Rob Cavuoto of Guitar International recently conducted an interview with former RATT bassist Juan Croucier. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Guitar International: What have you been up to lately with your solo bands and with your recording studio?

Juan Croucier: I have a band called DIRTY RATS, and we play the RATT catalogue and a few original songs that never made it to any of the RATT LPs. It's a three piece. I have Pete Holmes from BLACK 'N BLUE on drums and Johnny Love from LOVE/HATE on guitar. Then, I have another band that I'm working with called the HARDROCK ALLSTARS. It's the same lineup except with Jaime St. James from BLACK 'N BLUE on vocals. For that band we're just doing covers and having a good time. We play locally but hope to start touring more maybe in Vegas or Phoenix. I would love to get out there and play. I'm also working on a solo project similar to LIQUID SUNDAY, and beginning to put together some new songs for it. That's just me and Pete Holmes. I record the bass, guitar and vocals. I handle the engineering and production. I'm a song writer and I have a ton of songs that I need to get recorded and out there. I also want to do an acoustic CD and redo some RATT songs which never made it on the RATT LPs. Maybe call it "Demos From The Ratt Years"! Who knows? I have so many of these RATT demos, it could be a few volumes.

Guitar International: I think the big question was why you turned down the reunion with RATT so many times. What was the decision behind that?

Juan Croucier: Without adding any fuel to already existing fires, we just couldn't reach an agreement. It's no surprise that we had a lot of issues within the band, such as alcohol abuse and various personal issues. So I was of the opinion that it was one thing to have these issues when you're a young man in your twenties, but it's an entirely different thing to have these same issues when you're in your mid-forties. If we can do things intelligently, as respectable businessmen, treating each other with respect and taking advantage of this wonderful thing we've and created, then I'm interested. The longer we negotiated, the more I came to see that nothing has changed. From what you've been reading on the Internet lately, it's obvious. Just to be very clear, I would love nothing more than to be in RATT, let's get that really, really clear. I love what we did and am really proud of what we accomplished. I helped build RATT. Why would I want to walk away from something that successful to play local clubs in Hollywood for a dozen people? I'm being honest here. I would love to be making records and moving forward. But with the personalities involved, we just can't. The collective intelligence of the band is not that high. That's unfortunate and I hate it, but that's what really what prevented us from utilizing RATT to its fullest extent. It really comes down to mutual respect and having boundaries that you don't cross because you're adults. And when there are no boundaries and there is no respect, and someone can lash out at someone for whatever reason, that really damages things. I tried really hard. You have no idea how hard. For 10 years I tried. After a while you just give up. At the end of the day it's a sad thing for the fans. They just want to see the band rock out. It's everything behind the scenes that is so embarrassing and to be a part of that is unbearable, if you're of reasonable and sound mind.

Guitar International: I'm sure you aware of all the recent comments lately by [RATT drummer] Bobby Blotzer against [the band's lead singer] Stephen Pearcy. Looking in at it as an outsider now, what do you make of it?

Juan Croucier: That nothing has changed and they can't contain the problem. There's so much disfunctionality there I wonder why they try. Life is short, and at some point, why are we doing all this for what we're getting?! What recently happened seems unnecessary. When you are going to say something, you need to consider the effect it'll have and what you're looking to accomplish. To besmirch him seems odd. He's your band mate. In any other job, if you made remarks like that you'd probably be terminated. For me it's still embarrassing.

Even Croucier says Blotz the Blockhead should NOT have made those statements about Pearcy. What the hell did Blotzer say about Pearcy anyway??

Croucier never said specifically what it was he wanted from RATT to get back together? As far as drinking and drugs go most ALL bands do that. I don't think RATT does drugs anymore but most everyone drinks! Even guys who've never played in a band!

=BigRATTfan said:Even Croucier says Blotz the Blockhead should NOT have made those statements about Pearcy. What the hell did Blotzer say about Pearcy anyway??

Croucier never said specifically what it was he wanted from RATT to get back together? As far as drinking and drugs go most ALL bands do that. I don't think RATT does drugs anymore but most everyone drinks! Even guys who've never played in a band!

