Tag: Warren DeMartini

My Sunday Song – “Scatter” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #397, we are on to a song by Ratt. Mike picked the Japanese bonus track for the song “Scatter” off the band’s comeback album from 2010, ‘Infestation’. Nothing better than a Ratt Infestation!! The song was written by Warren DeMartini and Stephen Pearcy like they do most of the on this album. It wasn’t much of a comeback album as it was the last album they have released so far. An amazingly good album, that saw the band turn in to mess with each other suing this one and that one. It is awful..but I’m off track. Back to the song.

I didn’t really find anything about the meaning of the song so I’m interpreting it my own way. The song makes the woman out to be thief, but I don’t think she’s a criminal. I think she’s a thief of the heart. Every time she gets to close to a guy, she runs, she…well…she scatters. She leaves the guy broken hearted as she stole his heart. Tell me what you think?

The song is a pure Ratt Rocker! You have Warren’s nasty guitar riffs and he is all over this thing and even on backing vocals along with Carlos Cavazo. Stephen’s vocals still have that grit, but at this point in time, it seems to have aged well as he still sounded like Stephen of earlier Ratt. And well, Bobby Blotzer and Robbie Crane keep the beat going effortlessly. This is a scorcher of an song, and the guitar is king on this one. This to me is actually one of the cooler songs on the album and it should’ve been on the U.S. pressing.

Mike’s review of the song when he review the album was as follows: “Their Japanese bonus track is a cool slow groove rocker called “Scatter”, with a great memorable chorus. This is the best song to me.”

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‘Sex, Drugs, Ratt & Roll: My Life in Rock’ – A Memoir By Stephen Pearcy with Sam Benjamin – Book Review

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I’m a huge Ratt fan as the first series the site ever did was a Ratt one where we reviewed every Ratt album in their discography (and my collection). A big part of that is because I like Stephen Pearcy. So when I was in Los Angeles and saw a book by Stephen Pearcy called ‘Sex, Drugs, Ratt & Roll: My Life in Rock’, I had to grab it. Now, Stephen didn’t write it by himself, he had the help of Sam Benjamin. But the two together crafted a book that was an easy, entertaining read and I like easy. And you will notice down below, the copy I picked up had been signed by Stephen back in 2018 which I didn’t notice until I got back home. Pretty cool!!

The story opens with birth of his daughter and him going to rehab, then quickly jumps back to his childhood. He was a typical kid, parents divorced when he was young so he didn’t now his Dad very well and raised by a single mom. He had to move from L.A. to San Diego when he was young and didn’t fit in with the scene. He found some hippie type friends and got in to drugs and drinking at a young age. He was hit by a car and both legs broken and was in rehab in the hospital for months on end and took a long time to recover.

When he finally discovered music, that became his motivation, his drive, his obsession. He knew he was going to make it and did everything in his power to make it happen. He met David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen early on when that band was getting ready to break and there are some fun stories with that. And with a book called Sex, Drugs, Ratt & Roll, you get all of that and then some. Most of the book is about his sex addiction and his drug addiction and after awhile that does get old because how many times can you talk about getting trim and not just sound like it is on repeat. He gets a lot and constantly. Stephen is a giant man-child who can’t commit to anything or anyone except the addictions, but his drive to be a rock star was insane.

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Ratt – “Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job” – 7″ Single

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While at a Record Show here in Charlotte, I came across some really great singles and here is the first of 3 I found at the show that were in phenomenal shape. The first is from the band Ratt and it is the first single off their 1990 album ‘Detonator’ called “Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job”. The song never made the Top 40 but did go to #18 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. The song was written by Stephen Pearcy, Juan Croucier, Warren DeMartini and Desmond Child who also produced the song and the album.

My version of the single is actually the UK version with “What’s It Gonna Be” as the B-Side. It was also the B-Side of the US version as well. Both songs appear to be the album version and not the Radio edits, but honestly, “Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job” is such a short song already at 3:14 that no edit is really needed.

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My Sunday Song – “Round And Round” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #260 and the final in the 10 song set is “Round and Round” by Ratt. The song is the first single off the band’s 1984 classic album ‘Out of the Cellar’. It reached #12 on the Hot 100 propelling the album to #7 and sells over 3 million copies in the U.S. alone. It broke the band in to one of the biggest acts in the world and the top acts in that whole 80’s Rock scene. The song was written by Warren DeMartini, Robbin Crosby and Stephen Pearcy.

The song is about a girl that he is really in to and he wants to be with her. She isn’t willing to give it up yet, but he knows he will get there in the end. The two go round and round playing all the games until the end and they both get what they knew would happen right from the start.

