Although not necessarily the most successful “hair band” of the 80s, Ratt was one of the first and a prime example. After nearly a decade of success, the band went their separate ways in 1991. The band reunited for a couple of years in the late 90s. Ratt continues to tour today, thoughthe line up has varied in recent years.

Formation through 1991:

            Like many hair bands, Ratt got their start in Southern California. Early versions of the band began appearing in the late 70s and by 1982, the lineup had stabilized. Ratt released an EP in 1983 which lead to their first full-length album in 1984, Out of the Cellar. Reaching the Top 10 in America and selling over 3 million copies, it established the band as rock idols. Invasion of Your Privacy, their follow-up album, would also reach the Top 10 and sell over a million copies. In fact, their next two albums would also go platinum. Detonator, however, would only go gold and would mark the end of an era. Grunge and alternative music were taking the place of hard rock and many bands, including Ratt found their popularity dropping dramatically. Some hair bands decide to continue on, though obviously without the commercial success they had seen in the 80s. Others decided to break up and go their separate ways.

1992 through today:

            In 1992, lead singer and founder Stephen Pearcy left Ratt to start a solo project. His leaving would cause many subsequent problems for the band. Much of the early 90s had the members of Ratt arguing and filing lawsuits over who actually owned the rights to the name. Some of this bickering has continued to this day. However, in 1997, Pearcy decided to re-form the group. Collage, a collection of b-sides and alternate recordings was released to coincide with the reunion. Ratt, their first studio album in nearly a decade was released in 1999. The album was a commercial and critical flop and in 2000, Pearcy left the band again. Ratt has continued touring since then with various lineups. In 2007, Pearcy rejoined Ratt, which now consists of three of the original five members (guitarist Robbin Crosby died in 2002 from a heroin overdose and was battling AIDS at the time, bass player Juan Croucier chose not to rejoin the group).
 

Discography:

Ratt EP (1984)
Out of the Cellar (1984)
Invasion of Your Privacy (1985)
Dancing Undercover (1986)
Reach for the Sky (1988)
Detonator (1990)
Ratt & Roll 8191 (1991)
Collage (1997)
Ratt (1999)
The Essentials (2002)
Metal Hits (2003)
Rhino Hi-five: Ratt (2006)
Rarities (2007)
Tell the World: The Very Best of Ratt (2007)