010. However, on June 8, 2010, it was announced on Download Festival's website that RATT had pulled out of the festival due to surgery of one of the band members.
On October 26, 2010, it was announced Ratt would be going into an indefinite hiatus after tensions within the band reared their head. It was announced that it is not known whether the band will be calling it a day or not, but in an interview with bassist Robbie Crane
Robbie Crane
Robert Crane is the current bassist of the band Ratt.He moved to the Fairfax District of Hollywood, California at the age of 9 were he attended Bancroft Junior High and Fairfax high school. For his 14th birthday his father bought him his first bass guitar from Fairfax Music School in Hollywood...
, he has confirmed that following the end of the band's tour supporting their latest album Infestation
Infestation (album)
Infestation is the seventh studio album by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the band's first original effort since their self-titled album in 1999. It marks the Ratt studio debut for guitarist Carlos Cavazo, formerly of Quiet Riot...
, the band is currently on an indefinite hiatus. He has also confirmed that all members are busy with their own projects: him touring with Lynch Mob
Lynch Mob (band)
Lynch Mob is an American band featuring former Dokken guitarist George Lynch, who has been the band's only permanent member. The rest of the original band which featured Oni Logan, Anthony Esposito and Mick Brown have come and gone, and in some cases, come back.-1989 Formation:Lynch Mob was formed...
, frontman Stephen Pearcy
Stephen Pearcy
Stephen Erica Pearcy is the lead singer of the 80's metal band Ratt. He has also been in the bands Arcade, Vicious Delite, Vertex, Nitronic, and Band From Hell...
touring with his solo band for next six months, Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
is touring with his and Dee Snider
Dee Snider
Daniel "Dee" Snider is an American singer-songwriter, screenwriter, radio personality, and actor. Snider is most famous for his role as the frontman of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister...
's Christmas band, and Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo is a Mexican-born American guitarist best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak. Born July 8, 1957, Cavazo is originally from Mexico City where their first band with his brother Antonio Cavazo was called Speed of Light...
and Bobby Blotzer
Bobby Blotzer
Robert John Blotzer, better known as Bobby Blotzer and nicknamed "Blotz" , is a drummer most famous for playing drums for glam metal band Ratt...
are working on a new project together. Rumors are that bassist Robbie Crane may be out of Ratt whether the band decides to continue or not. On October 27, 2010, vocalist Stephen Pearcy confirmed that Ratt is going to be on hiatus "for a while.". More recently Stephen Pearcy posted that a RATT tour would be possible for 2012 after his current commitments.
Musical style
Ratt's music is influenced by 1970s hard rockHard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands such as Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
, Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, and KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. They fused this style with NWOBHM
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
influences, including Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
and Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
.
Although they later incorporated more of a blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
sound into their music, the band was one of the first glam metal style groups that appeared in the early 1980s in California. Their image bore similarities to that of Rough Cutt
Rough Cutt
Rough Cutt was an American heavy metal band from San Diego, California in the 1980s. They were based in Los Angeles after signing a recording contract with Warner Brothers...
, which had several members who were previously in Mickey Ratt (from which Ratt evolved).
Current members
- Stephen PearcyStephen PearcyStephen Erica Pearcy is the lead singer of the 80's metal band Ratt. He has also been in the bands Arcade, Vicious Delite, Vertex, Nitronic, and Band From Hell...
– lead vocals; occasionally rhythm guitar (1976–1992, 1996–2000, 2006–present) - Warren DeMartiniWarren DeMartiniWarren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
– lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1982–1992, 1996–present) - Bobby BlotzerBobby BlotzerRobert John Blotzer, better known as Bobby Blotzer and nicknamed "Blotz" , is a drummer most famous for playing drums for glam metal band Ratt...
– drums, percussion (1982–1992, 1996–present) - Robbie CraneRobbie CraneRobert Crane is the current bassist of the band Ratt.He moved to the Fairfax District of Hollywood, California at the age of 9 were he attended Bancroft Junior High and Fairfax high school. For his 14th birthday his father bought him his first bass guitar from Fairfax Music School in Hollywood...
– bass guitar, backing vocals (1996–present) - Carlos CavazoCarlos CavazoCarlos Cavazo is a Mexican-born American guitarist best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak. Born July 8, 1957, Cavazo is originally from Mexico City where their first band with his brother Antonio Cavazo was called Speed of Light...
– rhythm & lead guitars, backing vocals (2008–present)
Former members
- Chris HagerChris HagerChris Hager is a guitarist who played in Mickey Ratt , Ratt, and Rough Cutt., a Warner Bros recording artist. He also released an album titled Trash with his former Mickey Ratt bandmate Stephen Pearcy as Pearcy/Hager...