What makes the song great are those sleazy vocals by Stephen Pearcy matched perfectly with the nasty guitar riffs by Crosby and DeMartini and the dual solo, man, don’t get me started on that. It is all pure metal sleaze! The song is heavy, yet catchy as hell. The chorus is infectious and musically it is aggressive and pure fun. You can’t help but move and the song gets stuck in your head and can’t escape. It would be the blueprint of what was to hit the scene on the Sunset Strip and MTV for years to come!

Speaking of MTV, what really put this song over the top for the band was the video they released.  Their manager at the time was Marshall Berle.  Marshall had a pretty famous uncle that you might have heard of named Milton Berle, the legendary comedian.  With his famous Uncle Miltie character dressed in drag, he makes an appearance in the video which draws it national attention. This video sums up the 80’s nicely.

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My Sunday Song – “Shame, Shame, Shame” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #259, we are going to talk about “Shame, Shame, Shame” from Ratt’s 1990 album ‘Detonator’. The song was written by Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Desmond Child who also produced the album. The song was a Japan Only single and therefore never charted in the US since it wasn’t released here. The album didn’t do that well either only going Gold in the U.S. and hitting #23 on the charts. This surprises me as this to me is one of their best albums, if not THE BEST album they had done.

Lyrically, the song is about catching your girlfriend cheating and telling them they should have known better as now it is over. It is a big F.U. to the girlfriend that they screwed up and now they need to pack their bags and get the hell out. Since the girlfriend instigated the affair, he has no remorse or doubt that she needs to go. Really no other interpretation for this one. It is pretty straight-forward and simple.

The songs opens with a little Warren DeMartini penned instrumental piece called “Intro to Shame” with its slow detuned guitar solo which then slams into the blistering opening track “Shame Shame Shame”.  The song comes at you full force and the guitar work is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!! There is even a guest appearance by the super talented Michael Schenker.  What more could you want in an opening track.  It is hard, heavy, catchy and starts off the album better than probably any of their other albums.  Stephen’s vocals are spot on with that gritty, smoked too many cigarettes, drank too much whiskey edge it screams a bluesy vibe matched with Warren’s bluesy guitar tone. It is legendary!!

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My Sunday Song – “Best of Me” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #258, we are going to talk about “Best of Me” by Ratt. The song was the first single off their 2010 comeback album ‘Infestation’ and was the first signs that Ratt was back and back with a vengeance. When I first saw the video and heard the song, I was so pumped for this album. I hadn’t felt that way for a Ratt album in almost 20 years. This was the Ratt I knew and loved.  ‘Infestation’ was a beast of an album, but sadly, the band didn’t capitalize on it and ended up fighting and suing each other, it was a mess. But the song was great.

The song was written by Stephen Pearcy, Carlos Cavazo and Michael “Elvis” Baskette. “Best of Me” is about Stephen’s wife at the time, Melissa Pearcy.  He realized that she was the best part of him, but it took him to look elsewhere to realize what he had. He made the mistake and thought the grass might be greener on the other side and found out he already had the best thing in life he needed. Guys are stupid and get caught in this thinking all the time…they always want something newer or better…at least what they think is better…WRONG!! I think the band Cinderella summed it up nicely, “You don’t know what you got, ’til its gone”…that is the right saying for this.

That opening guitar riff by Warren DeMartini was pure Ratt magic. It immediately takes you back to the 80’s to when Ratt was in their prime. It sounds like it could’ve been on ‘Out of the Cellar’ or ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’. Bobby Blotzer’s drums sound great and he and bass player Robbie Crane are the driving force behind the song. Carlos Cavazo’s rhythm guitar is there is highlight Warren’s magical fingers. I mean his solo even sounds like it was ripped from the 80’s. And don’t forget Stephen Pearcy. His vocals are in great shape and still have that bluesy, gravely vocal he did back in the day. The song screams Ratt & Roll!! Yes, I went there!!

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My Sunday Song – “Nobody Rides For Free” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #257, we are going to discuss the single “Nobody Rides For Free” off the Soundtrack to the movie ‘Point Break’ from 1991. The song was never on a studio album of Ratt, but has been on their Greatest Hits compilations. The song was played during the end credits of the movie and was sadly, the first single the band recorded without founding member Robbin Crosby who had been left the band due to drug problems.

The song was written by songwriter, Steven Carlton who was in the band Climate of Crisis. The band had performed the song many times so I guess that makes it a cover song which I didn’t know. The song was presented to the band for use in the movie, so Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Juan Croucier took the song and tweaked it fit the band. Mostly they played with the lyrics but there were some musical tweaks as well.

The song seems to be about how people hang on to the star as the star is trying to reach for his success. These people cling on and are only there because the person is famous. The singer is fed up with it and is telling people to get put up or shut up and get out of my life if you are going to get in my way. Nobody rides for free on his coattails so either help him achieve his goal or get the F#&@ out of his way.

