RATT & ROLL OVER - Beyond Behind t/Music...

The partially reunited Ratt appeared at Viejas on April 20th – not sher about you, but I fully remember all the lawsuits and nasty accusations that flew between members past and present, right up through Robbin Crosby’s June 2002 death, continuing even AFTER the “reunion” with estranged/underemployed lead singer Stephen Pearcy was announced in Summer ‘07.

Not even last year’s Behind the Music on Ratt really delved into just HOW MUCH these guys have been HATING on each other for the better part of 20 years.

Luckily, I’m here to put it all down, for the record -------

“The original band broke up fifteen years ago and there have been several questionable incarnations of it since then,” blogged former Ratt bassist Juan Croucier on his MySpace page last year. He said he wouldn’t participate in the current Ratt reunion tour with Pearcy.

“There has not been a sincere attempt at redemption by my former band mates, for their insidious and sometimes malicious wrongdoings in the past, toward me,” said. “Near the end of negotiations, ulterior motives prevailed and I was eventually simply stonewalled… their ignorant and unscrupulous habits came into focus once again; a stark reminder of our tumultuous and dysfunctional past.”

(Croucier then & now)

The “reunion” tour also featured Poison (insert your own rat poison joke here). Among the reactions to the announcement on Blabbermouth.com at the time:

“This is just sad.” (Dude Of Life)

“Please God, say it isn’t so.” (Mast O’ Dawn)

“Mulletfest 2007.” (IFH)

Ratt’s partially-reunited classic lineup includes just three guys from their MTV heyday: Guitarist Warren DeMartini, drummer Bobby Blotzer, and now Pearcy (who replaces his replacement, Jizzy Pearl). The late Robbin Crosby was replaced by guitarist John Corabi. Non-participating bassist Juan Crocier was replaced by Robbie Crane (from Vince Neil's band).

Back in 2002, the legal rights to tour and record under the name “Ratt” belonged to guitarist DeMartini and drummer Blotzer. This was established in court, when the duo accused Pearcy of passing off his own faux-Ratt as the real thing on the road.

(DeMartini)(Blotzer)

According to a 2002 ruling by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David A. Workman, WBS, Inc. - Ratt's touring entity - is “the sole and exclusive owner of the Ratt trademarks, and thus WBS’ arrangement with DeMartini and Blotzer supercedes and nullifies any claims Pearcy may make for use of the name.”

Ratt’s earliest incarnation, Mickey Ratt, formed in the late seventies and underwent several lineup changes. Stephen Pearcy founded the original band and recruited local high schooler Jake E. Lee as guitarist. At the time, Lee was giving guitar lessons to another teen named Warren DeMartini, who would soon get a job working at Guitar Trader.

After Mickey Ratt changed its name to Ratt and moved to L.A., gigging at Whiskey and the Troubadour, Lee left the band, eventually replacing the late Randy Rhoades in Ozzy Osbourne’s band. DeMartini, on Lee’s recommendation, was invited to join the group.

Ratt’s classic lineup, from the days of MTV hits like “Round And Round” and “Lay It Down,” included Pearcy, DeMartini and Blotzer, as well as Robbin Crosby (guitar) and Juan Croucier (bass). Ratt’s self-titled debut album was released independently in 1983, soon leading to a major-label contract with Atlantic Records.

In 1984, the LP “Out of the Cellar” hit the U.S. top ten, selling over three million copies, with its first single "Round and Round" reaching number twelve on Billboard’s singles chart. The video for that song was in heavy-rotation on MTV --- it featured the late comedian Milton Berle recreating his drag queen persona (assuming he ever de-created it).

(Not Amy Winehouse, but Milton Berle)

They released a string of albums after that but, by 1992, Pearcy left and the band split up, presumably putting away the pouty poses for good.

Ratt reunited briefly in 1997, but the group soon became estranged with their lead singer once again.

The renewed animosity between turn-of-the-century Ratt members and their once-and-future frontman seemed to peak in January 2000, when Pearcy walked out on the band and manager Tim Heyne six days before the start of what was being billed as a “comeback tour.”

