Fronted by San Diego natives Stephen Pearcy and guitarist Chris Hagar, the original line-up of RATT, then billed as MICKEY RATT during the formative years of 1979 through until 1981, featured the Top Fuel Dragster crazy front man in partnership with bassist Matt Thorne and drummer John Turner. MICKEY RATT had started life as BUSTER CHERRY, initially featuring Pearcy, Hagar and future WARRIOR guitarist Tommy Asakawa. The latter would move on to METROPOLIS, a group hosting future RATT man Robbin Crosby.

John Turner was to make way for David Alford who in turn handed over to Khurt Maier. The band's debut live performance came with a show at a Joe Benson's UCLA radio party. MICKEY RATT, relocating from San Diego to Los Angeles, did actually issue a now extremely scarce 1980 single of 'Dr. Rock'/ 'Driven E'. Given away at gigs, only 100 copies were pressed.

Around this time guitarist Jake E. Lee (then known as Jake Lou Williams) and rhythm guitarist Bob DeLillis became involved before they were enticed away by an offer to join local competitors ROUGH CUTT forged by MICKEY RATT defectors Hagar and Thorne. During the interim, Hagar, Thorne, Alford and Steven St. James briefly operated as SARGE. Lee then stepped into a fleeting relationship with DIO, before finding international recognition with the OZZY OSBOURNE band in October 1982.

Another RATT guitarist, between June and October 1982 was Marq Torien, later to find fame as singer for the BULLETBOYS. Guitarist TRACII GUNS was to audition for RATT but this proposed liaison failed to gel. He would of course go on to form the fledgling GUNS N' ROSES before embarking on his own successful outfit L.A. GUNS.

This line-up recorded 'Tell The World' for the first 'Metal Massacre' album before replacing the rhythm section with bassist Joey Cristo and ex-FIREFOXX drummer Bobby Blotzer (Robert John Blotzer), who, like bassist Tom Croucier, had played in Europe with Swiss guitarist VIC VERGAT and had also briefly worked with a proto-band unit including LEGS DIAMOND guitarist Roger Romeo. Lead guitarist Robbin Crosby (Robinson Lance Crosby), previously a member of PHENOMENON, was augmented with the addition of erstwhile ENFORCER man WARREN DE MARTINI, both San Diego natives. Initially this formation employed Gene Hunter on bass.

Former SPIKE, JEWEL and FIREFOXX man Juan Croucier, brother of Tom, recorded with the group but also maintained a parallel membership of DOKKEN at the time. Indeed DOKKEN's 1981 demo was recorded with Tom Croucier and Blotzer.

De Martini was a guitarist of some note adding a degree of reputation to RATT's now distinctive sound. The lanky six stringer had first performed with surf outfit THE RIPPERS prior to creating ENFORCER, an outfit that would record an album that to this day is unreleased, the whole project going over budget as the recording studio went into bankruptcy.

Cristo (real name: Joey Crostofenelli) soon made way for Juan Croucier and would subsequently record with ROUGH CUTT, SIN and JAG WIRE. Thorne, renaming himself Matt Thor. would make a return to the limelight with Hagar and Alford in ROUGH CUTT, whilst Maier recorded with MAX HAVOC, SALTY DOG and MUDPIE.

'Out Of The Cellar' was one of the success stories of 1984, a record that outsold their friends and rivals MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Shout At The Devil', selling over two million copies in America alone, assisted by touring stints with OZZY OSBOURNE, MÖTLEY CRUE, BON JOVI and BILLY SQUIER. The band was making media headlines elsewhere too as Robbin Crosby's liaisons with female celebrities such as Tawny Kitaen, Apollonia and Playboy model Laurie Carr kept the rumour mongers happy. Behind the glamorous façade Crosby was also indulging in more than beautiful women and his now acknowledged drug habit would eventually wreak its revenge in later years.

Eager to get away from the pressures of platinum status RATT would still warm up with intimate club shows billing themselves THE GLADIATORS.

In early 1986 the group ventured over to Britain for a first tour of Britain opening for OZZY OSBOURNE followed by what was to be their last British showing at the Castle Donington 'Monsters Of Rock' festival. American dates had BON JOVI as the opening act.

