Ratt Rumor Mill: Warren DeMartini and Carlos Cavazo Out of the Band

It wouldn’t be Ratt without endless member drama, would it? I’d even argue that the never-ending tension within the band is what’s made them so undeniably electric during the rare periods they’re able to keep it together (as on 2010’s marvelous comeback album Infestation), the same way combat veterans who served together have a special form of closeness despite the atrocities they witnessed and committed. I highly doubt the band members themselves see it that way, though.

So: Metal Sludge is reporting that Warren DeMartini has been fired from Ratt, citing multiple industry sources, and fellow guitarist Carlos Cavazo is planning to follow him out the door if true. It should be noted that DeMartini’s departure hasn’t been confirmed by the band or Warren himself, so it could very well be one of those things that’s tough talk for the sake of negotiating. But Sludge certainly presents quite the case for it being a done deal, with Stephen Pearcy and Juan Croucier allegedly getting retribution at DeMartini for the years he controlled the band with ex-drummer Bobby Blotzer.

If you ask me, I think they’re all gonna work it out: Pearcy, DeMartini, Croucier and Cavazo, that is… I don’t see Blotzer re-entering the fold any time soon with the shenanigans he’s pulled recently. Cavazo is right that it won’t be Ratt without DeMartini, and I think all four of them know it. It might take some time — and inevitably there will be more drama along the way — but in Stephen Pearcy’s duck lips I trust to kiss and make nice.

Until then, this neatly sums up the problem: