Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy has released the following statement:
“After 30 years creating the band Ratt and losing a real brother, Robbin, it’s time that I personally part ways with the band.
I am officially done with having anything to do with them due to the constant turmoil, unresolved business, personal attacks/threats in the public forum, and most of all, the disrespect to the fans.
I’m very content and proud of the legacy and the music I’ve created. This music will live well beyond any of our lifetimes.
I owe no one anything but a huge heartfelt thank you for coming to the party for the last 30 years.
With much respect, life goes on and the music I created will continue to be heard for years to come despite the dark clouds that have lingered for far too long.
I will personally continue to make music and perform live shows.
See you out there.
Sincerely,
SEPearcy”
Ratt’s last album was 2010′s Infestation.
312 Responses
met the boys when they were in a studio in the valley. long before there first e.p. great bunch of guys. I was friends with robbin off and on through the late 80’s and just before he died. I am surprised it took stephen this long. good luck!
Whatever Stephen Pearcy ! How many times have you quit Ratt and came back? All I ask if Ratt continues that they do not replace Stephen with some guy named Jizz-face Pearl-necklace who doesn’t sound anything like Stephen Pearcy . Come back when you’ve had time to cool off Stephen Pearcy! You are not going to make it big with a new band. Stephen Pearcy and Ratt will always be associated. Get over yourselves and make some music!
I was a HUGE fan of Ratt in the mid 80s. “Out Of The Cellar” was probably one of the first hard rock/heavy metal cassettes I ever bought, back when I was 14. I remember hiding the “Invasion Of Your Privacy” tape due to the somewhat-provocative cover photo. And the VH1 Behind The Music special on them a few years ago really captured the entire scene, vibe, and strength of the pop-metal/hair-band scene of the 1980s. Personally, I can listen to “Cellar” start to finish any day, 30 years later, and it’s still awesome. However, as time went by, their albums started to deteriorate… fewer and fewer quality songs and the hits were good, but not great… Invasion wasn’t as good as Cellar, Dancing Undercover wasn’t as good as Invasion, Reach For The Sky wasn’t as good as Dancing. etc. I figured the years between 90 and 99 were time enough for the guys to step back, get healthy, get sober, work on some new music, and rekindle the fire and relaunch in 1999 when the whole “80s nostalgia” hit big-time… but sadly, it wasn’t the case. I bought their new album that year and was pretty disappointed. I saw them in concert that summer, on tour with Poison, LA Guns, Great White, etc., and Ratt’s performance was uneven and sometimes downright sloppy. I think Stephen’s lack of professionalism and lack of respect for his bandmates and fans — not to mention his 30-year substance abuse problems — contributed in a BIG way to the band’s inconsistency. Even after losing Robbin Crosby, I thought they might be able to regroup, refresh, start new, and they might become a more mature band. Sadly, no… they still act like they are a bunch of spoiled 21-year-old kids. I saw them about 3 or 4 years ago here in Atlanta, opening for the Scorpions… while I was glad to see Ratt live (for what was going to be the last time for me), I have to say that once again, I was disappointed… the live performance was spotty, not very energetic, and just didn’t have the same power as the songs on the albums. I greatly respect Warren DiMartini and Juan Crocier, and I was a fan of Carlos Cavazo from his days with Quiet Riot, but without Juan and Robbin, the band was just never the same. The infighting and resentment and immaturity of both Bobby AND Stephen hindered the band and ultimately contributed to its demise. In all honesty, this should probably be it — they should just hang it up and call it quits, not try to replace Stephen. It was a good run, and I hate that Bobby and Stephen let problems get so big that it broke up the band (several times)… but it might be for the best. They weren’t making any new music that was noteworthy, and the live shows were just going through the motions. Here’s a toast to the Ratt band that we all knew and loved in the 1980s… that was where they always belonged. Sad to see this news, but to be honest, it should shock NONE of us. Stephen is the rebel kid who never grew up… now, he’s a mid-50s guy with a bad voice and no life. I won’t remember these last few years… instead, I’ll always remember the Ratt ‘n Roll from the 80s on MTV. You know what they say about life… it goes round ‘n round.
I enjoyed reading your post. I also saw them and thoroughly enjoyed them in the 1980’s and very early 1990’s. My last concert with them was actually way back in ’91 and they were still going good then. I was also sad to read about all of the internal issues going on. You really recapped things well, felt like I was reading a professional review. Anyway, thanks for your insightful comment!
Thanks for saying that! I wholeheartedly agree with you. Luckily, I got to see them in 84-85 in Atlanta. Bon Jovi opened!! I exclaim that because I will never believe BJ ever deserved more than to open for RATT. The universe was in order that night! Anyway, moving forward, I can’t wait to see what new material comes out of WARREN. RATT N ROLL MEMORIES FOREVER 😀
ERRM SOOOO WHAAAT?
Ratt was my first show- October ’85 at the Spectrum in Philly (Bon Jovi opened!). They were great in the ’80s, but I think some bands just drag on too long., without realizing the world has passed them by. This is one of them. Later, Steve.
Hey Shane, I saw the same show at the Omni in Atlanta! Wasn’t it great that BJ hadn’t exploded, without merit, yet? BJ and Poison to my ears do not deserve to be the go-to reference bands for 80’s hair-metal or w/e they want to call it. Looking forward to Warren’s new work.
I saw same tour at Brendan Byrne Arena (Meadowlands) NJ!
Bon Jovi opened for RATT. I remember watching Jon and saying to myself –
“Who does this guy think he is – David Lee Roth?”
Also, caught RATT opening for Billy Squier at same venue (Out of the Cellar Tour?)
Last time I saw RATT was in West Palm Beach opening for Poison at Sound Advice Ampitheater one Summer in early 2000’s. Corabi on 2nd guitar, as I recall. I left right after RATT finished, as planned.
(just as I did back in the day, when Tesla finished opening for Poison at Garden State (PNC) Arts Center)