Pearcy claimed in later court documents that his ex-bandmates posted on the Internet that he had "quit" the band and caused the cancellation of January 2000 tour dates, and that they had publicly accused him of being an "alcoholic" and/or a "drug addict." Pearcy contended the group ignored him when he informed them in December of 1999 that would not tour with Ratt, and that Blotzer and DeMartini misled the public by saying that he would. Ratt subsequently hired singer Jizzy Pearl, of the band Love/Hate, and toured Florida and the midwest.

(Jizzy Pearl)

Ratt members past and present took to badmouthing each other at every given opportunity. The website metal-sludge.com interviewed Bobby Blotzer and read him a quote from Ratt’s former singer. “Pearcy recently said about you, ‘Bobby's a drummer, not a songwriter. He's a guy who knows nothing about anything and now he thinks he know something about everything. Bobby's a pr--k. Give yourself some respect man and shut the f--k up! You're running the integrity of our music and band into the dirt. I'm sure that Robbin and Juan are thanking themselves for not being part of this mess [the new Ratt].’ What is your response to that?”

Blotzer replied “I just laugh at Pearcy…anyone who knows Pearcy knows what I'm talking about. The only songs that Pearcy truly wrote himself were the ones on the EP [1983’s ‘Ratt’]. Beau Hill, Juan [and] Robbin...used to come up with most of the melodies on the tunes, and rewrite most of the lyrics that he [Pearcy] would come up with. Sorry, but that’s the truth. And as far as myself being only a drummer? I've played guitar for 28 years and, while I'm not breaking any records for the most material written, I've had some good ones down the line.”

Asked what he thinks of Pearcy touring with a band he calls Ratt, Blotzer said “I think it’s a joke.”

(Does THIS look like a JOKE to you? Well, maybe a very SMALL joke, if you look closely anyways...)

The legal battle got more bitter on February 20, 2001, when Pearcy filed suit against Blotzer and DeMartini and Ratt’s former manager Tim Heyne, claiming breach of contract and seeking unspecified damages. Pearcy alleged that his two former bandmates withdrew thousands of dollars from a corporate checking account the trio opened together.

Judge Workman dismissed Pearcy's claims for trademark infringement, unfair competition, defamation, misappropriation of corporate assets, and breach of fiduciary duty, and ruled that Pearcy was engaging in unfair competition himSELF, by using the trademark “Ratt” name for his own touring group billed alternately as “Stephen Pearcy’s Ratt,” “Ratt Featuring Stephen Pearcy” and “Ratt With Stephen Pearcy.”

(Mickey Rat comic by Robt. Armstrong)

Ratt's Beverly Hills attorney, Kyle P. Kelley, then said "My clients are delighted with the court's ruling. The court determined that the allegations against DeMartini and Blotzer were meritless and unsupported by evidence…DeMartini and Blotzer will protect their trademark rights and will vigorously pursue anyone who books an unauthorized Ratt concert."

An injunction was then placed against Pearcy, demanding he cease and desist from using the Ratt trademarks, and another order was sought attempting to force him to turn over profits earned from his unauthorized Ratt tour.

“Stephen Pearcy’s Ratt” was part of a summer 2001 package tour called “Voices Of Metal,” which also included other ‘80s hair band survivors plying their tired trade on Highway Has-Been, such as Slaughter, Vixxen, Cinderella, and Britny Fox.

The official website for the DeMartini-and-Blotzer-led Ratt, www.therattpack.com, posted a notice in May 2001, stating “Ratt is not currently on tour with the Voices of Metal lineup - any advertisement you are seeing is Stephen Pearcy promoting himself as Ratt without the right to do so, and the band will be going to court…to resolve this matter. An official notice will be posted after said court date.”

In papers filed 6/4/01, at department 86 of the Superior Court of California, County Of Los Angeles, Pearcy was the plaintiff of case #8739 (Stephen Pearcy VS WBS Inc. et al).