When RATT was under Atlantic records they all got an equal allotment of the proceeds so I don't see how Pearcy could own Croucier $100K unless Croucier lent him the money or something.

I see what Croucier means about handling things more professionally but this is a rock and roll band not some snooty men's club or something.

Why didn't they just agree to split everything equally like they did under Atlantic? How did Juan lose ownership to begin with?? Did all 5 members have ownership?

From what I recall about the history of RATT didn't Pearcy and Crosby start RATT and then they brought DeMartini up from San Diego when he was in school?

Anyone know how Juan and Bobby joined RATT?

Like I said I'm pretty sure Pearcy and Crosby started RATT. Juan and Bobby probably joined like they usually do. Either by meeting them through other musicians, seeing them at a club, or an ad in the paper somehwere.

I once heard an interview with Crosby where he said RATT was his baby.

Does anyone know if Crosby gave his share of the band to someone or what happened to his percentage of RATT? After all I'm almost sure he's a founding member.

Sorry if I digressed a little but RATT chat is still RATT chat!

the story of how the band went from a partnership with five equal shares of ownership....to a band where Stephen, Warren, and Bobby owned the rights to the name (~1996-2000), and now just Warren and Bobby owning it......is all part of the embarassing saga that Juan mentions. I will spare us all by not reiterating the history again, but it is all public knowledge (hint - check Los Angeles Superior Court proceedings).

Do some digging....you'll find the answers. It has been sheer madness at times (times like NOW).

Maybe they should go on Dr. Drew! (and make a "Metallica-esque- Some Kind of Monster" series.

The situation just sux for everyone involved....including/especially the fans.

Anyway....Infestation is a great album. Too bad the tour was so damn short.

What the HELL?? HOW can Stephen not own ANY part of RATT?? For pete's sake he IS the voice of RATT and if something happened to him RATT would be dead and gone forever!!

As a huge RATT fan told me once NO ONE has the squeal in the voice that Stephen does so it just wasn't the same around 2000 when RATT had another singer. I don't mean to diminish the members who play instruments but Stephen IS RATT because you could get other members to play instruments and it would sound about the same but you CANNOT replace Stephen's voice!

SeattleRATT, instead of diggin through all that crap can you please just give us a synopsis of what happened to cause Stephen to lose the RATT name?? He must've done something very stupid or someone must've cheated him!

I really hope if they get this nonsense straightened out that they figure out a way to get juan back into the mix. As I've mentioned previously that one of the things that makes RATT great is the" Beatles effect". All 5 members brought something unique to the table that collectively made RATT stand out. Juan was a big part of that. Not only did he write some great rythym pieces..but he was a great live showman.

No disrespect to Robbie crane,who is a great player,great guy and has a place in raft's history..but he just isn't juan. Its time warren,Stephen and bobby all realize that juan should be apart of their future. Enough with playing legal hardball...give the fans what they want!

=RATTnJETS said:I really hope if they get this nonsense straightened out that they figure out a way to get juan back into the mix. As I've mentioned previously that one of the things that makes RATT great is the" Beatles effect". All 5 members brought something unique to the table that collectively made RATT stand out. Juan was a big part of that. Not only did he write some great rythym pieces..but he was a great live showman.

No disrespect to Robbie crane,who is a great player,great guy and has a place in raft's history..but he just isn't juan. Its time warren,Stephen and bobby all realize that juan should be apart of their future. Enough with playing legal hardball...give the fans what they want!

I have to disagree w/ you BigRattFan....I saw Juan perform 2 yrs ago & he looked great. Like most everybody he may have put on a few lbs over the yrs but is far from obese. His voice was great & his stage performance was very solid. If there's something that I've learned about Juan over time it's that when it comes to his music he is a perfectionist. He gives 100% @ all times & demands the same from his bandmates. Ratt could use that type of leadership right about now. No disrespect to Robbie @ all because he has done an amazing job w/ Ratt but I have a feeling that if Juan were to ever become a member of Ratt again he would end UP being the glue of band.