RATT's third album found the group striving for a heavier sound. Released in October 1986, 'Dancin' Undercover' went Gold in America within a month and RATT set off on tour in early 1987 with CHEAP TRICK opening on the first leg. Further treks saw the fast rising POISON as openers although personal issues between the two bands resulted in the two parties separating. RATT soldiered on with QUEENSRYCHE plugging the gap but ticket sales plunged and POISON were humbly asked to return. With the 'Reach For The Sky' album the band found themselves on the edge of burn out and publicly struggling. Sessions were started with producer Mike Stone but these tapes would be scrapped and Beau Hill brought back in to re-capture the RATT magic. The single 'Way Cool Jr.' fared well but the band's tour soon flagged.

1990's back to form 'Detonator' featured JON BON JOVI on backing vocals. The album was produced by Sir Arthur Payson; in reality DESMOND CHILD under a pseudonym. Despite the obvious strength of the album RATT's star was waning and the band duly splintered. Indeed, Crosby, had only just left rehab in order to make the studio sessions. A Japanese tour proved to be Crosby's last fling. Attempting to use alcohol as a dampener against drug addiction Crosby's relations with the band soured and RATT pulled in an unknown guitarist during 1991 to replace him on the road.

The band's management would then draft in none other than the renowned ex-UFO guitarist MICHAEL SCHENKER to take his place. This latter union would result eventually in the much vaunted but ill fated CONTRABAND project. The ejected Crosby busied himself with production duties for the MAIL ORDER BRIDES but this alliance soon collapsed. A fresh band SECRET SERVICE was assembled involving erstwhile WARRIOR vocalist Parrymore 'Perry' McCarty with Krys Baratto on bass and Dino Guerrero of THE HANGMEN on drums. Sessioning on second guitar would be Mark Lewis. Unfortunately internal strife scuppered the band midway through recording an intended debut album and SECRET SERVICE duly folded. Rumours surrounding the blonde giant's health began to filter through into the public arena and by 1994 it was confirmed Crosby's drug abuse had led to an AIDS infection.

Croucier produced Japanese act AIR PAVILION's 'Sarrph Cogh' album in 1994 and would produce PSYCHODRAMA's 1997 effort 'Bent'. STEPHEN PEARCY cut an Industrial flavoured Hard Rock album with VERTEX, a union between the singer, SAVATAGE and ALICE COOPER guitarist Al Pitrelli, noted Japanese Techno man Hiro Kuretani and former OZZY OSBOURNE, RAINBOW and URIAH HEEP bassist Bob Daisley. WARREN DE MARTINI's Japanese only solo album, 'Crazy Enough To Sing To You' which also featured contributions from Bob Daisley, gained an American release in late '97.

During 1996 the band members brokered a reunion with Robbin Crosby. The ex-guitarist had relocated to El Paso, Texas and had been performing with a Country & western band billed WAR PARTY. However, upon his arrival in Los Angeles it was deemed that Crosby's drug problems were still evident and the proposed collaboration fell through. The guitarist then went into hospital and, recuperating from major back surgery, stayed there for nearly two years.

Meantime, a re-united version of RATT, featuring Pearcy, DeMartini and Blotzer were responsible for a brand new album released in 1997 consisting of newly recorded tracks and a mixture of unreleased tracks from the 'Reach For The Sky' and 'Detonator' albums knocked into shape. Joining the resurrected line-up came former NEW HAVEN and VINCE NEIL BAND bassist Robbie Crane, who had been working with Stephen Pearcy's most recent solo outfit VERTEX. Robbin Crosby had been the subject for discussion for a return to the ranks although negotiations broke down.

RATT were expected to tour during the summer although in the interim, Pearcy, DeMartini and ex-RATT and ROUGH CUTT bassist Matt Thorne contributed a cover of 'I'm Losing You' to a proposed ROD STEWART tribute album. Not to be outdone Blotzer joined GREAT WHITE's Jack Russell and Mark Kendall on a rendition of 'Sin City' for a similar project in honour of AC/DC. Blotzer also worked with De Martini and SKID ROW's ex vocalist SEBASTIAN BACH on 'Little Lover' for the same album.

'Collage', released on the independent De Rock Record label provided ample proof RATT's fan base had stayed loyal as the record was quick to shift over 40'000 copies. However, touring to promote 'Collage', with new second guitarist Keri Kelli, RATT's momentum was brought abruptly to a halt when Pearcy fell fifteen feet offstage smashing his kneecap.

