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This week's winning RATT story comes from Dave C. who recalls a misty-eyed meeting of the band (and man in guitarist Warren DeMartini) that shaped him to be the musician he is today.

The soon-to-be-recipient of a killer Ratt prize pack, Dave, is still in the running to win his hero Warren DeMartini's signature guitar, courtesy of Charvel! Want your chance to win too? Then tell us YOUR Ratt story RIGHT HERE just like Dave!

The winning story:

"Like so many other people worldwide, I was in my teens when I first heard the Ratt demo. At that time I was a guitar hero at my high school because I could play like Jimmy Page and the singer in my band somehow got a copy of the Ratt demo here in Ohio before Ratt signed with Atlantic. What seemed like a few months later, Ratt released an album that would change my approach to not only my own music career but my own style of playing. That album was, of course, Out Of The Cellar. My band promptly bought the Ratt VHS video and at that point I was absolutely hooked.

Fast forward to 2007; after spending 25 years playing guitar and being influenced by so many bands it finally hit me exactly how much Ratt touched my soul. It was August 2nd, I was attending a Telsa concert when I met a woman who saw my band play. She asked if I was a fan of Warren’s. I said “oh yes for sure”. [She] said that I look like Warren and that it had to be intentional. I said yep. Next thing I know she hands me two meet & greet passes to the Ratt show coming up on August 6th. Apparently, the woman I just met was a promoter for the Lifestyles Community Pavilion here in Columbus Ohio. On the 6th, I met the woman promptly at 2:30 and as promised I was able to enter the building early and watch Ratt as they went through sound check. I was in awe. Next thing I’m being escorted to the side of the stage where I meet Bobby, Robbie and finally Warren. When I finally met Warren it hit me in one big rush that I just met the guys who shaped me into the musician I am today. This was like meeting the Beatles. Here I am face to face with the people who wrote the soundtrack to my entire life. I couldn’t hold back the emotion and I started to cry like a 12 year old schoolgirl.

Later that night, having heard that I had been so overcome by emotion, Warren asked for me “The guy with the Iron Maiden shirt” and next thing I know someone from the Ratt tour escorted me back to the Ratt dressing room. Warren and I spent a few minutes talking before he had to go. It was a night I’ll never forget.

Fast forward to 2010; I heard “Best Of Me” for the first time and I immediately got chills listening to Warren’s solo in the beginning of the song. I’m so thankful that I was alive to witness, first hand, this moment in music history."

Ratt's first album in 10 years, Infestation, is out on April 20th. Go RIGHT HERE to pre-order your copy.

As Ratt ready the release of their 7th studio album Infestation, drummer Bobby Blotzer checks in with iconvsicon.com to talk about the making of the album.

Writes the site, "RATT first came on the scene in the early eighties and wasted no time carving their own niche into Los Angeles’ highly competitive music scene. Even to this day, the band’s name and musical legacy remain ingrained in the fabric of the Sunset Strip’s most notorious era. The members of this extraordinary band are living proof that some people listen to rock n’ roll and some have it coursing through their veins. Such is the case with legendary drummer Bobby Blotzer. Celebrating his 28th year in RATT, Blotzer has provided the crushing backbeat to the band’s biggest hits and shows no signs of slowing down. As the band prepares to unleash it’s 7th studio album, ‘Infestation,’ Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon sat down with the infamous drummer to discuss the new album, his thoughts on the band’s longevity, his autobiography ‘Tales of a RATT: Things You Shouldn’t Know’ and much more!"

On the recording process taking place outside of LA, Blotzer says, "Our producers got a studio over in Virginia Beach right on the beach itself, he wanted us to do it there because it’s an account for the studio and he’s used to the studio. It’s pretty much removed from the city itself which I liked, it’s out on this peninsula island. It’s a white sand beach, beautiful water and the tracking room had a big double slider on it so you could see the white sand and water. It was inspiring, very relaxing and we were all staying at this home. He had like 6 rooms with tv and phone in each, it was almost like 6 little hotel rooms inside that house that he built the studio addition onto. So it was fun, we’d get up first thing and have our coffee and start rolling. By one o’clock we’d be rollin tape and we’d record till about eight or nine at night and then we’d start barbecuing. It was pretty bitchin’ actually! [laughs]"

As for where this album fits with the band's career, Blotzer says, "I definitely think it’s in the same ballpark as Out of the Cellar and Invasion (Invasion of Your Privacy), I’d put it in between those two records. This is a good thing. I’m definitely not one to tell people “Oh, this is the best thing ever.” if it’s not great. I’m not going to just hype it up. I’ll do interviews for it, like the last one that we did. I liked that record. Do I think it was a great RATT record? No, I didn’t think it was a great RATT record."

On working with new guitarist Carlos Cavazo on songwriting for the first time, Blotzer explains, "Well he’s real easy to work with, it’s like he just wants to learn. It’s like he is Switzerland. Rob is Canada. Me, Stephen and Warren are Russia, Germany and Korea. I don’t know. [laughs] It helps to keep things going in a metal way. Carlos had a couple of song ideas that ended up on the record. The first one, “Best of Me” is now a single. He’s very open minded, that’s what I like about him and Robbie in general."

Read on as Blotzer explains more about Ratt's reformation, revival, and new album right here.

Infestation is out 4/20. Pre-order your copy of the crushing album with some bonus extras now!

Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records announced today the signing of a worldwide deal with Los Angeles hard rockers RATT. The band is set to begin recording its first new material since 1999’s self-titled album this spring.

One of the most popular rock acts of the past 20 years, RATT’s brand of guitar-driven melodic rock helped shape the LA metal scene. The band boasts a deep catalog of hits including smashes like “Round and Round,” “Lay It Down,” “You’re In Love,” “Lack of Communication” and “Wanted Man” which are beloved by fans the world over. The band has gone on to sell millions of albums worldwide. With 1984’s mega-platinum debut Out of the Cellar celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the band is looking forward to starting a new chapter with new music to complement the impressive legacy they have established over two-plus decades.

“This deal is a great opportunity for us to get our new music to RATT fans worldwide,” says frontman Stephen Pearcy. “We are super excited about the new material!”

Over the past two years, RATT has toured the world in support of their releases Tell The World- The Very Best Of Ratt and their first ever DVD, Videos from the Cellar- The Atlantic Years. During this time, the current lineup of Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Bobby Blotzer, Robbie Crane and Carlos Cavazo played shows in Australia, Colombia and Peru for the first time in their careers.

“The fans deserve the credit for making this happen. When we saw the band in concert and witnessed their passion and excitement, it was obvious that the time was right for RATT to make new music,” says Tom Lipsky, Loud & Proud President.

Guitarist Warren DeMartini adds, “we look forward to working with our friend and veteran record exec Tom Lipsky.”

The new album is set for a fall release and will be supported by a world tour.

Classic metallers Ratt recently spoke to Noisecreep about the band's current roster for the writing of their forthcoming crusher Infestation.

Having roughly formed in 1976 - though it wasn't until 1981 that the band became known as Ratt on LA's Sunset Strip - many notable guitarists like Jake E. Lee and the late Robbin Crosby have graced the band over the years. Now, as Ratt prepare to unleash their 7th studio album, the band stands tall with their newest guitarist Carlos Cavazo taking the dual lead role alongside Warren DeMartini.

Says frontman Stephen Pearcy about the addition of Cavazo, "He's perfect for the band. He co-wrote a couple songs and he plays like a mother f---er on this thing. Great live, great guy and great integrity for what he does. And as far as the double solos thing goes, he and Warren knew exactly what they were doing. It was like the old days."

Read the rest of the interview right here.

It’s no secret that RATT are back and raring to go. The band is proud to announce April 20, 2010 as the release date for their Loud & Proud debut, Infestation, an 11-song opus that is their first studio record in 11 years. The first single, “Best of Me,” is scheduled to impact rock radio on February 21. The song is available at all digital stores.

There’s been a flurry of activity in the Ratt camp in the past few years. Vocalist Stephen Pearcy has returned to the fold and the band has since signed to Loud & Proud/Roadrunner. The legendary Los Angeles rock squad, also featuring guitarist Warren DeMartini, drummer Bobby Blotzer, bassist Robbie Crane and new guitarist Carlos Cavazo, engineered Hollywood’s much-heralded Sunset Strip sound in the 1980s.

“We wanted this to be like something that we would have written right after [1984’s] Out of the Cellar, Pearcy said. “We definitely went back to basics with the mindset of a band with a lot of excitement and some great songs to get out.” Infestation was produced by Elvis Baskette (Chevelle, Alter Bridge.) in the helmer’s Virginia studio, marking the first time the band has recorded outside of Los Angeles. The album is full of attitude and of reflection, cycling through a range of emotions. There are party anthems that Ratt are known for alongside more contemplative, thoughtful tunes.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

Eat Me Up Alive
Best of Me
A Little Too Much
Look Out Below
Last Call
Lost Weekend
As Good as it Gets
Garden of Eden
Take a Big Bite
Take Me Home
Don’t Let Go

Multi-Platinum rocker, founder and frontman of the rock band Ratt, Stephen Pearcy, joins the newly formed NHRA Funny Car team of Ideal Racing and Motorsports Lifestyle Apparel company PiranaZ as their promotional frontman for the season, kicking off at the 50th Anniversary of the NHRA Winter Nationals in Pomona, CA on February 11th.

"We're gonna light the candles on the PiranaZ Hot Rod this weekend, stick it in the show then see what happens on Sunday" said Stephen Pearcy, founder, frontman, and the voice of Mega-Platinum selling rock band Ratt.

"It's exciting to see a start up team with such good talent and promising future. When I heard Tony [Shortall] and Jeff [Diehl] were starting their own team, I had to give them a call and let them know I wanted in, too! Sure other bands have been in and outta the NHRA, but since the old days I've been dedicated and will remain out here hanging out with my friends and fans smelling some nitro" said Pearcy.

He will also bring his record label and recording artists from Top Fuel Records along with his new guitarist Carlos Cavazo (former QUIET RIOT) to Pomona to welcome the fans, Ideal Racing marketing partners and to rekindle his long time passion for the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing.

Write the site, "A little early, but mention must be made of the new Ratt album Infestation (Roadrunner/Loud & Proud). It’s not out until April 19, but the wait is worth it. This is the band’s best album since 1986’s Dancing Undercover, full of those classic Warren DeMartini guitar motifs and thumping songs. Always undervalued, the Ratt pack have shown they’re still lean, mean, hungry and ready to burst once more out of the cellar (ouch!)."