However, it was the defendants, including DeMartini and Blotzer, who were granted a preliminary injunction to stop Pearcy’s use of the Ratt name while court proceedings were still pending!

To quote from the filing: “In 1985, Pearcy, Blotzer, DeMartini, and two other musicians formed a partnership, and the partnership registered the servicemark Ratt with the United State Patent and Trademark Office. The rock group disbanded in 1990 and the members went their separate ways. In 1997, Pearcy, Blotzer and DeMartini revived the group, formed a corporation called WBS, and each of them assigned his partnership interest in the trade name Ratt to the corporation in exchange for 3000 shares of corporate stock, 1000 shares each to Pearcy, Blotzer, and DeMartini.”

“In early 2000, the parties disagreed over the type of engagement that the group should play, and at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the corporation which Pearcy was notified of but did not attend, the Directors voted to remove Pearcy as an officer and as an employee of the corporation. Pearcy then formed a competing rock group, which he calls ‘Ratt With Stephen Pearcy.’ Despite the fact that he had been stripped of authority to act on behalf of the corporation, Pearcy then hired an agent who booked the new group for a tour of concerts extending through August of 2001.”

WBS, Blotzer, and DeMartini sought to enjoin Pearcy from using the name Ratt in connection with such musical performances, and that restraint appeared to be permanent, once they and WBS had legally proven their sole rights to use of that name.

Pearcy next tried to claim that "unwritten agreements" promised him permanent lead singer status, and he even filed a brief opposing the injunction (6:27-20), stating that the other members of Ratt promised never to use that band name without him at the helm and that he, Pearcy, was assigned, albeit not in writing, to be the sole “artistic director and controller of all live and recorded performances by Ratt.”

Another of Pearcy’s unsuccessful arguments was that the public expects and demands that any group going by the name Ratt should have himself as lead singer, and this “secondary meaning” of the trademark name gives him ownership of it. I sh-t thee not! The guy may not have had much hair left, but he still had a huge set of brass ones.

“Pearcy produces no evidence of any such secondary meaning,” countered WBS. “The evidence is insufficient to show that the public is confused or deceived or that defendants are promoting the group by representing that Pearcy is still a member of it.”

Ratt at that time was comprised of DeMartini and Blotzer, guitarist John Corabi (formerly of Motley Crue), bassist Robbie Crane, and Pearcy’s replacement Jizzy Pearl, formerly of Love/Hate.

In the wake of all the lawsuits, both Pearl and Pearcy were blasted by Ratt fans on the message board at www.therattpack.com. This prompted forum moderator Cherie to post an announcement stating “I know we have fans of Ratt past and present, but as you can probably tell, this site focuses on Ratt in the present form (Warren, Bobby, Robbie, John and Jizzy) and while everyone's differing views are appreciated (it'd be quite boring if they were all the same), all I ask is that we show some respect to the band whom this website belongs to and to each other.”

Sample thread discussions included one about Pearcy’s announced acting role in a movie called Camp Utopia, in which he’s said to play a character named Timothy Bach. Screen name Leroy asked “What’s his role, a dope fiend?”

Jbyesjb added his own jibe: “And don't forget the recent news of his doughnut disorder!? I don't know if it's true or not: disclaimer, just repeating what I read on another board: but rumor has it [Pearcy] likes Crispy Cremes dipped in mayo! I'm gonna heave!”

In a message thread entitled “About Stephen Pearcy and Ratt's Future," Evansville Ratt said “I hope what I'm about to say will not be misconstrued, but I really love Stephen's voice and the way he pronounces the lyrics to the songs. IMO [in my opinion] he's the coolest lead singer (Rock Star) that has ever fronted a band. I realize what he has done with this recent lawsuit has been totally uncool, but one can never take away the awesome impact he has had on Ratt's music.”

Evansville didn’t think much of Jizzy Pearl. “How many more albums are we going to have to endure that have bummed out rhythms (riff) sections, no Rock Star guitar solos, and a lead singer that sounds like he's choking on something?”

