Drummer Bobby Blotzer has confirmed he’s taken over the Ratt name following a five-year trademark battle.
He’s moved on without former singer Stephen Pearcy who quit last year and has gathered a lineup consisting of frontman Josh Alan, bassist Scotty Griffin and guitarists Blaze and Doc Ellis, and they will be launching on the Re-Invasion tour across North America in 2016.
The band say in a statement, “After a five-year battle over trademark issues, doing everything he could to appease and re-assemble the band, Bobby Blotzer, the CEO of WBS Inc. has taken control of the Ratt brand. He’s taking his multi-platinum Ratt back on the road, bringing fans the songs they love and shows they’ve missed, continuing to build upon Ratt’s legendary legacy.”
A full run of 2016 dates will be revealed in time.
Pearcy revealed earlier this year that he’d recorded one final song with Ratt before his departure but admitted he could accept it if it never saw the light of day.
additional source: classicrock.teamrock.com
32 Responses
Ugh, here we go. I understand they guy wants to play music and doesn’t want to start over, but without at LEAST DeMartini, ya got nothing bro. It’s the same with Quiet Riot. A drummer is not the band, but then we have the same issue that popped up with Queensryche. These people don’t see their bands as a collective that creates art, but as a corporation. Fun. Maybe they should have Trump sing for them.
Hang it up. High.
The difference with Quiet Riot is that the singer is dead. It’s always different when a reunion is not possible at all, so QR has a little better shot..
Eddie, Franki Banali may be a nice guy but the idea of him touring as Quiet Riot, without any of the original members is crazy. As an example, people scoff at the current version of” Lynyrd Skynyrd” and they have ONE original member, Gary Rossington. They are nothing but a tribute band at this point. It is sad no matter how you look at it.
I get that. Foreigner has no original members most of the time. And they get away with that. I think many have taken note. Again, when the key member is dead vs just not in the band I think fans give it a bit more leeway
Understood. I guess what bothers me is that there are people that attend these shows and they have no idea that this is a tribute band when they are billing themselves as say a Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ratt, etc. I don’t begrudge someone their livelihood but I think there should be some truth in advertising. I guess it is the nature of the beast at this point but it certainly seems like a rip off in many ways. It’s like buying a greatest hits record and finding out they are the “re-recorded” versions.
Say what you will about Foreigner and Skinner, I saw them play to packed houses in a good sized amphitheater.
Skinner fans are more knowledgeable about the bands history and replacements, the fact that before Freebird they honor the past members that have left this earth. Foreigner fans for the most part don’t even know Lou Gram was the original singer and are there to hear the hits.
Maybe this is what Blotz is hoping, that people will just fork over $40 to hear Round and Round knowing the die hards are going to stay home. I saw Whitesnake at a packed house and few knew or cared it wasn’t the 87 lineup. Then again Coverdale is smart enough to appease the die hards with honesty and a killer lineup.
THE DRUMMER AND 4 GUYS. Let me repeat that. THE DRUMMER AND 4 GUYS. Who is paying to see this? Kinda like Quiet Riot except that is THE DRUMMER AND 3 GUYS.
These guys will be playing empty parking lots.
I could sell more tickets if I took a dump in public.
I hope one of their upcoming tour dates is my living room.
Do you really want Bobby Blotzer’s RATT in your living room……..really?
You make an excellent point. No one wants a rat – eh, I mean, a RATT – in their living room.
No one can play those songs like Warren DiMartini, but vocally, this will probably be an upgrade for those who would like to go see their favorite Ratt songs performed live one more time. Much like Dokken, Huge guitar riffs are what drove this band to stardom.
This is pretty much a cover band Blotz….