Name	Ratt
Landscape	Yes
Background	group_or_band
Genre	Heavy metal, hard rock
Alias	Mickey Ratt
Origin	San Diego, California, US
Years active	1976–19921996–2010 (hiatus)
Label	Atlantic, Portrait, Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records
Url	Official website
Current members	Stephen PearcyWarren DeMartiniCarlos CavazoRobbie CraneBobby Blotzer
Past members	John CorabiJizzy PearlRobbin Crosby (Deceased)Michael SchenkerKeri KelliJuan Croucier

Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip" and "Back For More." Ratt has been recognized as instrumental in the formation of the early 1980s Los Angeles hard rock and glam metal scene.

Their 7th studio album, Infestation, was released April 20, 2010. The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus.

History

Early years (1976–1982)

The origins of Ratt go at least as far back as 1976 with a San Diego band called Mickey Ratt, which was formed by founding member vocalist Stephen Pearcy. Several CDs have been released of the Mickey Ratt line-ups, including several demo compilations and a live concert.

Mickey Ratt went through various line-ups. Members included guitarists Jake E. Lee, Chris Hager, Paul DeNisco, and Bob DeLellis, bassists Matt Thorr, Tim Garcia, and Dave Jellison, Mike New, and drummers John Turner,Seth Faver, Dave Alford, and Bob Eisenberg.

In 1980, the band moved to Los Angeles to increase their chances of landing a recording contract with a major label. The band recorded a single called "Dr. Rock" / "Drivin' on E", which was given to fans at their early Los Angeles club shows. Guitarist Jake E. Lee joined the Mickey Ratt line up.

In 1981, the band's name was shortened to Ratt. Robbin Crosby played with the band later in the year. Jake E. Lee, Chris Hager, Matt Thorr, and Dave Alford all left Mickey Ratt to form another band called Rough Cutt. Guitarist Warren DeMartini joined in January 1982 (recommended by Lee). Bassist Gene Hunter (from Jake E. Lee's Teaser) and drummer Khurt Maier (who played drums on the early "Tell The World" recording) would temporarily play in Ratt before Bobby Blotzer and Juan Croucier (also with the band Dokken) . DeMartini was only 18 years old when he was called up to Los Angeles to join Ratt. At the time he was attending college in San Diego and reluctant to drop out to join a band that had, so far, had only limited success. Marq Torien briefly replaced DeMartini, though Warren returned in time for the recording of their EP, later in 1982 .

Ratt EP (1983)

In July 1983 the band signed a recording contract with Time Coast Records and released an EP on the independent record label. With the self-titled Ratt EP, the band began to draw public attention from outside of Southern California. It contained the hit "You Think You're Tough". Also included was a cover of "Walkin' the Dog," originally a hit for Rufus Thomas in 1963. Ratt's version was a nod to Aerosmith, who had included a cover of the song on their influential first album in 1973. The track "Back for More" that appeared on the EP was a slightly different version of the one that appeared on their follow-up Out of the Cellar. The EP was a success (though it has been out of print for many years and is today considered a rare and valuable collectors' item). Bassist Joey Cristofanilli would step in for Juan Croucier, though Croucier would return after the band secured a deal with Atlantic Records. Cristofanilli would play bass on an alternate version of "You're In Trouble" that would appear as a bonus track on the Ratt EP (red-colored vinyl version) in Europe, and Cristofanilli also co-wrote "Wanted Man".

Out of the Cellar (1983–1984)

After a well-received, self-titled independent EP, the band signed with Atlantic Records and immediately started writing and recording what would be its first proper album Out of the Cellar. Released in March 1984, the breakthrough album was critically praised by both fans and critics alike at the time of its release. Milton Berle's guest appearance, dressed in his Uncle Miltie drag character, in the video for "Round and Round" helped draw even more attention to the band.

Out of the Cellar combined the then-prevalent Van Halen and Aerosmith influenced bravado elements with the then-novel muted, staccato guitar-picking style of Judas Priest.

The album scored much radio and MTV play with the blockbuster anthem "Round and Round" (which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Wanted Man", "Back for More", and "Lack of Communication". Pearcy's raspy yet bluesy vocals melded well with the pyrotechnic guitar playing of twin leads Robbin Crosby and Warren DeMartini. Their music videos, especially for that of "Round and Round", exposed them to an impressionable teen audience first tuning into the then fledgling MTV cable network.

Out of the Cellar became a commercial success, going platinum many times over in the United States as well as making them stars in the Far East. The album catapulted the band to the top, capped off by an incredibly successful world tour that saw the band sell out countless stadiums and arenas worldwide. Out of the Cellar is today widely regarded as the band's best work and a definitive moment in 80s heavy metal.

Tawny Kitaen, High School sweetheart of Crosby, who'd graced the cover of the band's EP from the previous year, agreed to appear on the cover of their debut full-length album. She also appeared in their video for "Back For More" as the girl in the 50s skirt at the jukebox.

In 1984 the band toured extensively, sharing the stage with such acts as Billy Squier, Ozzy Osbourne, Blackfoot, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister and Lita Ford.

"Round and Round" was chosen as #61 on VH1's Greatest Hard Rock Songs Show.

