Magazine article - Hit Parader 1985
RATT - Leaders of the pack
Ratt Patrol Go For Broke with
Invasion of your Privacy
by Paul Hunter
In many ways, Ratt is the perfect band for the mid 1980’s. Mixing an unerring pop feel with solid riff-rock foundation, this West Coast quintet has developed a sound, as well as a look, that’s instantly caught the fancy of rock fans everywhere. Now with the release of their second LP, Invasion of Your Privacy, vocalist Stephen Pearcy, bassist Juan Croucier, drummer Bobby Blotzer and guitarists Warren DeMartini and Robbin “King” Crosby have solidified their foothold in the rock stratosphere. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Pearcy and Crosby about the ingredients that led Ratt to instant stardom.
(Please note, only Robbin Crosby’s interview portions are included below.)
Hit Parader: Is there one particular quality that you believe has made Ratt successful?
Robbin Crosby: Everyone can tell we’re having a good time. People pick up on that. They see you having fun and they say to themselves, “Hey, I want to have a good time too.” When the fans come to one of our concerts we do our best to make it a big party, and that carries over to the records as well.
HP: It’s been said that Ratt parties about as hard as any band around. How true is that?
RC: We like having a good time, none of us are going to deny that. But we take making music very seriously. Making music that has a “good time” feel to it can be hard work. We didn’t just walk into the studio and crank the new album out in a couple of hours. There was a lot of preproduction work, and a lot of time spent in the studio. Of course, with Ratt that preproduction time was spent in Hawaii, so even when we work we know how to do it with a little style.
HP: But come on, guys! What about the stories about Robbin being kidnapped by Motley Crue and being “forced” to party with a busload of women all night?
RC: The guys in Motley Crue are good friends of mine. Don’t get the idea that we’re trying to be saints. It’s just that we’ve seen too many stories written about other bands, which talk only about how wild the guys are. We’d like the stories written about us to concentrate more on the music.
HP: Okay, I can take a hint Robbin, tell us about the new music.
RC: I have absolutely nothing to say (laughs). Really the new album is great. It’s a lot more exciting than Out of the Cellar was. There’s a cohesiveness to the music that’s different from last time. When we did Out of the Cellar, we were a fairly new band and we were still trying to find out how we could work with one another and who would have to assume what responsibilities in the songwriting and recording process. This time we pretty much new what our strengths and weaknesses were, and we did our best to eliminate the weaknesses.
HP: Ratt has caught a bit of heat over the last year from people who say that you’ve “borrowed” a lot of your sound and style from other groups. How have you reacted to that?
RC: It’s never bothered me too much. Just because we’re successful, people naturally want to take you apart and find out what makes you tick as a person and as a band. We’ve never been troubled by that.
HP: I notice you avoid using the term heavy metal when you talk about your music. Why is that?
RC: I don’t think we’re a heavy metal band, that’s why. There are elements in the music that are metal-oriented. But I don’t think that Ratt plays like Judas Priest. We don’t have the look and we don’t have the attitude. To me, heavy metal often has very little melody. Our music is very melodic. It’s Ratt and Roll, and that’s all we ever want it to be.
HP: How has success changed your life? Has fame been everything you’ve imagined?
RC: It hasn ‘t changed my life that much. I still have the same crummy little one room apartment I’ve had for years. The only thing I have of real value is a 1965 Mustang that I keep in a garage. Maybe if this album does as well as the last one, we’ll have a little money to buy new homes, but that’s not important. We’re planning on being on the road for nine months a year for much of the foreseeable future, so what’s the point of investing a lot of money in a place you’re never going to live in? As long as I have my guitars and amps, I’m happy. Right now, Ratt is the central force in the lives of everyone in this band. Virtually everything else is irrelevant. ÿ