• » From "Ratt as a Live band" // June 03, 2011 10:48:19 AM UTC

  =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.

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