(Robbin Crosby)

In July 2001, during an interview on KNAC in L.A. which was later transcribed and posted on the station’s website, one-time Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby admitted that he had “full-blown AIDS” and that he’d been living with the virus for the last seven years.

“Basically,” he said, “it’s killing me. I’ve got a terminal disease. Recently, I went in for surgery cause my back hurt so bad, and they got all this infectious fluid out and then they found that my bones were not getting oxygen under the infectious fluid which is called osteomyalitis. I’ve been in the hospital for eight straight months and in and out for over seven years."

Crosby said he was diagnosed with HIV in 1994, but that he didn’t have any way of knowing exactly when he contracted the disease. Its dormancy period can be up to ten years, so medical opinion is that he could have been exposed as early as the mid-eighties. Crosby said he got into heroin early in Ratt’s career, and that’s how he thought he acquired AIDS.

He also mentioned that he was smoking heroin with Motley Crue members Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil in 1983. "Nikki Sixx and I had gotten into the heroin thing together. He was supposed to be the best man at my wedding and he didn’t even come, ‘cause there was going to be people drinking and that was when he had just gone through his rehab thing. That really fried my -ss."

In an interview posted on the website launch.com, Crosby described his thoughts when he first found out about his illness. "It was kind of odd. It took a while to sink in, like I kind of expected it or something after all the stuff I had done, you know, on tour.” In this interview, he seemed to be theorizing that perhaps he’d been infected due to unsafe sex, rather than needle contamination. He acknowledged that either scenario was as likely. “I was no-holds-barred. I had no reason to not, so, you know, I'm pretty sure that I got it on tour."

Speculation became and remains rampant that backstage sex was to blame for Crosby’s illness. On the message board at groupiecentral.com, groupies posted their own unsubstantiated but entertaining gossip about carnal encounters with the members of Ratt and other rock stars.

Groupies were, then as now, a fixture on the L.A. rock scene, if not the very reason for its existence, and the members of Ratt have freely admitted to intimate contact with these female followers in many interviews.

Screen name Fantasex said “I implore anyone who had sex with [Crosby] to get checked for HIV immediately and, most importantly, if you turn out positive, stop having sex! It’s amazing AIDS isn’t more rampant among those of us who’ve been promiscuous with promiscuous men, and you can be sure that more of us, and more rock stars, will turn up with AIDS as time goes on.”

Not that Crosby was the only bandmember to partake of backstage bacchanalia, as both he and those posting at groupiecentral admit.

Screen name Disappointed said “I was with Pearcy during the first two albums…he was ok in the sack, but got plain boring after about 15 minutes. One night he was such a yawn that I went and spent the rest of the night with Bobby Blotzer…now that's desperate.”

Sunset Sally said she spent a lot of time at Pearcy’s apartment on Fuller Avenue, near Hollywood Boulevard. “I was Stephen's neighbor back in the good ol' Sunset Strip days. He partied a lot, but so did I, so we got along quite well. Most of the time we were both more interested in doing lots of drugs than having sex, but the sex was fun too. Sometimes, we'd both go out with other people to different places, but then one of us would call the other late night after ditchin' whoever we'd been with...neighborly love, ya know what I'm saying…thank God my rock star neighbor was Stephen and not [Motorhead singer] Lemmy!”

Crosby never badmouthed groupies, and he acknowledged that many one-night-stands from his “glory days” had been sending him well-wishes after getting word of his illness. "It's unbelievable how much mail I get,” he told Launch, “and it makes me realize just how many fans there are, and how many there must have been to be this many still now, you know? They wrote me just to, you know, wish me good luck. You know, that's gotta make you feel good. It just warms your heart…[it] warms mine."

In July 2001, Crosby was residing at an L.A. hospital and undergoing full-time AIDS treatments. He was released for a time, but was readmitted in early 2002. He told friends that he felt his prospects were good for survival, and that he was going off his medications soon. He said he was walking again, something he hadn't been able to do in a long time.

