"There was all this color and

- advertisement -

- advertisement -

Once there’s been an infestation, it’s hard to get rid of a Ratt.

Everyone knows that Hollywood was the place to be for rock band in the 80’s--especially ones who wore tight pants and donned copious amounts of hairspray. That’s just a fact. People wanted it--girls wanted it--and luckily there were plenty of guys willing to provide their own special version of this good time rock and roll. Record execs were found scouring Sunset Blvd. in much the same way they would a decade later in Seattle. Motley Crue, Quiet Riot and Great White were just three of the successful bands that were signed during the hysteria--in some cases years before Ratt. It would be one thing if all of the groups signed before our favorite rocking rodents turned out to be multi-million unit sellers, but of course, that isn’t the case. Plenty of labels had the chance to sign Stephen Pearcy’s fledgling group yet passed on them in favor of other bands they felt showed more promise. Of course, this turned out to be bad business, but after the strength of their EP and some favorable press, Doug Morris from Atlantic finally took an interest in Ratt, and their major label debut, Out of the Cellar, went nuclear on the strength of their signature hit “Round and Round.” I guess it’s appropriate that years after VH-1made a cottage industry out of summarizing band’s careers in forty minutes that Ratt has finally achieved their day in the sun--albeit years after groups like Anthrax, Guns and Roses, Motley Crue all got the star treatment themselves. Some musicians might make this a point of contention, but as you’ll see here, Pearcy simply concedes that recognition given this late is the best way to tell that something--in this case a band’s musical impact--has been achieved.

It would have been nearly impossible to predict that when Ratt first burst onto your television screen along with Milton Berle and a whole bunch of furry pests that they would end up being one of the best bands in the genre. Of course, Ratt would go on later to produce other discs--Invasion of Your Privacy, Dancing Undercover and Detonator that although never quite garnering the enthusiasm or sales of the their predecessor still contains music that holds up well today. Ratt’s enduring legacy proves just how important the movement was despite the huge critical backlash that occurred once the 90’s hit. Even though Ratt as we knew it is no longer making music together, they are still tightly associated with the label “hair metal”. In their case, that isn’t a knock--when one thinks of spandex and big hair, one shouldn’t forget that besides damaging the ozone layer, 80’s rockers produced a ton of enduring music that was absolutely necessary for the movement to progress into the mainstream phenomenon that it became. Despite what anyone says Ratt was a huge portion of the best aspects of the genre--one of the few who didn’t rely on releasing eight dozen power ballads to carve their niche--hell, for that alone they should be respected.

With Robin Crosby no longer with us and with the rest of the original group still not exactly on beer drinking terms, it would seem that there should be less speculation about this band getting together “for old times sake” than there may be for many of the others out there. Although there is a certain sadness in that knowledge, Stephen keeps busy racing cars, developing bands on his Top Fuel label and continuing to perform (Pearcy’s latest entitled Stripped was recently released). Regardless of what I or anyone else’s opinion may be of some of what Stephen has produced since his Ratt days, it is undeniably cool that an attempt at being creative is still being made by one of the seminal figures of the period. If it takes being on VH-1 to put a band back in the public’s conscience, then so be it. Let’s hope we can all look forward to tributes to bands like Saxon, Queensryche or Helix in the future---sure beats specials on The Barenaked Ladies or The Bay City Rollers.

KNAC.COM: What insight did you gain, if any, from participating in the recent VH-1 Rocumentary on Ratt?

PEARCY: It was an awakening no matter how you want to see it. You know, to go back and relive and experience and acknowledge is one thing, but it is pretty interesting to say the least. It’s proper timing for it, and it’s great that the Pantera special was on right after that.

KNAC.COM: Can you describe how you felt when you saw some of the excerpts of the interviews that were conducted with your old band mates? I’m sure you haven’t seen some of them in years. Is it a little emotional or irritating or is it maybe even worse than that..?

PEARCY: Mmm, hmm. One hundred percent. It’s good, bad and ugly, but it can’t be regrettable because it was fact--not fiction. Basically the whining and the bitchin’ and the moanin’ is just drama for the program. That was that era, you know? That’s what it was. I know how I perceived it because I know these people better than anyone else. In the beginning, we understood that we would try to keep things to ourselves, and it worked….for awhile.(laughs)

KNAC.COM: I‘m sure, but despite the best of intentions of any band, isn’t it just inevitable? Someone will catch you at a weak moment and…who knows what you could say?

PEARCY: Yeah, you’re only human, but the legal battles are over. Most of us are even amicably associating, but…that doesn’t mean anything. It’s unfinished business whether it’s conquering a planet or calling it a day, you know? I’m way too busy to even think about it, but Behind the Music is a good call, and it’s a good thing. We accomplished a lot, and it was an important time. There was all this color and danger and excitement present in the 80’s while the 90’s just gave you depression. Pardon the pun, but what goes around comes around in this business --it’s a vicious cycle. To me, it’s very healthy. It’s funny too that some bands who were just on the coattails of the movement back in the day probably have their videos played more now than they did then.

