Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you’re a fan of Ratt, this episode is a full-blown time capsule back to the peak of the Sunset Strip era. We crack open a March 1985 issue of Hit Parader featuring an in-depth interview with Robin Crosby, recorded right in the narrow window between Out of the Cellar and the then-upcoming Invasion of Your Privacy.
The article reveals incredible behind-the-scenes details: the guitarist Ratt had before Warren DeMartini, how Robin Crosby and Nikki Sixx ended up as roommates before fame, and why Atlantic Records signed the band based purely on their live show. We also place Ratt’s rise in the broader 1984–1985 hard-rock landscape—Motley Crüe, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche—and explore why Ratt succeeded where so many L.A. bands didn’t.
Along the way, there’s personal concert memories, deep context on the indie EP that sold 50,000 copies without the internet, and a thoughtful discussion about what really made Ratt last: strong songwriting, melody, and substance—not just image. If you lived this era (or wish you had), this one hits hard.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Why this Hit Parader issue matters
02:05 – Who played guitar in Ratt before DeMartini?
03:10 – Ratt’s place in the 1984 metal landscape
05:00 – Seeing Ratt live on the Out of the Cellar tour
08:38 – The Jake E. Lee connection (yes—that Jake E. Lee)
11:03 – San Diego vs. L.A.: why bands had to move
16:20 – How Ratt really got their name
17:45 – The self-released EP that changed everything
20:26 – Signed on live power—not record sales
21:07 – Writing Out of the Cellar (and why it worked)
23:05 – Why Invasion of Your Privacy was a gamble
25:24 – “Heavy metal” meant something different then
26:27 – Touring with Motley Crüe (no rivalry)
27:30 – Opening while having a Top 10 album
28:04 – Music over theatrics: Ratt’s real strength
29:39 – “Intergalactic superstardom” and final thoughts
🔔 Support & Shout-Outs
Huge thanks to Gary Lighhall for sending in these incredible vintage magazines—we’ll be digging into many more.
Thanks as always to Digitech for supporting the channel—check out their latest gear at digitech.com and tell them we sent you.
If you’re a fan of Ratt, this episode is a full-blown time capsule back to the peak of the Sunset Strip era. We crack open a March 1985 issue of Hit Parader featuring an in-depth interview with Robin Crosby, recorded right in the narrow window between Out of the Cellar and the then-upcoming Invasion of Your Privacy.
The article reveals incredible behind-the-scenes details: the guitarist Ratt had before Warren DeMartini, how Robin Crosby and Nikki Sixx ended up as roommates before fame, and why Atlantic Records signed the band based purely on their live show. We also place Ratt’s rise in the broader 1984–1985 hard-rock landscape—Motley Crüe, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche—and explore why Ratt succeeded where so many L.A. bands didn’t.
Along the way, there’s personal concert memories, deep context on the indie EP that sold 50,000 copies without the internet, and a thoughtful discussion about what really made Ratt last: strong songwriting, melody, and substance—not just image. If you lived this era (or wish you had), this one hits hard.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Why this Hit Parader issue matters
02:05 – Who played guitar in Ratt before DeMartini?
03:10 – Ratt’s place in the 1984 metal landscape
05:00 – Seeing Ratt live on the Out of the Cellar tour
08:38 – The Jake E. Lee connection (yes—that Jake E. Lee)
11:03 – San Diego vs. L.A.: why bands had to move
16:20 – How Ratt really got their name
17:45 – The self-released EP that changed everything
20:26 – Signed on live power—not record sales
21:07 – Writing Out of the Cellar (and why it worked)
23:05 – Why Invasion of Your Privacy was a gamble
25:24 – “Heavy metal” meant something different then
26:27 – Touring with Motley Crüe (no rivalry)
27:30 – Opening while having a Top 10 album
28:04 – Music over theatrics: Ratt’s real strength
29:39 – “Intergalactic superstardom” and final thoughts
🔔 Support & Shout-Outs
Huge thanks to Gary Lighhall for sending in these incredible vintage magazines—we’ll be digging into many more.
Thanks as always to Digitech for supporting the channel—check out their latest gear at digitech.com and tell them we sent you.