In 2002, Juan Croucier – the other living guy NOT included in the current “reunion” – was playing in a band called Liquid Sunday. Crosby became active in discussions on The Cellar message board at Croucier's website, www.juancroucier.com.

Crosby posted messages announcing that he's "working right now and finally coming back 100%…I'm working [on a new project] with my old partner in crime and best friend Juan Croucier."

In March 2002, Crosby posted a message at liquidsunday.com saying "Things are looking up! I'm looking forward to working on new music. Without your strength I would be nothing. God bless you all. When time allows, we will be rejoined again in the sprit of rock and roll. I love you all! Here we go!"

Robbin Crosby died Thursday June 6, 2002, in his Hollywood apartment. He was 42.

Bobby Blotzer had remained close to Crosby after Ratt’s disintegration and reformation without Crosby. Blotzer posted a message at therattpack.com on July 7, reporting that he spent much of Christmas eve 2001 with the stricken guitarist. “It has been about 10 hours since we all lost one of the most kind hearted, the most compassionate, intelligent, talented, strong, I mean f--king strong like I could never be, humans to ever have the pleasure and to be lucky enough to have in our lives! I've been sitting here in the company of the people that I love tonight and we've been watching some videos of Robbin doing what he's always done best and that’s ...kick ass live on stage!”

He continued, "I want everyone to know one thing here, too. Never once did any of us hear King complain about his situation...You have to understand something...The man was put through hell and never, ever bitched about it. I know that I’m the biggest whining pussy about things that aren’t even a fraction of what he had to deal with…I only wish he could have been able to use it like a decade before. There are so many touching stories that we have that are what the essence of who Robbin was. If you guys only knew...the only peace I'm feeling right now is that he's out of the nightmare that has attacked him.”

(Crosby & Pearcy)

Stephen Pearcy posted a message as well. “Our dear friend Robbin Crosby passed away Thursday morning. His family and close friends are asking for your respect, prayers and appreciation. Robbin was a sweet soul, great talent and he will be dearly missed, rest in peace.”

Former Ratt bassist Juan Croucier posted "To a King among men: Robbin, you will always be loved by those who knew you. I will always love you, beyond words. Your kindness and compassion, knew no bounds. Your heart was pure love. Your spirit was a gift to be admired. It was an honor to have been your friend. I will always cherish the many wonderful memories we shared together, over the many years. The world is a better place because of you. I wish you all the love in this world and all the peace in heaven. The pain and suffering is over. God bless you. Love, Juan.”

Also sharing his feelings that day was Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx: "Lost two more warriors today. One was a king and a friend. One was someone I admired (Dee Dee Ramone). The rock 'n' roll band in heaven is sure getting bad ass. God bless…."

Fans of Crosby and of Ratt expressed their condolences at the Ratt website and at KNAC’s online message board, including this June 8th post from screen name B5erik: “Robbin was a great songwriter, and a solid rhythm guitar player who added crunch to Ratt's sound. That's the bottom line. The fact that he was also a junkie and had unprotected sex with too many girls just shows that he was a flawed, foolish person as well. He was another person who felt like he had to live up to the Rock and Roll Star stereotype/image.”

(Donaker-Ring)

Local musician and longtime Shambles member Kevin Donaker-Ring - who worked with Warren DeMartini at Guitar Trader - told me at the time “I talked with Robbin on many occasions and saw him play more times than I can remember…my fondest memories of Robbin actually come from a band he was in before Ratt, Phenomenon. They were a local San Diego band, playing clubs and high school dances. When I was in junior high school -- eighth grade to be exact -- most of my friends were older and already in high school. Well, Phenomenon played just about every other dance at the high school, but never at the junior high. So my friends at the high school would buy me a ticket, and I'd bluster my way into the dance whenever Phenomenon was playing.”

