Three members of RATT‘s classic lineup, singer Stephen Pearcy, bassist Juan Crouceir and guitarist Warren DeMartini, reunited Friday night at the Los Angeles birthday party of former RIP magazine editor Lonn Friend. Also joining them at the event were former QUIET RIOT guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who played on RATT‘s last studio album, 2010’s “Infestation”, and ex-WHITE LION drummer Greg D’Angelo, a longtime member of Pearcy‘s solo band.
Notably absent was drummer Bobby Blotzer, who has been touring the U.S. for the last few months with his own version of RATT, featuring several new members alongside bassist Robbie Crane, who previously played bass for RATT from 1996 to 2012 and appeared on the band’s 1999 self-titled album and “Infestation”.
Blotzer‘s new version of RATT played shows early last year under the name BOBBY BLOTZER’S RATT EXPERIENCE before the drummer announced that he was taking control of the RATT name.
DeMartini later filed a lawsuit against Blotzer, claiming that the drummer was falsely advertising his “tribute band” as the real thing. That dispute is still pending in California state court.
Blotzer and DeMartini are the only remaining shareholders in WBS, Inc., the company which manages the business and operations related to RATT.
WBS, Inc. was originally formed by Blotzer, DeMartini and Pearcy. Pearcy lost his share of the name in court after splitting with the group in 2000. He returned to the band in 2006 but exited again in 2014. Blotzer later expressed his desire to keep RATT alive with a new singer, but explained that DeMartini did not want to tour as RATT without Pearcy.
Blotzer‘s revamped RATT is rounded out by vocalist Josh Alan (ex-SIN CITY SINNERS) and guitarists Doc Ellis (Jizzy Pearl‘s LOVE/HATE) and Nicholas “Blaze” Baum.
Croucier played a number of shows last year with a band called RATT’S JUAN CROUCIER, which also features Pete Holmes (BLACK ‘N BLUE), Mike Moore and Toni Aleman. WBS — with Blotzer acting as both chairman of the board and president — later sued the bassist, claiming that Croucier was using the RATT logo “on all advertisements, web sites, merchandise, marquees, fliers, and record jackets” and was “referring to himself as ‘The Other Voice of RATT,’ even though… he was never the lead singer of RATT.”
Happy B Day Lonn, good seeing ya last night. Great bash. pic.twitter.com/bb8xc3ZVag
— STEPHEN PEARCY (@StephenEPearcy) July 30, 2016
Out on the streets, that’s where we’ll meet….
Posted by Stephen Pearcy on Saturday, July 30, 2016
Fonte: Blabbermouth.net