The group signed to Sony in 1998 after former Geffen Rock A&R guru John Kalodner's defection to the company with the intention of putting together a new Metal roster. RATT's name was mentioned alongside other signings like WARRANT and CINDERELLA.

The resulting Richie Zito produced album 'Ratt' proved to be a welcome return to form. GREAT WHITE's Jack Russell and NIGHTRANGER's Jack Blades aided on the song-writing front.

RATT 2000 was a very confused affair. Pearcy quit to found NITRONIC just before projected live dates. TUFF's frontman STEVIE RACHELLE and GUARDIAN's Jamie Rowe tried out for the job but in the end RATT drafted ex LYNCH MOB man Robert Mason as a replacement. However, upfront of a headlining American tour supported by WARRANT and L.A. GUNS the band announced a new vocalist in ex LOVE / HATE and L.A. GUNS man Jizzy Pearl and new rhythm guitarist as being none other than former MÖTLEY CRÜE / SCREAM / UNION vocalist John Corabi. Pearl was also pursuing a cause nearer to home by re-founding LOVE/HATE.

Whilst RATT geared up for touring proper Blotzer, Kelli and Crane- together with WARRANT frontman Jani Lane, jammed in California clubs under the handle PHUCKET. Kelli would also feature in the roll call for the 2000 SHAMELESS album 'Queen 4 A Day'. The guitarist would bail out of RATT in mid 2000 to join SLASH'S SNAKEPIT.

Ex bassist Juan Croucier was asked again to join RATT but declined in order to concentrate on his 2000 band LIQUID SUNDAY. STEPHEN PEARCY meantime issued a solo retrospective album 'Before And Laughter' that included early MICKEY RATT material up to his present day NITRONIC band. Pearcy would announce in 2001 that he also intended touring billed as STEPHEN PEARCY'S RATT with rumours abounding that this proposed unit would include Robbin Crosby. Other more informed reports motioned that Crosby was too ill to partake.

2001 would also see both Pearl and Corabi lending their vocal talents to the JUDAS PRIEST tribute album 'Breakin' The Law' on Cleopatra Records featuring on 'Turbo Lover' and 'Delivering The Goods' respectively. Live work for RATT would see a long overdue foray into Europe on the billing of the 'Monsters Of The Millennium' festivals alongside veterans DIO and ALICE COOPER.

STEPHEN PEARCY would issue a solo album 'Social Intercourse' in 2001 which included material originally destined for RATT and tracks co-written by RATT men Robbie Crane and Keri Kelli. Pearcy's touring band included ex SEA HAGS / ARCADE guitarist Frankie Wilsex. Pearcy's new act would form a touring package billed as 'Voices Of Metal' in alliance with VINCE NEIL, SLAUGHTER, BRITNY FOX and VIXEN Meantime the 'other' RATT pack downed tools following their dates but Kelli, Blotzer, Crane & Corabi would quickly form an impromptu live band dubbed the ANGEL CITY OUTLAWS. Corabi would also deputise for TUFF at short notice when their guitarist Darryl Roberts jumped ship to W.A.S.P.

RATT would be "honoured" by a STEPHEN PEARCY fronted rendition of 'Round And Round' by THE TORIES included on the compilation album 'Metal Rules- A Tribute To The Bad Hair Days'.

With the ongoing verbal feud between Pearcy and the remaining RATT members it came as quite a coup to cover band METAL SHOP to entice both Pearcy and Blotzer onstage for a rendition of 'Round And Round' for an October show at the Viper Room venue in Los Angeles.

As 2002 broke rumours surfaced of a possible Bobby Blotzer solo album in the works. What would be confirmed is that RATT men Jizzy Pearl, Keri Kelli and Robbie Crane- alongside drummer Dave Moreno, were resurrecting the LOVE/HATE tag for touring in the UK during April as guests to GILBY CLARKE.