KNAC.COM: It’s kind of funny, and I know everyone wants to attribute the whole glam-metal, metal resurgence to a cycle, but don’t you think that the specific reason your music and the music of other bands of the time is making a come back is because you guys simply played good time tunes? I know a lot of the musicians I talk to think that whole party vibe is what made the whole L.A.-80’s scene special. I mean, is grunge something you could see coming back just because it is the next movement that came chronologically?

PEARCY: No, and I know exactly where you’re going with that. (laughs) The reason being that the beginning of The Strip in L.A. was like The Doors in that movie twenty years before that. There were a few bands from that grunge era--don’t get me wrong--who deserved accolades and success, but as an indie label guy for twelve years, I know a little about demographics, and no, I don’t see it happening. The excitement wasn’t there. There was too much depression and thought and so many politics that even they got pigeonholed into like “hey, you’re from the 90’s? You must be bummed out and flannelled.” I don’t know what’s the better.

KNAC.COM: I do. Are you kidding? Do you want to stereotyped as a manic depressive or a guy who sports hairspray, has a good time and gets chicks? That seems like a real easy decision--especially in retrospect.

PEARCY: Well, yeah, when you put it that way. (laughs) It’s still out there too. Wherever you leave the party door open, I’ll be the party director. It goes down. Nothing has changed that way. Everybody’s a little trippy, but it still goes down. It’s rock and roll. That’s never going to change.

KNAC.COM: It is cool to hear you say that because for a long time musicians didn’t want to cop to the party aspect because they felt that it would take away from their credibility.

PEARCY: Yeah, I have a saying that I also used back then that goes “ onstage whether it is a hundred people or a thousand or ten thousand--I don’t care. It’s a fuckin’ party. I’m just the entertainment.” I always felt that way. I actually played bigger gigs with my older band than I did with Ratt when it first began. When Robin and I joined, we knew we were going to be starting over, so when people ask me how it is not to be doing shows that large anymore, I just say, “I’ve been there. I’m doing the same thing I was doing before I did that.” We were playing huge venues in San Diego, but when I came to LA, I had to play in front of ten people just like I saw Van Halen do in 1979 which is what got me up here to begin with. I wanted to be a part of that--the music and the party.

KNAC.COM: How much different is it to play smaller gigs though once you’ve seen the top of the mountain though? Was there some kind of Zen moment of clarity that you had, or what is it that allows you to have this perspective where you don‘t harbor a lot of negativity?

PEARCY: You learn inevitably that you either stay in this or you don’t--some people were never intended for this business. For me, I just see it as something that doesn’t consume me the way it used to because I have accomplished things I never thought I would. So right there, once I got my first gold or platinum record, I thought, “I’ve made it.” I didn’t know it would go on for so many years or that I would enjoy it like I did either. That isn’t to say it wasn’t treacherous or dangerous at times either because it was.

KNAC.COM: So basically age and attaining your goals kind of allowed you the opportunity to see the situation as it is without all the baggage of ambition sort of altering your perspective?

PEARCY: Yeah, some people just have to hang on to that because they need the adulation though. They just need some of that--some of them actually even got into it for that. I can’t point fingers--you have to be a little egotistical to be in music in the first place to get on stage and do your thing.

KNAC.COM: For a front man that factor doubles or triple, right?

PEARCY: For me, I’ve always had this thing where I don’t think it was a cocky thing, but I’m not gonna be bothered if you hate me or liked me because I’m just doing what I do. It worked. (laughs) I’ve learned to just take it as it comes without being depressed or uptight. You also have to keep your shit together too. It doesn’t help when you’re a mess. I’ve had to change my lifestyle quite a bit to be a healthier person or a family person. Don’t get me wrong--I’m the same guy-- I didn’t just put the costume on and pretend. No, that was twenty-four hours a day that we lived.

KNAC.COM: I asked Jack Russell something similar to this recently, and I’m not trying to be funny, but when you meet an elderly person, they tend to be one of two extremes. It seems like they are either really bitter as hell or they have like a joyful type of calm about them. It really seems that when dealing with guys who have been involved with metal, they invariable appear to be exactly the same way. What do you think the biggest factor is that separates the two? How can two careers appear to be almost identical yet one person is at peace while the other still curses Nirvana?

PEARCY: That’s a good question. Mice and men, my friend. That’s just it. You roll with the punches. Just because you won a battle or two doesn’t mean you’re going to win the war. Here it is--I always took the business seriously. The truth is that we were always able to function in whatever our states were most of the time. It wasn’t like we got into the business to party. We were already into it. The parties were just going to get bigger and more. We weren’t thinking we were going to prove we were the biggest or most baddass band. It was just like we do this, and we dig music, so here we go. I can accept the ups and downs and arounds and rounds. Some people, like you say, they take it too seriously.

KNAC.COM: Yeah, and it continues to follow them through the rest of their lives. It is almost like this sense of entitlement where they go, “I did this, therefore, I deserve to be treated like the ultimate rock star forever. The world owes me something.”

