MEMORIES:
1984ButBlair remembers...My first metal concert ever. I saw these guys in Detroit with Britney Fox and Kixx. I loved metal and ... More »
Posted on 09/01/08
PHOTOS:
“Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why” – “Round and Round”
Straight out of Los Angeles came one quintet that would become one of the most popular rock acts of the 80s, taking brash heavy metal sounds and melodic singing to the forefront of rock and pop music. The group got its foundation in the 70s rock outfit Mickey Ratt. By 1983, the band shortened its name to Ratt and the line-up consisted of vocalist Stephen Pearcy, guitarist Robbin Crosby, guitarist Warren DeMartini, bassist Juan Croucier and drummer Bobby Blotzer. Their self-titled debut was independently released in 1983, and led to a record contract with Atlantic.
Their first album out the gate with Atlantic was 1984’s Out of the Cellar. The album became a massive success and went into the Top Ten, selling over three million copies. The lead single from Out of the Cellar, “Round and Round” went to #12 on the pop charts, proving that the band and the genre had crossover potential. Their third album, 1985’s Invasion of Your Pirvacy didn’t sell into multi-platinum status, but it did go into the Top Ten and sold over a million copies. They were selling out huge concerts across the U.S. and became a staple on MTV. Their platinum streak continued for Dancin’ Undercover in 1986 and Reach the Sky in 1988. Their audience kept on going strong, only slightly diminished for their final album of that era, 1990’s Detonator.
In 1992, Pearcy and DeMartini left the band to pursue their own efforts. By the late 1990s, renewed interest in 80s music came about, which led to a Ratt reunion. In 1997, they released Collage, and in 1999 they released their second self-titled album, which was based more in a conventional blues-rock sound. Once again, Pearcy left the band to front two other bands, however, Ratt continued on. Original members DeMartini and Blotzer picked up Jizzy Pearl on vocals, bassist Robbie Crane and guitarist John Corabi, formerly of Mötley Crüe. Today, Ratt continues to tour with groups like W.A.S.P. and L.A. Guns.
