10 Things You Didn’t Know about Bobby Blotzer
Bobby Blotzer rose to fame in the 1980s as the drummer for the hair metal band, Ratt. Ratt’s initial run of success may have ended in falling record sales and eventual disbandment in 1992, but for the best part of a decade, they ruled the airwaves, scoring multiple platinum-selling records and selling out arenas the world over. Since then, Blotzer has continued to ply his trade with his solo projects and collaborations. Find out more as we reveal 10 things you didn’t know about Bobby Blotzer.
1. He started his career with Dokken
After leaving high school, Blotzer kick-started his career playing with Don Dokken in the band Dokken. Alongside him was former Torrance High School buddy and future Ratt band member, Juan Croucier. In 1978, the pair quit Dokken to form a new band, FireFoxx, with Ron Abrams. FireFoxx never really took off, and in 1982, Blotzer replaced Khurt Maier as Ratt’s drummer. Croucier joined as bassist at the same time.
2. He’s made 4 platinum-selling albums
After achieving negligible success with Dokken and FireFoxx, Blotzer hit the big time when he joined Ratt. Their debut album “Out of the Cellar” reached number 7 in the US charts in 1984 and was certified 3x platinum. Their sophomore album, “Your Privacy,” again reached number 7 and was certified 2x platinum. Blotzer would have two more platinum-selling albums with the band: 1986’s “Dancing Undercover” and 1988’s “Reach for the Sky.” Their fifth album, 1990’s “Detonator,” fared less well, but still managed to certify gold after reaching number 23.
3. He’s released an album with Alice Cooper
Ratt may have disbanded in 1992 (at least for a while) but Blotzer didn’t go into early retirement. As Wikipedia highlights, over the years, he’s performed alongside numerous artists and bands, including Twenty 4 Seven, Phucket, Airborne, Angel City Outlaws, Contraband, Vic Vergat Band, and Montrose. In 2006, he teamed up with Robbie Crane of Ratt, Jani Lane of Warrant, and Alice Cooper to form the supergroup Saints of the Underground. Their debut album, “Love The Sin, Hate The Sinner,” was released in 2008. After several years of touring, the project disbanded in 2011 following the death of Lane.
4. The death of Robbin Crosby hit him hard
Blotzer may always have had a tempestuous relationship with most of his fellow Ratt bandmates, but his relationship with guitarist Robbin Crosby remained strong right till the end. Crosby’s death in 2002 from AIDS-related complications and a heroin overdose hit him hard, and he’s since described it as one of the most agonizing periods of his life. Speaking via the group’s official website at the time, he described Crosby as “one of the most kind hearted, the most compassionate, intelligent, talented” people he had ever known.
5. He’s written a book
In 2010, Blotzer put pen to paper in the autobiographical, “Tales of A Ratt – Things You Shouldn’t Know.” The book, which was written alongside screenwriter Jim Clayton, is a blow-by-blow account of Blotzer’s journey from an unknown drummer into one of the most famous rockstars of the 80s. Filled with revelations about his experiences along the way, the book is described by the publishers as “the backstage story that all fans of 80s rock have always longed to hear, but have never heard.”
6. He’s been sued by his bandmates
Even from the earliest days of the band, Blotzer and the rest of Ratt had a fractious relationship. In 2000, things came to a head when Stephen Pearcy quit the group and launched a court suit against the rest of the band for continuing to use the Ratt name. Blotzer retaliated by calling Pearcy a “sick person” and launching a successful countersuit to keep control of the band’s name. The troubles didn’t end there: in 2015, Blotzer formed a new band called Bobby Blotzer’s Ratt Experience. Warren DeMartini took exception and tried (at first unsuccessfully) to sue Blotzer for using the band’s name. A further three-year-long court suit eventually led to Blotzer being found guilty of trademark infringement for continuing to perform as Ratt.
7. He’s prepared to let bygones be bygones
Despite years of acrimony and court cases, 2021 finally saw Blotzer and the rest of Ratt put their differences behind them. As blabbermouth.net reports, Stephen Pearcy kicked off the year by announcing his interest in making one last Ratt album with all surviving original members, including Blotzer. A month later, he announced an upcoming live-streaming concert with his solo band and a ‘special guest.’ Rumors soon started to fly that the guest would be Blotzer, and indeed it was.
8. He’s a multi-millionaire
Blotzer’s five-decade-long career hasn’t gone to waste. If he suddenly decided to step away from his drum kit tomorrow, he’d have no worries about making ends meet, at least if his current net worth is anything to go by. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Blotzer is today worth the very impressive sum of $5 million.
9. He thinks longevity is the secret to success
During an interview with rockconfidential.com, Blotzer revealed that while he’s most proud of having had a career that’s allowed him to buy his mom a house and car and take care of his friends and family, his biggest success is his longevity. “Just making a living playing rock ‘n roll is success to me,” he says. “When we were starting out, there were bands – their longevity was five, six, seven, eight years. I’ve been in Ratt for 20 years!”
10. He believes in paying it forward
Back when Ratt were just starting to take off in a big way, they were offered a tour opening for Billy Squier. Pretty soon, they realized they were selling more merchandise and bringing in more fans than the headliner. Their record label pressured them to continue, saying it would be bad for business if they didn’t. The problems escalated when they realized just how much worse they were treated than Squier. Describing the situation as “bedlam” during an interview with rantnravewithjohn.com, Blotzer revealed that it was Ozzy Osbourne who stepped in to take the band under his wing and help them out. When the band toured the following year with Bon Jovi as their support act, Blotzer made sure to pay it forward by following Ozzy’s example.