- rhythm & lead guitars (1976–1981) - Matt ThorrMatt ThorrMatt Thorne a.k.a. Matt Thorr is a bassist who has played in Ratt, Rough Cutt, and Jailhouse. He co-wrote the song "Back For More" with Stephen Pearcy on Ratt's album Out of the Cellar...
- bass (1976–1981) - Dave AlfordDave AlfordDave Alford is a drummer who has played in the bands Max Havoc, Mickey Ratt , Rough Cutt, Jailhouse, and Kryme.-With Mickey Ratt:* The Garage Tape Dayz 78-81 * In Your Direction -With Rough Cutt:...
- drums, percussion (1976–1981) - Jake E. LeeJake E. LeeJakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
- lead & rhythm guitars (1980–1981) - Robbin CrosbyRobbin CrosbyRobbin Crosby was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 1980s. Crosby was HIV positive, but died from a heroin overdose in 2002....
- lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1981–1991)† - Juan CroucierJuan CroucierJuan Croucier is a Cuban-American heavy metal musician.-Career:Croucier attended Torrance High School in Torrance, California. Formerly a bassist for well known metal bands Dokken and Ratt during the 1980s, Croucier was also very briefly in Quiet Riot...
- bass, backing vocals (1982–1992) - Marq TorienMarq TorienMarq Torien is the lead singer of the hard rock act BulletBoys. He is the only member to have remained with the group since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1988....
- lead & rhythm guitars (1982) - Joey CristofanilliJoey CristofanilliJoey Cristofanilli is a bassist who played in the bands Magic, Rough Cutt, Ratt, and Jag Wire.With the bands Magic and Rough Cutt, he was bandmates with keyboardist Claude Schnell, who later became famous for playing keyboards in the band Dio....
- bass, backing vocals (1983) - Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
- rhythm & lead guitars (1991–1992) - Keri KelliKeri KelliKeri Kelli is an American hard rock guitarist, until recently playing for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Alice Cooper. He occasionally also plays with Skid Row. He played guitar and co-wrote songs on the 2008 Alice Cooper studio album, Along Came A Spider, released worldwide July 29...
- rhythm & lead guitars (1999) - John CorabiJohn CorabiJohn Corabi is a heavy metal singer and guitarist who has worked with such bands as Angora, The Scream, Mötley Crüe, Union and ESP , Ratt , Twenty 4 Seven , Zen Lunatic, Brides of Destruction, and Angel City Outlaws John Corabi (born on April 26, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a heavy...
- rhythm & lead guitars (2000–2008) - Jizzy PearlJizzy PearlJizzy Pearl is an Irish-American vocalist born on March 17, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He first fronted the rock band Data Clan, which became Love/Hate, and has also sung for L.A...
- lead vocals (2000–2006)
Discography
- Ratt (EP) (1983)
- Out of the CellarOut of the CellarOut of the Cellar is the breakthrough album by heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984. It is currently certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Beau Hill, the album features their best-known hit, "Round and Round", and other hits such as "Wanted Man", "Lack of Communication" and a...
(1984) - Invasion of Your PrivacyInvasion of Your PrivacyInvasion of Your Privacy is the second album by American Heavy metal group Ratt. It was released in 1985 and featured the singles "Lay It Down", "You're in Love" and "What You Give Is What You Get"...
(1985) - Dancing UndercoverDancing Undercover- Side Two :-Personnel:* Stephen Pearcy - Lead vocals* Warren DeMartini - Lead guitar, backing vocals* Robbin Crosby - Lead guitar, backing vocals* Juan Croucier - Bass guitar, backing vocals* Bobby Blotzer - Drums, percussion-Certifications:...
(1986) - Reach for the Sky (1988)
- DetonatorDetonator (album)Detonator is Ratt's fifth studio album, released in August 1990.Though their previous album, Reach for the Sky, went platinum, it met with much criticism regarding the quality of their songs. In an attempt to regain the popularity that Ratt had in the mid-1980s, the band parted ways with long-time...
(1990) - Collage (1997) (Compilation)
- RattRatt (album)Ratt is the self titled and sixth album of Ratt. Often referred to as "1999" by fans . This album saw the band's musical direction to a more blues influenced rock sound and further away from their previous glam metal roots...
(1999) - InfestationInfestation (album)Infestation is the seventh studio album by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the band's first original effort since their self-titled album in 1999. It marks the Ratt studio debut for guitarist Carlos Cavazo, formerly of Quiet Riot...
(2010)
External links
- The Official Ratt website
- [ Ratt] at Allmusic
- http://therareonline.com/