"And they were great,” said Kevin. “Robbin always played a Gibson Flying V, and he'd be wearing platform shoes. The guy was well over six feet tall, and with those shoes below him and the hair on top he was an imposing figure. This was the late 70s so they played some serious rock 'n' roll…they used flame pots. Real pyrotechnics shooting columns of fire fifteen to twenty feet in the air. Inside the gym! You could feel the heat all the way at the back of the room. That he soared higher with Ratt is undeniable, but for me the memory of Robbin playing in a high school gym and the heat on my face from those columns of fire will live on in my memory forever.”

On June 7 ’02, the Crosby family posted this notice at therattpack.com: “Thank you for your interest and generosity. No flowers or cards, please. Send any donations to the only recognized memorial fund, set up by the Crosby family: Robbin Crosby Memorial Fund, benefiting pathfinders (a halfway house), c/o Regent's Bank, 875 Prospect St., Ste. 100, La Jolla, CA 92037.”

Robbin's remains were cremated. A memorial service was held at Windansea Beach, with friends and family on surfboards and spreading his ashes out to sea.

Ratt spent the next few years touring with singer Jizzy Pearl, with guitarist Warren DeMartini doing a brief stint with Dio. Ratt was struggling to stay alive, barely on life support and often unable to sellout even small venues.

Despite the fading glory and dwindling crowds, the new model Ratt continued to act – if not party – like rock stars.

Longtime 4th & B figure “Dutch” Schultz told the Edwin Decker for the Reader last year "During sound checks, Ratt tried to bully the opening act, a local band called Cage. For instance, as the two bands crossed paths at the back door, Ratt expected the guys in Cage to stand aside and let them walk out. They ended up bumping into one another, which almost caused a fight in the parking lot. Ratt demanded that the opening band be scratched, after both bands had already sound checked."

In Summer 2005, the apparently misnamed “Rock Never Stops” tour featuring Ratt, Vince Neil, and Slaughter stopped after just one date. Arriving patrons at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in New Hampshire July 23 were greeted by a sign informing “Vince Neil was in a car accident and broke his leg. Because of this, he will be unable to perform tonight. Both Ratt and Slaughter will still be performing.”

Ticketholders who’d bought passes at the box office were given three options; enter to see Ratt and Slaughter and receive comp tickets to upcoming concerts by Staind or Blue Oyster Cult, enter and get $10 back off the $29 ticket, OR turn in tickets through the Casino box office for a full refund.

“The problem,” according to a post by Ripper2004 on metaltemple.com, “was they weren’t giving refunds [on-site]. You have to bring your receipt back to the box office or mail it with your tickets to the Casino…who the f--k keeps ticket receipts?!”

Ticketmaster patrons were told on the Casino website to “consult Ticketmaster,” with no confirmation that refunds would actually be offered.

“You should have seen the stampede screaming for refunds after the show,” posted FemmeFatle. “John Corabi [guitarist] from Ratt tried to sing a couple of Motley songs with Slaughter and got booed him off the stage…he’s not even their singer, he can’t f--kin sing! Ratt closed and they got massively booed too…it was a joke, they sucked.”

All the remaining Rock Never Stops tour dates were cancelled.

After the Hampton Beach show, Ratt flew direct from to Winter Park Colorado to perform on their own the following day, at – and I swear I’m not making this up - “Hawgfest.”

IMO, once you’ve been sued by your former lead singer, had your guitarist die of AIDS and drug-related complications, been booed by Vince Neil fans - in New Hampshire! - AND you’re playing something called “Hawgfest,” it really IS time for the rock to stop.

In October 2005, Stephen Pearcy dropped the first hints that the band’s MTV era lineup (minus the late Robbin Crosby) could reform. “I tried to put an end to that Ratt mess last year,” he said at www.stephen-pearcy.com. “I made a proposal, sh-t or get off the pot. It could be a good thing, our 20 year anniversary.”

And the dollar signs began lighting up countless soulless eyes…

"We're trying to come to terms with Stephen, and we're very close,” Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer then told the L.A. Daily News. “The guys in Motley Crue are going to make $10 million each this year. We've always been a little under them as far as touring, but not very far behind."