The future of RATT meantime was solidified by a court decision on an action by ex-member STEPHEN PEARCY. The judge awarded the Blotzer / De Martini union the full rights to the band name and further rubbed salt into Pearcy's wounds by ordering the vocalist to pay over all profits from his last tour on which he billed his band as RATT FEATURING STEPHEN PEARCY. Blotzer and DeMartini duly announced a mammoth 55 date tour for the summer heading a bill of WARRANT, DOKKEN, FIREHOUSE and L.A. GUNS. The success afforded the first leg of these shows would see this tour commencing a second round of gigs in Seattle on August 7th, eventually stretching out to mid September.

RATT members would put in a further tribute album appearance, with Pearl fronting up a version of 'Sweet Child O Mine' and Corabi lending his tonsils to both 'Used To Love Her' and 'Patience' on an April Deadline Records GUNS N' ROSES collection. Meantime, STEPHEN PEARCY put his energies into a RATT tribute album entitled 'Rodent- Back In The Cellar' apparently including such high profile artists as SLIPKNOT, with 'Lay It Down', DROWNING POOL's 'Wanted Man' and other contributions from DWEEZIL ZAPPA, SALIVA, COLD and PANTERA's Dimebag Darrell.

Sadly, former RATT guitarist and acknowledged band leader Robbin Crosby- acknowledged to have been out of the limelight for many years due to his battle with AIDS, passed away on Thursday, June 6th 2002. He was just 41 years old.

STEPHEN PEARCY would head out on summer dates strengthening the RATT connection by not only having erstwhile RATT comrade bassist Juan Croucier's band LIQUID SUNDAY as opening act but having Croucier double up duties as bass player for his band too. Present day RATT rhythm guitarist and former MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman John Corabi would also be in the news, teaming up with BULLETBOYS and LYNCH MOB drummer Jimmy D'Anda and REVEL 8 bassist Stevo Bruno in a brand new band billed as ZEN LUNATIC. Corabi would not be content with just the one side venture, also recording an album in league with RATT colleague Bobby Blotzer and IRON HORSE and OBSESSION guitarist Robert Marcello billed as TWENTY 4 SEVEN.

With the close of the RATT, DOKKEN, WARRANT and L.A. GUNS tour in September Blotzer lost no time in getting back in the saddle, stepping in as stand in drummer for a series of shows with MONTROSE. Corabi too was thrust back into the limelight, joining his former MÖTLEY CRÜE colleague Nikki Sixx and L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns in their new venture BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION.

Rumours suggested Warren DiMartini was to form part of a 2003 WHITESNAKE reformation touring line-up but this not transpire. However, three RATT colleagues did surface in a high profile new band venture in March of 2003 as Jizzy Pearl, Keri Kelli and Robbie Crane united with erstwhile GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler. Initially billed as ADLER'S APPETITE, the band incorporated Adler, Pearl, Kelli Crane and FASTER PUSSYCAT guitarist Brent Muscat. The band put out a press release promising to perform the GUNS N' ROSES album 'Appetite For Destruction' on the live circuit. However, Jizzy Pearl issued a statement the following day denying any involvement, motioning that he had jammed with Adler and nothing further. Within days of this announcement though Pearl was indeed to be found fronting up the new band.

DeMartini seemingly joined the ranks of DIO in April but within weeks this proposed union, although having been announced officially, was cancelled. DeMartini's name cropped up again in October as a possible candidate for a WHITE LION resurrection. Meantime, Keri Kelli was to perform as live member for both L.A. GUNS, subbing for an absent Tracii Guns, and BULLETBOYS on their ill fated November US dates.

Former singer STEPHEN PEARCY was found to be keeping the RATT history alive later that year, re-recording an album's worth of both RATT and archive MICKEY RATT tunes for Cleopatra Records. These sessions included guitar contributions from both JAKE E. LEE and GEORGE LYNCH. Also in the works was a MICKEY RATT collection dubbed 'Rattus Erectus' compiling tracks dating back as far as 1976.

February of 2003 witnessed Hollywood rumours suggested John Corabi was rehearsing up a new band unit working alongside erstwhile ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist JERRY CANTRELL and Billy Duffy of THE CULT. In March DeMartini hooked up with former SKID ROW vocalist SEBASTIAN BACH's new solo band.

December of 2004 witnessed an announcement that RATT was to help form up the Summer 2005 'Rock Never Stops' tour in collaboration with CINDERELLA, QUIET RIOT and FIREHOUSE. Corabi took time out in April to tour Europe fronting E.S.P., a heavyweight band featuring KISS drummer Eric Singer, KISS, UNION and GRAND FUNK RAILROAD guitarist Bruce Kulick and the DIO and ALICE COOPER credited bassist Chuck Garrick.

