Remember When A RATT Show Was A Big Deal?

Picture it: Osaka, Japan, 1991. RATT is still a pretty big band. The core remains intact. The stage show remains huge. The way things are with the band now (can we even say RATT is a band at this point?) seeing these old clips make me sad. Sometimes I just wish I could get Stephen Pearcy and Bobby Blotzer on the phone and broker a reunion beginning with "Check your ego" and end with "You won't be broke." Oh well I guess. Thankfully YouTube has me covered when I need a fix of RATT live... even if the footage is over 20 years old.

Comments

[Brian C.]

I just saw this last night and spent way too long watching it after the kids went to bed. I would have loved to have been at this show!

[Steverox]

Wow, amazing! I saw the "new" Ratt (ie. Bobby Blotzer's version) in LA a few weeks ago at the Canyon Club. Though it's a bit strange that the only original member is Bobby, they did sound really tight and it was a very enjoyable show. Plus seeing Robbie Crane - who has been in the band before - on bass is always a treat. He and Bobby both seemed to be having a great time at the show (as did the others), and both were available after the show for small talk, pics, etc. Bonus that they played "One Step Away" my favorite RATT song.

[Kevon]

That was awesome! The setlist was great! Closed with Top Secret! This is how I choose to remember RATT thank you

[TheCheapSeats]

I saw RATT once. It was either late '85 or early '86. Invasion of Your Privacy tour. Bon Jovi was opening, 7800 Fahrenheit tour. Think about that for a minute.

At the time it seemed just as it should be. Looking back and where the respective careers have gone, it's kinda funny. Of course, Bon Jovi hasn't been relevant for long time either, but they still sell out big halls/arenas. I actually saw one of the last shows with Sambora.

Back to RATT. It may have been the venue, it may have been the night, it may have been any number of things, but that show sucked. The sound was garbled and it was three songs in before I recognized what they were playing. Can't hold that against them. Still love the music. That show just sucked sound-wise. Of course Juan was still entertaining to watch, so there's that.

[Him]

Anyone notice how Pearcy now pogos in slow motion during his sets? Even Croucier. He is less seducing his bass and more gently rocking it to sleep. It's as if everything is slowing down with the once somewhat-mighty RATT. This video does nothing to dispel that notion. That was the sorta' "on top" that most of remember and squint to see nowadays.

The fact that Pearcy says he is still/again working with DeMartini does nothing to suggest any iteration of the band is going to be able to capture lightning in a bottle like they did on _Infestation_. Blotzer got Crane back, sure. And Crane was one of the nicer members of that version of the band, by a long shot. But it really is an approximation (by many accounts, a good one). Add them to the file, folks. The list is growing.

And see your favorite 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 1/4 (or 1/5th) of a band before they retire. Micheal Sweet was certainly right to stir the pot a few weeks ago. They ain't going to be around for a lot longer.

[fletch]

The cheap seats: How about this line-up: Seeing Bon Jovi opening for Chicago off of Slippery When Wet, right before YGLABN exploded into the atmosphere.

[Shawn]

@cheap seats I caught the same tour and actually left half way through RATT because the sound just blew I couldn't even identify the song that was being played. Bon Jovi was great though - It was Nov -Dec of 85 ......

[Brian Lucas]

First time I saw Ratt was in Johnstown Pa. Poison opened for them, supporting their first album. When Ratt came out, it was a memory that I will never forget. When they came out there was white smoke and they were all glammed out. I'll never forget how cool the atmosphere was and how I got to the very front row.

[Metalboy!]

I saw RATT at Hammerjack's in 1990 and they totally KILLED it! The sound, the look AND the performance was flawless.

On top of it, I even got to shake hands with Robbin "King" Crosby (RIP) as he reached out when he worked his way across the front of the stage at the end of the show.