BREAKING NEWS: WARREN DEMARTINI REPORTEDLY SACKED BY RATT


23rd March 2018



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Guitarist Warren DeMartini has reportedly been fired by Ratt.

Metal Sludge say that "multiple industry sources" have told them that DeMartini has "been let go from the band" and that several other sources have confirmed this rumour.

Metal Sludge also claim that there are "serious issues" between the three key members – DeMartini, Stephen Pearcy (vocals) and Juan Croucier (bass) and that "a known industry musician revealed that the band has had multiple changes in its business dealings in recent months. Including a change in management, and their longtime booking agency as well".

The current Ratt line-up is completed by guitarist Carlos Cavazo (ex-Quiet Riot) and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (ex-Megadeth and Black Star Riders) and the list of past members resembles a telephone directory in size and includes The Dead Daisies frontman John Corabi on guitar and backing vocals, former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E Lee, Jizzy Pearl, former Black Star Riders bassist Robbie Crane, Marq Torien of The Bulletboys.

Also included in that list, along with many, many others is drummer Bobby Blotzer who took control of the Ratt brand and performed with his band, Bobby Blotzer's Ratt Experience, in 2016 using the name.

The now reportedly fired DeMartini owns half of the Ratt name as part of WBS, Inc., the company owned by him and Blotzer. Blotzer claimed he had the legal right to go on tour using the name, as DeMartini breached his fiduciary duty by refusing to tour under the Ratt name as a partner in the corporation.

In October 2015, DeMartini sued Blotzer for falsely advertising his "tribute band" as the real thing, however in November 2015 DeMartini's attempted injunction was overturned, allowing Blotzer to tour using the name Ratt.

Blotzer himself applied for a temporary restraining order against the band's original bassist, Juan Croucier, in April 2016 but this was denied by the court and in November 2016, Pearcy, Croucier and DeMartini made a statement claiming that they had taken control of the Ratt name, after expelling Blotzer from the original partnership for using the Ratt name and logo without talking to any of his former bandmates.

The current line-up have performed as Ratt ever since but it appears the long list of former members has now been added to, which could result in more legal battles, given that DeMartini owns half the name.