Metal Sludge — In a brand new episode of the Waste Some Time with Jason Green podcast, the guest is John Corabi.
Corabi as many know, has been around almost as long as dirt, and he has the stories to prove it.
The singer, guitarist and song-writer is making the rounds to promote his new book Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: Tales from the Other Mötley Crüe Frontman and Journeys through a Life In and Out of Rock and Roll via Rare Bird Books.
Jason Green who hosts the Waste Some Time with Jason Green podcast didn’t waste much time (no pun intended) and asked Corabi out of the gate: “Who was the bigger pain in the ass to deal with, Mötley Crüe or Ratt?”
Corabi, 63, of course fronted Mötley Crüe (1992-1996) after the band’s much publicized split with Vince Neil, and just a few years later found himself playing rhythm guitar in Ratt (2000-2008).
The Philadelphia native who migrated to Hollywood in 1986 has seen it all, and done it all from playing dive bars to parties in sky bars.
Corabi originally fronted Raggedy Ann who shortly after arriving in La-La Land changed their name to Angora.
The singer pulls no punches and has lots to say about his time with both of the legendary Sunset Strip graduates who went onto mega-platinum success, and in short says that neither band “Understand the concept of the word no.”
The local scene for him and his Philly band-mates didn’t net them a record deal, but Corabi did land one with The Scream in 1989, and between playing in those 2 mega-bands tried his luck with the super-group Union that also featured Bruce Kulick (Kiss).
Now nearly 4 decades later, Corabi is selling books along with hooks, and the million dollar question from Green, gets answered below even though it takes a bit to drag it out of him.
Green asks (as transcribed by Metal Sludge): “Who was a bigger pain in the ass to work with, Ratt or Mötley Crüe?”
As he chuckles Corabi says: “That’s really close….” as he searches for the words.
“Pain in the ass is kind of a strong statement.” said Corabi.
Green chimes in: “Difficult?”
Corabi: “Yeah. Difficult. People are set in their ways. Ahh, look both bands had a massive amount of success, at a young age, and I just don’t think that they are used to hearing the word no that often. Let’s just put it that way. “
“Umm, they don’t understand the concept of the word no.”
“They were both, they were both great joys to work with, but at times, just a f#@king nightmare.” says Corabi about his time spent in Mötley Crüe and Ratt.
After some hemming and hawing and Green asking again for him to pick bewteen the two, Corabi says: “Honestly, I think Mötley Crüe has figured out, how to be dysfunctional, and still move forward. So, I would have to say, ahh as a fan, I am a little disappointed more, in Ratt, that they can’t figure that part out. Umm, you know because, look at the end of the day I mean, they have sold millions of records, and they can’t get out of their own way. You know so, I have to give, I have to give Ratt the nod, as far as being a little bit more dysfunctional or, difficult.”
“I was just talking to (Bobby) Blotzer a couple months ago, and he has taken offense to me saying that they (Ratt) were dysfunctional.” added Corabi.
Listen below to the full interview with John Corabi on the Waste Some Time with Jason Green podcast.
