UPDATED: (11:45am – PST) One online fan with the handle neverdunnrocking writes on IG: “Was at the show last night in Draper, UT. Scot Coogan and Chris Hagar were not on stage. Still a great show nonetheless! ?? “

Metal Sludge — In a hot new tip sourced to Metal Sludge, the word is that Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy has added guitarist Johnny Monaco to his solo Rat Pack line-up for the weekend.

Pearcy is out doing solo shows and our sources are saying that Monaco is in to replace Chris Hager who is rumored to have a very bad case of Covid.

There is also additional buzz, that Scot Coogan will not be on drums either, and this too, is rumored to be due to Covid.

We have not heard anything solid on who the drummer will be, but it looks like Monaco will fill in for Hager after the Rat Pak got bit by Covid once again.

If you recall, last November Metal Sludge broke the story that Stephen Pearcy would have to postpone an East Coast run of December shows due to the singer testing positive for Covid.

Pearcy‘s camp did confirm our story and postpone that late 2021 run, but the singer has since performed the make-up dates.

Pearcy is 1 of more than 20 bands slated to perform at the M3 Rock Festival this weekend.

In other M3 Rock Festival news, as we reported yesterday here on Metal Sludge, Extreme has also pulled out of M3 due to multiple Covid cases within their camp.

And another (3rd) source confirms with Metal Sludge that Enuff Z’Nuff will be replacing Extreme on Saturday May 7th.

Enuff Z’Nuff will open the show on Saturday as the first band and everyone else will be bumped up 1 slot. (see below)

Monaco as some might know, was 1 of the lead guitarists who auditioned for Ratt after Warren DeMartini was fired back in March of 2018 as was first reported by Metal Sludge.

The NEW BREED lineup of Ratt was also first revealed here on Metal Sludge in July of 2018 which included guitarists Jordan Ziff and Chris Sanders.

Now it seems Monaco has come full-circle, and will be along side Pearcy in the singer’s solo band, at least for the weekend.

Aside from a few related artist changes, M3 concert goers should prepare accordingly as well, as the weather does not look great.

Local Baltimore area weather has a forecast of temperatures in the 40’s and low 50’s with rain all weekend.

Monaco has a history that has seen him playing lead and singing for Enuff Z’Nuff (1996–2008 / 2013–2016) as well as playing guitar in L.A. Guns for a brief period in the spring of 2018.

Monaco who has recently relocated from the Windy City to Sin City has been playing locally in Las Vegas and also appears as a guest and co-host on the Waste Some Time with Jason Green podcast.

Metal Sludge would like to wish Chris Hager, Scot Coogan and anyone else who is suffering from Covid, to get well soon.

Look for Stephen Pearcy on the road in 2022.


Stephen Pearcy @ Website – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – Cameo – Tour –