Stephen Pearcy Only Wants to Release New Ratt Material with Classic Lineup
Stephen Pearcy has been at odds with his former Ratt bandmates in recent years, with guitarist Warren DeMartini (and Carlos Cavazo) leaving the band in 2018, and drummer Bobby Blotzer forming his own version of Ratt in 2015, the latter of which resulted in a legal battle over the band’s name.
But Pearcy has now extended an olive branch of sorts to his lifelong on-again-off-again partners in crime, saying in a new interview that he’d only want to release a record under the Ratt moniker if the surviving members of the classic lineup were involved (guitarist Robbin Crosby died in 2002).
In the chat, with radio personality Eddie Trunk, Pearcy said:
“I wouldn’t wanna put a Ratt record out there without the original guys. I mean, it just wouldn’t make sense. We’ve tried it.
“Look, I accepted it a long time ago when Robbin left the band, we lost a big element of direction. He was my right-hand man creating this monster. And I knew it — I knew once he was out, we would be going through motions. It’s all cool, and it’s great, but how many replacements can you have in a band and still consider it legit? So if we’re gonna have something on plastic, so to speak, forever, I’d rather have the original band do a record and just not do a Ratt record until that day comes — if it ever happens.”
Pearcy also said he’s on speaking terms with DeMartini, good news for Ratt fans sad about the guitarist’s departure. Asked about the last time the two spoke, he said:
“Probably a couple of weeks back. We had some business to talk about, him and I, about some of the stuff we wrote. Which is great, ’cause Warren and I actually had a song in the can, written, that we can actually play and release. And there was another one we were starting to work on that was amazing. So you get me and Warren in a room, and we’ll start writing immediately.”
Pressed about whether Warren is open to working with Ratt and Stephen again, he replied:
“No. I can’t say anything like that. All I’m saying is we had stuff to talk about, and a couple of songs that we did, and that’s it. And a record of ours. And we just chatted. So that’s where it went.”
Pearcy then revealed that he’s in touch with Blotzer as well, saying:
“I do talk to Bobby. Bobby and I are — it’s love-hate, brother kind of a gig. We keep in touch and talk about positive things. He still has interest, so there are some things to talk about. And Warren is the same.
“Look, life goes on. Life’s short. Hate’s not a good thing. There’s communication. But I can’t say anything.”
Circling back to a possible new Ratt record, and the legendary disfunction within the group’s ranks, Pearcy continued:
“As far as doing a record right now, I really wouldn’t wanna have guys that weren’t really in the band on the record. And I think that was Warren’s sentiment a long time ago — without having me on a record — so I’m just giving back the courtesy consideration.
“I would really like to actually finish the song that Warren and I had started, and the one that we have in the can, I would love to release it. I’m gonna talk to him about it, if we can just put it out there and just turn people on. He’s not some aggro dude right now. I’m not aggro at any of these people.
“Look, we created this great thing, and if there’s gonna be a Ratt record, I just off the top of my head said I wanna do it with the original guys, if we’re gonna do one — or don’t even bother. The catalog is what you get. Or you get my solo stuff, which is as close as you’re gonna get to Ratt music. And that’s it… If we ever do a record, let it be the real guys, and call it a day. If that’s the last thing we do, well, let’s do it. If not, hey, we’ve got the records. That’s all I can say.
“Look, we’re not the most dysfunctional band on the planet. I’ve said it before, there are bands much more dysfunctional — Motley, GN’R, you name ’em — but the smart ones make an effort to take care of business. Motley — I don’t know if they even talk to each other, but they’re getting the business done. And that’s where I’m at. What are you — punishing somebody? You’re getting back at somebody? You’re holding a grudge, vendetta… It’s all bullshit. We’re all gonna die anyway. Go figure it out.”
MetalSucks will, naturally, keep you apprised of all things Ratt. Their 2010 reunion record, Infestation, is still an all-time banger.
Pearcy’s last solo album, View to a Thrill, arrived in 2018. He released a new single, “All I Want,” last year.
[via Blabbermouth]
