Ratt was an American glam metal band from San Diego, California. Formed in 1977 under the name Mickey Ratt, the group originally included lead vocalist and guitarist Stephen Pearcy, lead guitarist Chris Hager, bassist Tim Garcia and drummer Bob Eisenberg. In 1982, Ratt finalised its "classic lineup" of Pearcy, guitarist Warren DeMartini, guitarist Robbin Crosby, bassist Juan Croucier and drummer Bobby Blotzer, that lasted through 1991. The band has been through numerous lineup changes. The band has been on hiatus since 2022, at which point it consisted of Pearcy (who was absent between 2000 and 2007), Juan Croucier (who rejoined in 2012), lead guitarist Jordan Ziff, drummer Pete Holmes (who both joined in 2018), and rhythm guitarist Frankie Lindia (who joined in mid-2021).
Ratt originally formed in San Diego, California in 1977 under the name Mickey Ratt. [1] The band originally included lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Stephen Pearcy, lead guitarist Chris Hager, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Garcia, and drummer Bob Eisenberg. [2] After John Turner took over from Eisenberg, the band relocated to Los Angeles in January 1980. [3] Garcia opted to return to San Diego not long after, [1] and was replaced by Dave Jellison a few months later. [4] Paul DeNisco briefly joined as a second guitarist. [5] After a few years of touring, Hager left in 1981 to pursue other projects, with Turner and Jellison following not long after. [6] Pearcy rebuilt the band with the addition of guitarists Jake E. Lee and Bob DeLellis, bassist Matt Thorr and drummer Dave Alford, as well as renaming it M. Ratt and, later, Ratt. [7] [8]
The lineup lasted only a few months, with Alford and Lee quitting after Pearcy fired DeLellis without consulting them. [8] The pair subsequently formed Rough Cutt together. [9] Thorr remained the band's bassist, alongside new additions Warren DeMartini and Robbin Crosby on guitars, and Khurt Maier on drums. [10] This lineup recorded "Tell the World" for the first edition of the Metal Blade compilation Metal Massacre . [11] Thorr was briefly replaced by Gene Hunter, [12] however by the end of the year the group had finalised its classic lineup of Pearcy, DeMartini, Crosby, bassist Juan Croucier and drummer Bobby Blotzer. [13] Marq Torien briefly joined on guitar in 1982. [14] Joey Cristofanilli temporarily took over from Croucier in 1983, but he returned once he left Dokken later in the year. [15]
Ratt's lineup remained constant throughout the rest of the 1980s, as they released a series of commercially successful albums. [16] In 1991, Crosby was forced to leave the group due to a "debilitating addiction to heroin". [17] He was temporarily replaced by Michael Schenker for a series of tour dates. [18] In early 1992, Pearcy opted to leave Ratt to form the supergroup Arcade. [19] As a result, the group was subsequently disbanded. [20] In 1996, the band reunited with Pearcy, DeMartini and Blotzer joined by bassist Robbie Crane, after plans for a full classic lineup reunion fell through. [21] Keri Kelli joined as a second guitarist in early 1999, in time for a tour starting in May. [22] In January 2000, however, Pearcy suddenly left the band just before the start of a tour. [23] Kelli also left shortly after the vocalist's departure. [24]
Pearcy and Kelli were replaced by former L.A. Guns frontman Jizzy Pearl and former Mötley Crüe frontman John Corabi, respectively. [5] Robert Mason was initially invited to take over on vocals, but he declined. [25] Classic lineup guitarist Crosby died on June 6, 2002, after contracting HIV and overdosing on heroin. [26] Pearl remained the band's vocalist until December 2006, when he left amid rumors of a classic lineup reunion. [27] A few months later, it was confirmed that Pearcy was returning for tour dates throughout 2007. [28] Corabi remained until August 2008, when he was replaced by former Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo. [29] After the band released its first studio album in 11 years, Infestation , in 2010, Crane announced in March 2012 that he had left Ratt to focus on Lynch Mob, which he joined in 2010. [30]
Croucier returned to take Crane's place in May 2012. [31] [32] Blotzer was temporarily replaced for a run of shows in early 2014, as he had yet to recover from neck surgery he underwent the previous October. [33] In April 2014, Pearcy announced that he had left Ratt for a third time, blaming the "constant turmoil" and other controversies surrounding the band. [34] The following September, Blotzer rebranded his new group from Bobby Blotzer's Ratt Experience to simply Ratt, having "taken control" of the brand, with the drummer joined by lead vocalist Joshua Alan, guitarists Michael "Doc" Ellis and Nicolas "Blaze" Baum, and bassist Scotty Griffin. [35] DeMartini later sued Blotzer over the use of the Ratt name, [36] however this was denied by a court ruling. [37] Griffin was replaced by Robbie Crane in February 2016, [38] and both Blaze and Crane left in August. [39] [40] They were replaced initially by Stacey Blades and Todd Kerns, respectively, [41] and later on a more permanent basis by Mitch Perry and Brad Lang. [42] Blades remained as a replacement for Ellis. [43] Alan left the band in January 2017 to pursue other projects. [44] He was replaced by Seann Nicols, although the band performed only one show and has been inactive since March 2017. [45]
In November 2016, Pearcy, DeMartini and Croucier regained ownership of the Ratt name from Blotzer, expelling him from the original partnership and reforming the band with Carlos Cavazo and Jimmy DeGrasso. [46] The band returned to touring, but in March 2018, it was reported that DeMartini had been fired from the band. [47] A few days later, Cavazo confirmed the news and added that he had also left the band. [48] In June, Pearcy and Croucier assured that they would continue with Ratt, [49] and the following month the group returned with new members Jordan Ziff on lead guitar, Chris Sanders on rhythm guitar and Pete Holmes on drums. [50] Sanders was later replaced by former David Lee Roth guitarist Frankie Lindia. [51]
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen Pearcy |
|
| all Ratt releases to date | |
Juan Croucier |
|
| all Ratt releases from Ratt (1983) to Collage (1997) | |
Pete Holmes | 2018–2022 [50] |
| none | |
Jordan Ziff |
| |||
Frankie Lindia | 2021–2022 [51] |
|
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Hager | 1977–1981 [2] [6] | lead guitar | "Drivin' on E" (1980) | |
Tim Garcia | 1977–1980 (died 2011) [2] [1] |
| ||
Bob Eisenberg | 1977 [2] | drums | none | |
John Turner | 1977–1981 [3] [6] | "Drivin' on E" (1980) | ||
Dave Jellison | 1980–1981 [4] [6] |
| none | |
Paul DeNisco | 1980 [5] | rhythm guitar | ||
Matt Thorr | 1981–1982 [7] [8] |
| "Tell the World" (1982) | |
Jake E. Lee (Jakey Lou Williams) | 1981 [7] [8] | lead guitar | none | |
Bob DeLellis | rhythm guitar | |||
Dave Alford | drums | |||
Robbin Crosby | 1981–1991 (died 2002) [10] [13] [17] |
| all Ratt releases from "Tell the World" (1982) to Collage (1997) | |
Warren DeMartini |
| all Ratt releases from "Tell the World" (1982) to Infestation (2010) | ||
Khurt Maier | 1981–1982 [10] | drums | none | |
Gene Hunter | 1982 [12] | bass | ||
Bobby Blotzer |
|
| all Ratt releases from "Tell the World" (1982) to Infestation (2010) | |
Marq Torien (Mark Maytorena) | 1982 [14] |
| none | |
Joey Cristofanilli | 1983 [15] |
| ||
Michael Schenker | 1991–1992 (substitute) [18] | lead and rhythm guitar | ||
Robbie Crane | 1996–2012 [21] [30] |
|
| |
Keri Kelli (Kenneth Fear Jr.) | 1999–2000 [22] [24] |
| none | |
John Corabi | 2000–2008 [5] [29] | |||
Jizzy Pearl (James Wilkinson) | 2000–2006 [5] [27] | lead vocals | ||
Carlos Cavazo |
|
| Infestation (2010) | |
Jimmy DeGrasso |
| drums | none | |
Chris Sanders | 2018–2020 [50] [51] |
| none |
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments |
---|---|---|---|
Bobby Blotzer | 2015–2017 [35] |
| |
Joshua Alan [44] | lead vocals | ||
Michael "Doc" Ellis | 2015–2016 [35] |
| |
Nicholas "Blaze" Baum [39] [40] |
| ||
Scotty Griffin |
| ||
Robbie Crane | 2016 [38] [39] [40] | ||
Stacey Blades (Bryan MaClachlan) | 2016–2017 [41] [43] |
| |
Todd Kerns | 2016 (substitute) [41] |
| |
Mitch Perry | 2016–2017 [42] |
| |
Brad Lang |
| ||
Seann Nicols | 2017 [45] | lead vocals |
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
1977 (Mickey Ratt) |
| none |
1977–1980 (Mickey Ratt) |
|
|
1980 (Mickey Ratt) |
| none |
1980–1981 (Mickey Ratt) |
| |
1981 (Mickey Ratt/M. Ratt/Ratt) |
| |
1981–1982 |
|
|
1982 |
| none |
1982 |
| |
1983 |
|
|
1982/1983–1991 (Classic lineup) |
|
|
1991–1992 |
| none |
Band inactive 1992–1996 | ||
1996 – early 1999 |
|
|
Early 1999 – January 2000 |
| none |
Early 2000 – December 2006 |
| |
April 2007 – August 2008 |
| |
August 2008 – March 2012 |
|
|
May 2012 – April 2014 |
| none |
Band inactive 2014–2016 | ||
November 2016 – March 2018 |
| none |
July 2018 - 2021 |
| |
2021-2022 |
|
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.
Robert John Blotzer 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.
John Corabi is an American hard rock singer and guitarist. He was the frontman of The Scream during 1989 and the frontman of Mötley Crüe between 1992 and 1996 during original frontman Vince Neil's hiatus from the band.
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.
"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.
Scott Griffin is an American musician who is best known as a former bassist for L.A. Guns and Ratt. In 2007, Griffin was announced as the bassist for L.A. Guns, having previously played in Dizzy Reed's cover band Hookers N' Blow, replacing Adam Hamilton. From 2015 until April 1, 2016, Griffin was the bassist of a revamped version of Ratt, led by drummer Bobby Blotzer.
Ratt was an American glam 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 bands 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".
Infestation is the seventh and final studio album by American glam metal band Ratt. It is the band's first original effort since their self-titled album in 1999, and the first album since the death of Robbin Crosby in 2002. This is the only album to feature guitarist Carlos Cavazo, formerly of Quiet Riot. The band would enter a turbulent time after the edition of the album, and by 2018 all musicians in it had left the band, except lead singer Stephen Pearcy. It was released by Loud & Proud via Roadrunner Records, a then-sub-label of their longtime home Atlantic Records.
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.