Although I have profound love for this band, I'm a younger Ratt fan who was a mere kindergartner when they played MSG back to back nights and were MTV staples. One thing about the band that is puzzling is the differing opinions about Ratt as a live band. Some say they always blew away the bands they shared the stage with including Poison,Bon Jovi,Motley Crue,Britney Fox,ZZ Top and Billy Squier. Others contrast saying that although charismatic and entertaining, Stephen was a sloppy singer and the band struggled with some mixing/eq issues.

I've searched all over youtube and ebay to get my hands on anything vintage live Ratt. The problem is the inconsistencies of sound quality and perhaps the venue they were playing in(IE Small clubs)it's difficult to gauge. I've seen them many times since 1999, but although good stephen doesn't have the voice he used to and they weren't playing The Detroit Palace or the Metrodome when I saw them.

So to the older and more wiser Ratt fans who have seen them over the years in perhaps their natural element(arenas), how was Ratt live? How would you rate them against other popular acts performances at that time?

When I was in high school, RATT was everywhere! Radio, MTV, on the covers of the rock mags. I've seen them live many times over the years. The one that still stands out to me is the Invasion Tour. The production, the energy, the big chrome stage, huge arena. Like Juan said in the 1985 RATT The Video, RATT is an arena band. Back then they put on a hell of a show. So yes, in my experience SP had amazing live vocals at there highest level. In my personal opinion that highest level was summer of 85. Watching the videos "I want a woman" and "you're in love" brings me back to the awesome shows that RATT was once know for. They were known to be a great live band and that's why so many of us wished they would of produced a live concert on vhs/dvd.

Thanks for the imagery...and I agree wholeheartedly about them needing to release a live dvd/blue ray. A couple years ago they were asked by a fan on rockline if we'd ever see a live ratt release of the arena days. Warren responded that they were working on it. He said they have some good stuff including footage with Ozzy in the uk during 1986(Tail end of Invasion tour), He joked that one of the delays is finding modern equipment capable of playing the stuff in its original format.

One thing I hope is that they do take their time in releasing to make sure they're using the top quality stuff...It'd be disappointing if they just released some of the spotty footage already on Youtube.

If you don't mind me asking, who opened the summer of 85 show...and in what arena did you see them?

=RATTnJETS said:Thanks for the imagery...and I agree wholeheartedly about them needing to release a live dvd/blue ray. A couple years ago they were asked by a fan on rockline if we'd ever see a live ratt release of the arena days. Warren responded that they were working on it. He said they have some good stuff including footage with Ozzy in the uk during 1986(Tail end of Invasion tour), He joked that one of the delays is finding modern equipment capable of playing the stuff in its original format.

One thing I hope is that they do take their time in releasing to make sure they're using the top quality stuff...It'd be disappointing if they just released some of the spotty footage already on Youtube.

If you don't mind me asking, who opened the summer of 85 show...and in what arena did you see them?

Believe it or not, BON JOVI and POISON actually opened up for RATT!! RATT is so much better than those bands so it sucks that they became bigger although Poison isn't THAT much bigger. Only Bret Michaels is.

I only saw RATT live around 2000 at Pop's in southern Illinois and it was AWESOME!! Totally killer! They were playing "Lay it Down" when I walked in and it was literally the best song I've ever heard live!!

I actually prefer the smaller venues of 1000 or less since you can get closer to the band and really feel the band and the energy! Hence that's why I'm going to see Mr.Pearcy!

1985 was Bon Jovi 1987 was Poison

Bon Jovi opened most of the Invasion tour shows (1985), but when I saw them that summer, Mama's Boys actually opened. It was funny because when I saw them in October 1984, Mama's Boys also opened that show (along with Blackfoot). I've seen Ratt around 15-20 times over the years, and all the shows were great. What people don't realize, is that a Ratt show isn't like a Kiss show....Ratt is there to rock out, and there aren't going to be theatrics, fire breathing, etc like you get with some of the other bands that probably have a better reputation for their live performances. Most of the bands back in the day were playing half loaded or baked on something....I'd have to say that the few times I saw Motley, they were definitely worse than Ratt....Vince was pathetic with the vocals, and stumbing drunk. Most of the bad rap that Ratt has earned over the years isn't from their live performances, it's from the crap they pull, meaning the BS we are being put through right now. This is what has killed the Ratt brand over the years, not Stephen or Bobby being half crocked onstage back in 1987.

Oh well, that's my $0.02.

=RATTnJETS said:Although I have profound love for this band, I'm a younger Ratt fan who was a mere kindergartner when they played MSG back to back nights and were MTV staples. One thing about the band that is puzzling is the differing opinions about Ratt as a live band. Some say they always blew away the bands they shared the stage with including Poison,Bon Jovi,Motley Crue,Britney Fox,ZZ Top and Billy Squier. Others contrast saying that although charismatic and entertaining, Stephen was a sloppy singer and the band struggled with some mixing/eq issues.

I've searched all over youtube and ebay to get my hands on anything vintage live Ratt. The problem is the inconsistencies of sound quality and perhaps the venue they were playing in(IE Small clubs)it's difficult to gauge. I've seen them many times since 1999, but although good stephen doesn't have the voice he used to and they weren't playing The Detroit Palace or the Metrodome when I saw them.

So to the older and more wiser Ratt fans who have seen them over the years in perhaps their natural element(arenas), how was Ratt live? How would you rate them against other popular acts performances at that time?

I have seen Ratt nine times over the years. The first time was in 1986 during their Invasion of Your Privacy tour and they were excellent. Y&T opened. Saw Poison open for them in 87 and Ratt was polished. In 88 Britney Fox opened and Ratt was great! They toured constantly and were a very tight band musically. Stage shows and sets were great and they played to packed stadiums nightly. Then the 1990s arrived and the metal heyday was over. Never saw Ratt as the headliner again but they always put on a great show. In the 80s the bands to see were Motley Crue, Ratt, Dokken (who blew Aerosmith off the stage), Cinderella (who blew Bon Jovi off the stage), and Great White.

As for Stephen being a sloppy singer, it didn't matter...most people were there to have a good time (something missing in today's music) and to see Warren DeMartini shred on the guitar.

Ratt was IT from 1984 to 1990. And they are still fun to listen to.