Genre

80s US 'Hair Metal' (Heavy Metal subgenre)


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Bio/History

One of the "new wave" 80s Heavy Metal bands from Los Angeles. The band took off when the video "Round and Round," which featured comedian Milton Berle in drag, entered heavy rotation on MTV.

The band split up in 1992 when lead singer Stephen Pearcy left the band, reformed briefly in the late 1990s, and split up again when (gasp) lead singer Stephen Pearcy left the band. Ratt's 2000 U.S. tour was called off due to Pearcy's refusal to tour. A new incarnation of the band under lead guitarist Warren DeMartini and drummer Bobby Blotzer currently owns the RATT trademark, after a messy court fight with Pearcy which ended in Feb. 2002.

According to the official RATT site, www.therattpack.com,

"... the injunction against Stephen permits him to refer to his historical association with RATT in advertisements, (i.e. "Stephen Pearcy, former lead singer of RATT"), but the historical reference has to be on a separate line below his name. He is not allowed to use "RATT featuring Stephen Pearcy" or otherwise expressly or impliedly state that it's a RATT concert, or some other reference that implies that he is still a part of the band."
The band encourages fans to, err, rat out Pearcy if he uses the RATT trademark in any way other than that outlined above.

Memoriam

Original lead guitarist Robbin Crosby (b. August 4th, 1959) passed away from complications related to AIDS on June 6th, 2002. Crosby speculated on KNAC in 2001 that he had contracted AIDS while doing heroin and otherwise partying on tour in the early 1990s.

Known for

  • Round and Round, 1984 (single reached #12 on the US charts);
  • Public legal feuding, 2002 (see above)

Original members

  • Stephen Pearcy - vocals
  • Robbin Crosby - guitars & vocals
  • Warren De Martini - guitars & vocals
  • Bobby Blotzer - drums
  • Juan Croucier - bass & vocals

Current lineup

  • Jizzy Pearl (new vocalist)
  • Warren DeMartini
  • Bobby Blotzer
  • John Corabi
  • Robbie Crane

Discography

Contemporaries and influences

Mötley Crüe were part of the same L.A. based rock scene, which had arguably started with the brief success of Quiet Riot.

Trivia

Started in the 1970s as "Mickey Ratt," presumably a play on the name of Walt's mouse.


The EP

The EP jacket was dark and featured the lower legs of a model in fishnet stockings and pink high heels. Numerous small white rats clambered about on those (somewhat scrawny) legs. As noted above, this was an EP, meaning it held half as many songs as a complete LP album. "Each side contains complete album" warned the dust jacket sternly.

The Tracks

  • Sweet Cheater
  • You Think You're Tough
  • U Got It
  • Tell The World
  • Back For More
  • Walkin' The Dog

Liner notes

Hey, man, a big shout out to all the dudes at official RATT site http://www.therattpack.com/ for the rockin' legalese. Devil horns to http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/9297/rattdisco1.html for the discography and http://www.livedaily.citysearch.com/artist/575.html for kickin' bio material.