PEARCY: Nobody owes anybody anything. You’re entertainment, man. You’re bought---you just can’t take this seriously. Any band I deal with now on my label independently we give them as much time as they need. It’s done when it’s done when it’s done. When you like it and you get off on it, just do what you do. There is no more nurturing or development most of the time in this business--the turnover is just so fast. Then again, I’ve got to say that some of the people who never saw the level of success that some of the others may have had should just be happy that they are seeing some recognition now because any accomplishment that lasts this long is a big deal. It was a great period. People want that music and they are going to get it one way or another. It’s the smart people who are taking advantage of that demand. You and I are going to be older dudes and are still gonna dig Zeppin, Priest and The Stones. That ain’t gonna change.

KNAC.COM: It seems like there is always going to be a niche for good time music that just sounds good--despite what the critics say. I mean, who wants to hear a politically oriented album from 1991 that reminds you of the time you were strung out on heroin and almost slit your wrists?

PEARCY: That’s what I mean. I write songs about what is around me. It’s not all “hey, baby”--but the girly shit’s good too. There are some topics I like to dwell on, but in the end, it’s just music. A lot of people do or have taken it a little too seriously. Nowadays, it is a whole different planet, but there have to be parts of that time that people either want to relive or maybe they just weren’t around or missed it the first time.

KNAC.COM: There are many in the mainstream media who have made a career lampooning this music while now championing The Darkness because they rock in an “ironic” way. My question is always, “what do you have that’s better?” This music is still around and people still buy it. What is popular music producing right now that has any hope of being around in twenty years?

PEARCY: Where’s your substance? It better be in the songs. Although we wanted to have fun, that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the songs. The fact is, Ratt produced a lot of good music. Hey, what’s wrong with having a job that let’s you get away with….a lot? (laughs)

KNAC.COM: Even though the history of rock is relatively short, with the advent of mp3’s and decline in the attention span for most music fans, metal may prove to be the last genre that has a viable, long term commercial future, isn’t it?

PEARCY: Sure, it isn’t like I put my accomplishments up on a shelf though or anything. I am usually looking toward what comes next. I couldn’t even tell you where my platinum albums are. I gave them away, but I’m in the books--part of history. As long as a person keeps in perspective that it was all in fun, you’ll get more out if it because you’ll get less depression or whatever freaks you out. You know, you go out on tour for a year and half and then wake up one morning and find yourself in a studio and then it seems like the next day you’re on tour again for another year. That, by itself, will take a toll on you, and if you make a huge deal out of every little thing, you won’t make it.

KNAC.COM: How hard was it to keep anything in perspective though when there were so many enablers out there feeding your ego and willing to fulfill basically any request you may have had at the time?

PEARCY: It did happen, and it happened quite a lot, but I think you’ll find that people in any field who are successful have that same problem.

KNAC.COM: True, but how many of them are playing to twelve or fourteen thousand people at the age of twenty-two? You know, and then being given thousands and thousands of dollars while being told “don’t spend it all. It won’t last forever.” What guy in his early twenties in that situation wouldn’t think it would last forever?

PEARCY: There were only a few who actually knew what they were doing while most of the rest were in the back of the bus going “heeey, man, I pissed this all away.” I was one of them actually.(laughs) Then again, I was doing my own trip and in rock and roll there is no night and day--it just is what it is.

KNAC.COM: There has to be that understanding that there is going to be some good with the bad. I’m sure that although “Round and Round” was completely huge, there is a danger with anything that gets that big.

PEARCY: Fortunately, we didn’t tag ourselves that silly to have that large of a backlash. Our music was new and original, and we worked really hard doing it.

KNAC.COM: And in fairness, Ratt obviously had more than one song and more than one album of material.

PEARCY: Yeah, we weren’t a one-off. There is never an end to anything either--at least I don’t think there is. You actually see it on the Behind the Music, and you literally see where it starts to crack, but to me, they still didn’t get the real story….and I’m not about to tell them. There are some things that are just our lives and out of respect for Robin and myself and everyone else that we don’t need to go into. It shouldn’t be about “fuck that guy! And, oh yeah, he’s a prick too. Next!” That was about as far as we needed to go while still respecting the situation. That’s a hard thing too because in rock people tend to take things personally. That kind of animosity can be the death of anything. It’s like, let’s put it behind us and move on. We did prove something back then, you know, Ratt was one of the last bands to get signed out of Hollywood at the time. Even though we were as good as we thought we were or as different as we thought we were, they grabbed everyone else who was more goofy or colorful first. We proved that given the opportunity, we could do it as well or better than those who came before.

KNAC.COM: How large of a sense of frustration was building within you guys while all of that was happening? Was there always this sense that good would triumph over evil anyway?

PEARCY: I’m glad Doug Morris was smart enough to go, “grab that!” It’s all fun though. I always look at it as a survival of the fittest or just survival. No one gets any extra bonus points or brownie buttons--hanging out in the business this long is lucky. We’re all lucky--let’s just keep playin’ the tunes.