The song sounds like classic Ratt with Stephen’s gravely vocals that are heavily blues influenced. Bobby Blotzer’s drums drive the song forward along with Juan Croucier’s thumping bass. But the star of the song next to Stephen is Warren DeMartini and that blazing guitar. He has a great simple riff, but that solo he lays down is the money shot of the song. It would’ve been nice to have him playing off Robbin, but Warren is talented enough to handle it on his own. The song rocks out in all the right places.

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My Sunday Song – “Tell the World” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #256, we will tell the world about the song “Tell The World” by Ratt off their 1983 debut E.P. simply called “Ratt”. The song was written by Robbin Crosby and Stephen Pearcy and would later wind up on the band’s greatest hits album ‘Ratt & Roll 81-91’ which was probably when I first heard it as I didn’t get in to the band until their debut album. The song was never released as a single but was one of the better songs on the E.P. and therefore worth making the greatest hits cut.

Lyrically, the song seems to be about a girl that was using the singer and he was starting to catch on so she told him to leave. He has realized her games and is moving on. He is growing stronger and ready to take on the world and keep her out of his life. As he gets more famous he knows he will get used, but he is ready so tell the world that he won’t be played for a fool. I don’t really know what it means exactly, but that is what I get out of it. You can get out of it what you want.

“Tell the World” is the opening song on Side Two of the E.P. and is very raw and rough track which is the very reason I like it.  It isn’t over-produced and left for what it is.  The guitars and sound feel like Ratt that you know from “Out of the Cellar”. It has some pounding drums from Bobby Blotzer and the guitar work of Warren DeMartini and Robbin Crosby sound both gritty and hungry. I also like Stephen’s scream during the song which is followed by the guitar solo.  It is a great little rock track and shows the real potential of what was to come with the band.

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My Sunday Song – “Lay It Down” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #254, we are going to explore the song “Lay It Down” by Ratt off the band’s 1985 album ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’. The song broke the Top 40 and landed at #40 on the Hot 100. This helped the album sell over 2,000,000 copies and push the band to super stardom after they massively successful debut album. The song is one of the few that is credited to every member of the band except for Bobby Blotzer. He doesn’t have any writing credits on this album.

The song is not very deep lyrically. It basically sums up to trying to getting some female action. It does talk about how she doesn’t really know him and that she might not even care. They play the game of romance but she won’t get to see the real him until they are in the sheets having some fun and letting themselves go completely. I’m sorry there isn’t much more to it than that, but Ratt never claimed to be Bob Dylan now did they.

Musically though, it is a fantastic song. That opening guitar riff from Warren DeMartini is one of the best they’ve ever done. Bobby Blotzer’s drums are hard and heavy and he lays down a cool groove along with Juan Croucier on bass. The song is typical 80’s rock, but Ratt has a way of putting a blues edge to it with both Robbin Crosby and Warren’s playing. It helped set Ratt apart from some of the other bands. The song is also a little on the sleazy side which fits well with the lyrics. Stephen Pearcy’s gritty vocals bring the sleaze to the forefront, but when he whispers that last verse, he shows a softer, sexier side that helps catapult the song to the next level.

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My Sunday Song – “Luv Sick” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #253, we are going to dissect “Luv Sick” off the band’s 1999 album ‘Ratt’. Don’t remember this album? Well, not many people probably do. It isn’t their best. In fact, I don’t think I spoke very kindly about it. However, this song was the highlight for me. The album didn’t chart, I don’t think it had any singles and I think I didn’t hear it until I wrote the review on it back a few years ago.

But the song is what we want to talk about and not that album. “Luv Sick” was written by Warren DeMartini, Stephen Pearcy and Taylor Rhodes (who has worked with Aerosmith). The lyrics are a little pedestrian and nothing that Shakespeare is going to drool over. The song is basically about a guy who is obsessed with a woman. He tries to walk away and move on but he can’t. He wants her too much. I am not sure if he crosses any kind of line to hurt her or anything, but I am a little worried for her. Stalking laws might have been written for this guy!!

It is the guitar playing on here that is really what I love. Warren gets flat out down and dirty laying down some nasty Blues licks. I love how when they sing the “Luv Sick”, part in the chorus, Warren rips into this little riff that is a great little combo with the lyrics.  It is really cool sounding.  Towards the end, the guitar gets even more bluesy and it is just Warren jamming.  This the first album the band has with bass player Robbie Crane and he lays down a great bass line and drives the song home with Bobby Blotzer banging heavy on those drums. The real drawback is Stephen Pearcy as his vocals aren’t what they used to be. If there was a negative to the song, it would be that.

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