Bobby Blotzer | |
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![]() Blotzer Performing in 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Robert John Blotzer |
Also known as | Bobby, Blotz, Blobsta |
Born | October 22, 1958 |
Origin | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US |
Genres | Glam metal, hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Drums |
Robert John Blotzer (born October 22, 1958) is an American musician best known as the drummer for metal band Ratt. He attended Torrance High School in Torrance, California along with his future Ratt bandmate Juan Croucier.
Blotzer began his career playing with Don Dokken along with Juan Croucier. Blotzer and Croucier left Dokken in 1978 to form FireFoxx along with Ron Abrams on guitar. [1] He became Ratt's drummer in 1982. Along with bassist Juan Croucier, he had previously played with noted Italian/Swiss guitarist Vic Vergeat, including a tour of the U.S. behind Vergeat's 1981 solo album Down to the Bone. Ratt had five consecutive platinum albums during the 1980s.[ citation needed ]
At the beginning of the 1990s Ratt's popularity waned, and the band called it quits in 1992. Blotzer started a more normal life outside the public eye. Five years later, Ratt reformed and toured once again. In 2000, Stephen Pearcy apparently quit the group, and shortly thereafter Bobby had exhibited an extreme dislike for Pearcy, who had sued the band for continuing under the "Ratt" name and had claimed the band had ruined their worldwide deal with Sony. Blotzer had heavily denied the claims and had said they were a bunch of "pathologic lies", adding that Pearcy was a "sick person". [2] Blotzer and Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini had subsequently won the court case to use the "Ratt" name.
In 2002, former Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby died of AIDS-related complications, [3] [4] and heroin overdose, [5] [6] which marked one of the most painful parts of Blotzer's life.[ citation needed ] Blotzer posted a message to his late bandmate affectionately referred to as "The King" by fans on the group's official web site and called Crosby "one of the most kind hearted, the most compassionate, intelligent, talented" people he had ever known.
In 2009, Metal Sludge reported that Blotzer was arrested and booked on charges of domestic violence. [7]
In 2010, Blotzer released an autobiographical book, Tales of A Ratt – Things You Shouldn't Know.[ citation needed ] On September 2, 2012, it was announced Bobby would be joining Geoff Tate's touring lineup formed after the latter's dismissal from Queensrÿche, [8] but he left on January 25, 2013, to return playing with Ratt. [9] In March 2015, Blotzer guested with Las Vegas band Sin City Sinners. Blotzer asked Sinners' singer Joshua Alan, guitarist Michael "Doc" Ellis, and bassist Scott Griffin to join him in forming a new version of RATT. They toured under the name "Bobby Blotzer's Ratt Experience," performing Ratt songs.[ citation needed ] In September 2015, Blotzer announced that he had taken control of the Ratt brand and would take his band on tour in 2016 using the Ratt name. [10] However, within days, Warren DeMartini spoke out against Blotzer using the name, as he owns half of the Ratt name as part of WBS, Inc., the company owned by him and Blotzer. [11] Blotzer claimed he has the legal right to go on tour using the name, as DeMartini breached his fiduciary duty by refusing to tour under the Ratt name as a partner in the corporation. [12] In October 2015, DeMartini sued Blotzer for falsely advertising his "tribute band" as the real thing. [13] In November 2015, DeMartini's attempt to procure an injunction to prevent Blotzer from using and touring under the Ratt trademark was overturned, allowing Blotzer to tour using the name Ratt. [14]
He has played with several side projects over the years, such as Contraband; he has also played as a touring drummer for Montrose.[ citation needed ]
Dokken is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. It split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. The band has had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as "Alone Again", "In My Dreams", and "Burning Like a Flame", and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The live album Beast from the East was nominated for the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1989.
Out of the Cellar is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984 by Atlantic Records. The album was an immediate success, with wide airplay on radio and heavy rotation on MTV of its singles, especially the hit "Round and Round". The album is certified as triple platinum by the RIAA. The album brought Ratt to the top of the glam metal scene in Los Angeles. Out of the Cellar would prove to be the band's most successful album.
Stephen Eric Pearcy is an American musician who is the founder, singer, songwriter of the heavy metal band Ratt. He has also created the bands Firedome, Crystal Pystal, Arcade, Vicious Delite, and Vertex. He has also recorded seven albums as a solo artist.
Juan Croucier is a Cuban-born American musician. He is best known as the bassist for the hard rock/glam metal band Ratt.
Dancing Undercover is the third studio album by American glam metal band Ratt, released in 1986. The album was produced by Beau Hill and contains the hit single/video "Dance", which appeared in the Miami Vice episode "Down for the Count". Two other videos were made, "Body Talk", which was used on the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy's film, The Golden Child, and "Slip of the Lip". It charted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 chart and at No. 14 on Rolling Stone's Album Chart. The album went platinum.
Ratt is the debut EP by American glam metal band Ratt. It was released independently in 1983 on the band's Time Coast label.
"Lay It Down" is a single by American glam metal band Ratt. It was the first single released to promote the group's second album, Invasion of Your Privacy.
"Wanted Man" is the first track on American heavy metal band Ratt's album Out of the Cellar. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the 1985 film Weird Science. The song was composed by Robbin Crosby, Stephen Pearcy, and Joey Cristofanilli, and it was the second biggest hit on the album, reaching number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 38 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
"Shame Shame Shame" is a single by American heavy metal band Ratt, released on their album Detonator. The song's lyrics focus mainly on cheating. The song was co-written by famed songwriter Desmond Child, Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini and lead singer Stephen Pearcy. The song features a slow detuned opening guitar solo, titled "Intro To Shame", that suddenly speeds up at the 0:55 mark until the drums and the bass come in at 1:01 into the 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 Hot 100. The song was written by Stephen Pearcy, guitarists Robbin Crosby and Warren DeMartini, and album producer Beau Hill.
"I Want a Woman" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt.
"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. It was written by Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy, bassist Juan Croucier, and guitarist Warren DeMartini.
"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 known for its anthemic chorus, and Pearcy's raspy vocals. The B-Side of the US single was "What's It Gonna Be", taken from their previous album Reach for the Sky. There was also a UK 12" which included a remix of "Lovin' You..." which was eventually included on Collage.
"Nobody Rides for Free" is a single by the American heavy metal band Ratt. It was originally taken from the Point Break soundtrack.
"Body Talk" is a song written and recorded by American heavy metal band Ratt. The song is primarily written by Ratt's bassist Juan Croucier. Ratt's guitarist Warren DeMartini had the song's opening riffs for years. However, no one was able to develop it into a song. Under a very tight deadline, Ratt bassist Juan Croucier stepped in. He wrote all the vocal melodies and lyrics, adding additional chord progressions to the one riff that had been around for years. The song title was apparently conceived of by Ratt producer Beau Hill or vocalist Stephen Pearcy.
"You're in Love" is a song by the American heavy metal band Ratt. It is the first track on the group's 1985 album Invasion of Your Privacy, and the second single released from the record by Atlantic Records.
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum, and multi-platinum by the RIAA. The group is perhaps best known for hit singles such as "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down", tracks that ranked on Billboard's top 40 at No. 12 and No. 40, respectively, as well as other songs such as "Wanted Man", "You're in Love" and "Dance". Along with groups such as friendly rivals Mötley Crüe, Ratt has been recognized as instrumental in the formation of the early 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene, also known as "hair metal" or "pop metal".
Bradley Allen Lang is an American bassist. He became known for playing with Y&T, replacing long-time group member Phil Kennemore, after the latter was diagnosed with lung cancer. He later played with Bobby Blotzer's Ratt. He currently is playing with the BulletBoys.