Late April had the ex-singer STEPHEN PEARCY in the studio, recording an acoustic version of RATT's 'Round And Round' hit with the ADLER'S APPETITE, VINCE NEIL and SLASH'S SNAKEPIT credited Keri Kelli and VOODOO and 13A man Erik Ferentinos handling guitars.

Another release on the Pearcy album front would be 'Rat Era', a collection of re-recorded RATT and MICKEY RATT tracks. Released through Deadline Records the collection included a DVD narration from Stephen Pearcy relating the saga of RATT's origins. The audio material featured lead guitar work from GEORGE LYNCH, Tracii Guns, Mark Zavon and VOODOO and 13A man Erik Ferentinos. Bass came courtesy of Matt Thorne and Troy Johnson whilst Todd Roberson supplied drums.

During late 2005 it was revealed Pearl was fronting 100 PROOF, a band which comprised the internationally known cast comprising Stacey Blades from L.A. GUNS on guitar, Mike Duda of W.A.S.P. on bass and the veteran figure of the AC/DC, THE FIRM, STATUS QUO and URIAH HEEP credited Chris Slade on drums. Another high profile RATT related union transpired in April 2006, Bobby Blotzer and Keri Kelli uniting with WARRANT frontman JANI LANE and ex-QUIET RIOT bassist Chuck Wright to forge ANGEL CITY OUTLAWS. In October Corabi vocalised on cover versions of the JOURNEY classic 'Girl Can't Help It' featured on the Cleopatra Records homage collection '80s Metal Tribute To Journey'.

A notable Los Angeles concert on October 27th at the Vine Street Lounge, as part of ex-RATT members STEPHEN PEARCY and Juan Croucier's joint tour, saw Bobby Blotzer joining the pair onstage to render 'Your in Love' and 'Round and Round'. Jizzy Pearl announced he was leaving his post as RATT frontman on December 4th.

John Corabi and Robbie Crane put in a one off performance fronting THE BIG BALL STARS, alongside vocalist ROBIN McAULEY, of McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP, FAR CORPORATION and SURVIVOR, drummer Chris Slade, of URIAH HEEP, DAMAGE CONTROL, THE FIRM and AC/DC, keyboard player Teddy Zig-Zag, of GUNS 'N ROSES, plus Brent Woods from the VINCE NEIL band, in a live set on January 27th 2007 at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood, California.

A stripped down acoustic version of 'Way Cool Jr.' was contributed to the 'VH1 Metal Mania Stripped Volume 3' compilation album issued through Sidewinder Music in March 2007. Unveiled in April, the new look RATT involved Stephen Pearcy, guitarists John Corabi and Warren DeMartini, bassist Robbie Crane and drummer Bobby Blotzer.

RATT partnered up with POISON for a valuable run of US shows throughout the summer of 2007. That July the band appeared at a once in a lifetime gathering of 80s Rock acts dubbed 'Rocklahoma', a three-day outdoor festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma, sharing the billing with POISON, VINCE NEIL, WARRANT, SLAUGHTER, QUIET RIOT, WINGER, DOKKEN, JACKYL, FASTER PUSSYCAT, ENUFF Z'NUFF, STEELHEART, 36 INCHES, Y&T, FIREHOUSE, BULLETBOYS, BANG TANGO and GREAT WHITE.

John Corabi ended a lengthy tenure with the band, being replaced by former QUIET RIOT guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who played his first RATT show in Baton Rouge, Lousiana on 27th August 2008. However, due to contractual obligations, Corabi put in his last show in Virginia Beach on 2nd September.

Corabu briefly returned to the RATT ranks in May 2009, covering for an unavailable Carlos Cavazo for a batch of concerts. That June the band commenced work on fresh album recordings, working with producer Michael Baskette n Mathews, Virginia for a release through Roadrunner subsidiary Loud & Proud. RATT teamed up with EXTREME for a co-headling US tour starting 12th July in Amarillo, Texas and running through until 7th August in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of their hit album 'Out Of The Cellar', RATT performed the album in its entirety as part of their set.

Garry Sharpe-Young