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RATT |
Submitted By Cassie on 06/11/06
Link to Ratt Discography
The origins of Ratt go back to 1978 with a San Diego band called Mickey Ratt, which was formed by founding member vocalist Stephen Pearcy. Guitarist Chris Hagar, bassist Matt Thorr, and drummer John Turner, completed the four-piece line-up. Guitarist Jake E. Lee briefly joined in 1980.
In 1980, Mickey Ratt recorded a single called Dr. Rock / Drivin' on E, which was given to fans at early Los Angeles club shows.
By early 1982, the band's name was shortened to Ratt. In 1982, Ratt included the song Tell the World on the first Metal Massacre album, which is also known as the first album to have a Metallica song (Hit the Lights). After this album release, Jake E. Lee, Chris Hagar, and Matt Thorr all left Ratt to form another band called Rough Cutt. Jake E. Lee was with Mickey Ratt for about a year before joining Ozzy Osbourne's band in October 1982. The three members would be replaced by bassist Juan Croucier (who in 1982 left the band Dokken) and guitarists Robbin Crosby and Warren DeMartini.
By late 1982, the classic Ratt line-up of Stephen Pearcy (vocals), Robbin Crosby (guitar), Warren DeMartini (lead guitar), Juan Croucier (bass guitar), and Bobby Blotzer (drums) was complete.
After releasing their 1983 debut Ratt EP, the band signed to Atlantic Records. Its first 1984 major album release, Out of the Cellar, was a success, selling three million copies. The first single, "Round and Round", also reached no 12 in the U.S. top 40. Ratt's next album, released in 1985, Invasion of Your Privacy didn't sell quite as well but still went multi-platinum. Ratt's subsequent two albums, Dancing Undercover (1986), and Reach For The Sky (1988) sold sufficiently well to achieve platinum sales status, and Detonator (1990) the band's final album, achieved gold status.
In 1990, Robbin Crosby left the band. Guitarist Michael Schenker subsequently played for a short time with the band. In 1991, Ratt became a four piece with the release of Nobody Rides For Free, which appeared on the Point Break soundtrack album. After releasing a compilation album Ratt & Roll 81-91, Ratt finally disbanded in early 1992. Alternative music/grunge music became popular and glam metal bands like Ratt were no longer in vogue. Pearcy left to form a new band, Arcade, before moving on to another new band, Vertex. DeMartini issued a solo album while the band waited for metal to be popular again.
In 1997, Ratt re-formed as a four piece with Pearcy, DeMartini, Blotzer, and Robbie Crane (formerly of Vince Neil's solo band) on bass guitar. The band issued a compilation album called Collage, which consisted of B-sides, alternate recordings, and new versions of songs from the Mickey Ratt period. In 1999, Ratt secured a worldwide record deal with Sony. The 1999 self-titled Ratt album featured new material with a more conventional rock/blues feel. After this, Ratt added Keri Kelli as a second lead guitarist. In 2000, Pearcy left the group again, forming two more bands: Vicious Delite and Nitronic, as well as a record label, Top Fuel Records, which released some archived Ratt material and Pearcy solo work. Ratt then replaced Pearcy with singer Jizzy Pearl. Keri Kelli was replaced by lead guitarist and former Mötley Crüe vocalist John Corabi.
In 2001, former guitarist Robbin Crosby publicly announced that he suffered from AIDS. He died in 2002 of a heroin overdose.
The last two years, they've been featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour alongside other 1980s hard rock/heavy metal bands.
On May 11, 2006, Ratt were profiled on VH1's Behind the Music.
As of now the future of the band seems unpredictable. There are no original members remaining in the band, and DeMartini and Blotzer are the only two "classic" members still remaining. In 2001 Blotzer and DeMartini won a court case over former lead singer Stephen Pearcy to tour under the "Ratt" name. However, because Pearcy would be owed money if Ratt released any new music, it is highly unlikely that Ratt will release any albums in the future, or have any plans to do so.
Today Ratt still continues to tour and have appeared in package tours with W.A.S.P. and L.A. Guns.
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