Wait, what’s that I hear ---- sounds like ------ ‘ka-CHIIIING!”

But before the so-called “reunion” could happen in ’07, Pearcy was caught trying to milk the ol’ Ratt nipples once again ----

Pearcy claimed to have vintage Ratt demos featuring a young Jake E. Lee (from an early incarnation of the band), which he wanted to release as a Ratt CD. Besides seeming to violate the court order against him cashing in on a band name he had no claim to, Lee himself disputed Pearcy’s contention.

(Jake E. Lee)

The former music major at Southwestern College - who went on to play with Ozzy, Dio and others – told the Swedish magazine Fuzz “I've seen Dr. Rock by Ratt advertised as ‘featuring Jake E Lee,’ but I've never played that song in my life. The only stuff Pearcy would have with my playing on it would be a rehearsal tape we once made in his garage, recorded with a cheap boom box. I can't remember which line-up that was, but I believe Stephen was playing the rhythm guitar.”

(Lee & Ozzy)

Pearcy’s “Rat Attack” CD went ahead and compiled the early Ratt demos with new versions of old Ratt songs re-recorded with his group Rat Bastards.

Pearcy admitted on his own website that Jake E. Lee declined to participate in remaking Ratt history. “We've contacted him and he never took to doing the [re-recording] project.”

In May 2006, “Behind the Music: Ratt” debuted on good ol’ VH1. A VH1 producer I sometimes do research for told me at the time "This is the third time we've tried to work with these guys." He said drummer Bobby Blotzer got bleeped the most. "Every time he mentions Pearcy's name, it's preceded by 'that motherf--ker.'"

When the episode aired, it included lots of local footage, including interviews with the late Robbin Crosby shot for a previous BTM attempt, before the guitarist died.

Pearcy's segments include his contention (not shared by all band members) that Crosby was felled not by sexual excess, but by dirty needles.

(Not your granddad...wait, or IS it??)

So, as we know, Ratt partially reunited its classic lineup in summer ‘07, with Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, and Bobby Blotzer. The late Robbin Crosby was replaced by John Corabi, while Crocier – who (wisely?) refused to participate - was replaced by Robbie Crane.

In the wake of the “reunion” announcement, they released a Very Best of Ratt CD AND a DVD compilation Videos from the Cellar.

From most accounts, the Ratt "reunion" tour has so far run hot and cold. Singer Pearcy bowed out of one gig early, prompting much speculation that he was about to quit again. However, it turned out that replacement player John Corabi was actually the one about to become Ratt's newest ex-member.

According to Blabbermouth.com, "Following weeks of rumors and speculation, Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer has confirmed that former Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo will be joining the group as the replacement for rhythm guitarist John Corabi (former Mötley Crüe singer). According to Blotzer, 'We have been rehearsing with Carlos and it sounds pretty freakin cool. He'll be playing his first show with us in Baton Rouge, Lousiana on August 27...So come on out to the show and rock with us! Crab [Corabi] has one last show that he's committed to with us on September 5 in Virginia Beach."

Wait, so the newest new guy debuts August 27, but Corabi's gonna come back and play September 5 before getting out of the Ratt trap for good?? AWK-waaaaard.............

Me, I don’t really wanna see three guys out of five recreate “Round and Round” for the umpteenth time, knowing full well how much they’ve hated and battled each other all these years.

I’d rather play some Boomtown Rats instead, or maybe the Goodrats --------- thank gawd for bands that were never big enough in the first place to reunite.

Like this blog? Here are some related links:

OVERHEARD IN SAN DIEGO - Several years' worth of this comic strip, which debuted in the Reader in 1996: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/overheard-san-diego/

FAMOUS FORMER NEIGHBORS - Over 100 comic strips online, with mini-bios of famous San Diegans: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/famous-former-neighbors/

SAN DIEGO READER MUSIC MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/sandiegoreadermusic

JAY ALLEN SANFORD MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/jayallensanford