Tales Of A RATT

©Copyright 2010 by Bobby Blotzer.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Cover photo, courtesy of the one and only rock photographer, Mr. Neil Zlozower.

Cover design and layout by Mark Lowe.

Lake Havasu photos by Mark Lowe.

Blotzer Brothers Publishing

www.blotzer.com

Printed in the United States of America.

Second U.S. Edition: August 2010
The text in this publication is registered with the Library of Congress.
ISBN: 978-0-615-36401-8

• A Quick Note From The Blotz!
  
• Acknowledgements
  
• Introduction: The Debasement Of A Rock God
  

• Steeltown Nomads
  
• The Virtues Of Cinnamon Toast
  
• The High Spirits Of Misadventure
  
• The Gaudy, Tawdry Mecca Called Sunset Strip
  
• Lean Into The Strike Zone
  
• Beatles Forever!
  
• Bomb Shelter Rehearsals
  
• The Curious Case Of A Consummate Hustler
  
• "Yodel-Ay-Eee-Yodel-Ay-Eee-Yodel-Ay-Eee Oooo”
  
• Fucking With The Rookie
  
• Into The Cellar
  
• 15 Months: A Lesson In Debauchery
  
• All Hail The Mighty Krell!
  
• Love & Consequences
  
• Back For More
  
• Everybody Loves A Porsche
  
• The Need For Speed
  
• The Fall Of A King
  
• Ramboat: First Blotz
  
• Golf Course Or Intercourse
  

• Eighties Metal Vs. Nineties Grunge
  
• Time To Tighten The Belt
  
• The Fountain Of Youth, Lake Havasu
  
• Rumors Of Reconciliation
  
• Metal's Pied Pipers Return!
  
• Rumors Of Our Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
  
• Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire
  
• A Bad Moon Rising
  
• Breaking The ”Love Glasses”
  
• Replacing The Voice
  
• A Virginian Angel Comes To The Rescue
  
• Litigation, Mitigation, And Mental Masturbation
  
• The King Is Dead...Long Live The King
  
• Calculating The Risk
  

• Round And Round: The RATTs Come Home
  
• Another One Bites The Dusk
  
• Wheels Off In Texas
  
• The Years Of The RATT: Plundering The High Seas!
  

My life has been one continuing quest to have fun, and to chase two things...FAME AND FORTUNE!

I've been blessed in many ways. But most of all, by having two great sons, and my on-going great health.

In doing this book, which I've thought about for many years, and listened to many friends tell me, "you need to do a book," I had a lot of fear that it simply would not be interesting enough to the casual reader. I wasn't interested in writing something for those closest to me.

I was finally able to take up the challenge in late 2007 after being introduced to Jim Clayton; the fellow that has assisted me in putting together the pieces of the circus. I don't think I would have had the tenacity to sit and do this solo.

I would also like to just say to anyone that I am friends with or people that know me and of course my family, that in reading this, I pulled back on the reigns and I do hope that no one has any offense to anything I've written in these pages. This is my story, and while I share it with a lot of people, I hold the keys to the memory banks, so it is admittedly one-sided.

I love my family more than anything. I most dedicate this book to them. I'm 51 years of age as of this day of completion, February 28, 2010. But, I will say this, I feel 30, and I plan on staying that way till the eyes close forever, and I'm off to the next level.

One last and most important thing, this book is mainly for my mother who passed away May 7th, 2007. Lois. There will never be a day that I don't think of you Mum and would give it all just to have a simple, "OH, BOBBY!” like you did with glee and excitement when I would call and we talked on phone.

LOVE FOREVER: Michael Blotzer, Marcus Blotzer, Jeni Malara-Blotzer, Carol Blotzer, Michael Schweinberg, Ronnie Blotzer, Jack The River, my dog, and my best friend Leo the Lion - my cat, All the beautiful ex's that I have loved and that have loved me. My nieces and nephews. R.I.P. Pete Schweinberg (1934-2009).

And, a special nod to my Pirates in Crime John Corabi, Carlos Cavazo, Robbie Crane, Jizzy Pearl, and Kerri Kelli.

And also, a special shout out to: Yamaha, Paiste, Promark, DW, Remo.

So sit back, enjoy the book and know one thing…Blotz loves ya baby!!

This book would not be possible without the contributions of two great friends Jim Clayton and Mark Lowe. Without the contributions and professional expertise and time, this would have not been possible. Special thanks to Joey Hundall for introducing me to Jim.

Jim Clayton

Mark Lowe

Cleveland. 1987. It's our third monster tour in as many years, and we are scintillating rock and roll GODS!

The swell of noise from the crowd is testament to that. They have come tonight to worship at the throne of the RATT. And, we have come to receive their sacrifice, in all its various forms.

With my family in the crowd, visiting from Pittsburgh, the arena watches in awe as a monstrous wash of backlight slowly rises. And there, standing on the drum throne with the devil horn's thrown in pride; silhouetted in the coolest rocker machismo possible, is me. Bobby Blotzer, aka.the Blotz. A rock and roll God in person!

The crowd goes ape-shit; yelling and screaming! The sexual energy in the room is flowing like Vesuvius, flooding the people of Pompeii and forever encasing them in it's molten heat.

I prepare for the blast of music already bubbling to the surface in Stephen, Juan, Robbin and Warren. My partners in crime. All they need is my lead. The moment where I’m standing atop of my drum stool, waiting to drop down and start the 4 count into the song.

I'm anticipating the hot sizzle.

All they need is my lead.

CHSHH!! CHSHH!! CHSHH!! CHSHH!! And BOOM!!

The thundering sound of RATT N' Roll motherfucker! Permeating every corner of the building! Creating a frenzy for the masses!

As I jump down from my seat to start, my foot catches the leg of my drum stool.