Stephen Pearcy rocks Hollywood’s legendary “Whisky-A-Go-Go” with Juan Croucier (Ratt) and Greg D’Angelo (White Lion) >Video

AND YOU’RE BACK, YOU’RE BACK FOR MORE
Stephen Pearcy has left Ratt again, and the singer is moving forward with a well-received solo concert at the Whisky
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large

HOLLYWOOD — With Ratt all but disintegrated now that founding singer Stephen Pearcy has left yet again – and this time he says it’s permanent — Mr. Pearcy is forging on as a solo act, and he brought his four-man band to the Whisky club on Friday, June 13 in a successful performance before a near-capacity crowd of about 500.

The voice is certainly the same, and so is setlist, at least nearly so with most of the hits being strewn forth like “Wanted Man,” “You Think Your Tough” and “Way Cool Junior.”

With a full moon shining outside, Pearcy waited until nearly midnight before taking the stage, dressed in a leather-studded outfit while being with his usual confidence self. The 54-year-old proved in fine voice, and he has a strong backing band led by drummer Greg D’Angelo, formerly of White Lion.

Stephen Pearcy with bassist Matt Thor & Greg D’Angelo (Drums)

In his hometown Hollywood, Pearcy threw out all the stops, inviting Ratt bassist Juan Croucier to join in towards the end of the evening, then throwing a bit of curveball with an entertaining version of Judas Priest’s “Heading Out The Highway.”

Pearcy reached his best moment during “You’re In Love,” a catchy song with crunching guitar and hook that lodges itself in your brain and refuses to leave for days.

If we’re being truthful, this would have been a lot better with Ratt guitarists Warren DeMartini and Carlos Cavazo up there, too. Those two aren’t so easy to replace, and had it been Ratt and not just Pearcy, things undoubtedly would have gone over even better.

After more than 30 years, Ratt still has legs, including a terrific performance this past January at Anaheim House of Blues at the NAMM convention, but after Pearcy’s acrimonious recent departure, there is almost no way the group is going to get back together in full.

Yes, they can replace Pearcy again with someone like John Corabi or Jizzy Pearl, as Ratt has done in the past, but it’s never been the same without the curly-haired crooner with a penchant for spot-on performances and occasional off-stage temper tantrums.

The crowd was not as responsive as they were six months in Anaheim, but nobody expected them to be. Still, they plucked down 20 dollars each for a night of entertainment featuring Ratt songs, and Pearcy gave ‘em what they wanted.

You can’t ask for more than that.

Special thanks to promoter Jake Perry for setting us all up. Among those spotted in the crowd were Quiet Riot bassist Sean McNabb, new Autograph singer Danny Simon, ex-Giuffria drummer Alan Krigger (now in London) and even former man-about-town Dennis Morgan, who used to be host of the Tropicana strip club, a favorite hangout for Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, who met his now ex-wife Sharise there.

Afterwards, after the mandatory visit to the Rainbow until closing time, a bunch of us headed to a Hollywood after-party at the home of self-described band aid Stephanie Pierce, one of the hottest blondes in town. Then came the after-after-party at porn star Savannah Jane’s place across the street, and that was smaller but considerably more action-packed.

Overall, a good night that harkened back to the old Hollywood days when rock was king. Who knows how much longer such adventures are going to last, so this time we squeezed in as much enjoyment as possible.