Invasion of Your Privacy (1985–1986)

The band's second full-length album Invasion of Your Privacy was released July 1985. It peaked at #7 (which is the same position that Out of the Cellar peaked). The album met mostly positive reactions from fans and critics. Allmusic.com has called it "another batch of solid pop-metal tunes". [] It contained the favorites "You're in Love" and "Lay It Down" (which made #40 on the Hot 100) that assured the band a presence on radio and MTV. The music video for "You're In Love" is a live clip from the band's performance at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Warren DeMartini & Robbin Crosby's impressive guitar solos and Stephen Pearcy's highly sexual lyrics helped to further define the Ratt sound. Though it didn't achieve the sales figures nor the legendary status of their monumental debut, Invasion of Your Privacy nonetheless was certified double platinum (selling over two million copies) and remains highly regarded amongst fans.

A couple months after the album release, the band released a home video titled . The video featured the music videos from the Ratt EP, Out of the Cellar and Invasion of Your Privacy. The video is currently out of print and is very rare and difficult to find. The video was the first commercially available video to certify Gold sales status in the USA and eventually reached Platinum.

The model on the Invasion cover is Playboy Playmate Marianne Gravatte, who also made an appearance in the "Lay It Down" music video. Using a beautiful female model on an album cover later became a trend copied by many glam metal bands of the 1980s, such as Great White, and Slaughter. Pearcy himself would soon pose for Playgirl (August '86 issue). Invasion of Your Privacy was also one of the many albums that received the attention of the PMRC since the cover and the album title were a reference to voyeurism. The Tipper Gore-led organization presented it at a U.S. Congressional hearing on September 19, 1985 dealing with parental advisory labels on albums that display "inappropriate" content. The band toured extensively in the United States and Japan sharing stage with the likes of Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden. In August 1985 the band played on the Monsters Of Rock festival in Donington, England, along with ZZ Top, Bon Jovi, Metallica and Magnum.

Dancing Undercover (1986–1987)

Ratt's next release was Dancing Undercover in September 1986. The album was a relative disappointment with most music critics at the time of its release. From a commercial standpoint however, the album kept Ratt's string of consecutive Platinum albums alive.This is the first album as well to see Crosby's lead guitar duties minimized in favor of DeMartini.

In an effort to be taken more seriously, Ratt broke from the tradition of featuring a girl on the cover. They instead opted for gritty black-and-white photos of each of the five band members. Likewise, the album does not contain a single power ballad amongst its ten tracks and even features experimental forays into thrashier and heavier sounds.

The song that reflected this most strikingly was "Body Talk", which was featured on the soundtrack for the 1986 Eddie Murphy film The Golden Child. The more straight-ahead style of the album (especially with this song) lead many fans to believe that Ratt was headed in a direction more akin to the thrash style promulgated by such bands as Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. However, that proved not to be the case as the slightly experimental undertones of the album were quickly replaced with a bluesier sound throughout their next three releases.

Other popular tracks generated by the album included "Dance" and "Slip of the Lip". Through 1987, Ratt embarked on a U.S. tour with newcomers Poison, and played in Europe as a part of the Monsters Of Rock Tour (widely bootlegged). Their tour with Poison was the 6th highest grossing tour of 1987. Ratt also played Madison Square Garden.

Reach for the Sky (1988–1989)

The group's follow-up, Reach for the Sky was released in November 1988. Although the album achieved Platinum sales status and reached #17 on Billboard's album charts, it was widely panned by critics. Complaints ranged from it being formulaic and sophomoric to the album being uneven and lacking in focus. After this album, the band parted ways with long-time producer Beau Hill. For all the criticisms, Reach for the Sky nevertheless contained the popular tracks "Way Cool Jr." and "I Want a Woman" which received some airplay. Those two songs are now regarded as glam metal classics.

The surreal, Dali-esque album cover featured a statue wearing night vision goggles, a human hand emerging from a bundle of twine, a World War II fighter plane, and a wicker chair. The band has remained mum as to what the album cover is supposed to symbolize so as to facilitate the diverse interpretations of their fans. Early pressings of the album cover revealed the breast part of the statue as requested by lead singer Stephen Pearcy. According to Pearcy, he wanted to use that version of the cover but the other band members feared that this would keep the record out of certain music stores. The revised version of the album mainly contained the same tracks, but in a different order. After the revised version hit the record stores, producer Beau Hill stepped down from producer duties and tensions within the band increased. The band started the new year with a concert at the Tokyo Dome headlined by Bon Jovi The other bands in the bill were Kingdom Come and Britny Fox. Ratt would soon play the Tokyo Dome on their own. Both appearances have been widely bootlegged. The tour that followed in the spring of '89 was a flop. The band was supported by Kix, Warrant and Britny Fox and was eventually cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

Detonator (1990–1991)

Ratt's fifth album Detonator was released in August 1990. Sir Arthur Payson took over as producer for the band following Beau Hill's departure after the lackluster results for Reach for the Sky. The album garnered mixed reactions. Critics claimed it lacked the live sounding energy of the band's earlier work,[] while some claim the sound more akin to "hair metal" (especially when compared to their raw early works) but still showing a band of experienced and refined musicians maturing and striving to expand their sound. Detonator featured the among its tracks "Shame Shame Shame" and "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job". The band co-wrote most of the album's songs with Desmond Child while Jon Bon Jovi appeared as a guest background vocalist on "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose". Pearcy also co-wrote Givin' Yourself Away with Diane Warren. Detonator's sales were around 800-900,000 . Robbin Crosby plays on the album (acknowledged in a KNAC interview), despite rumors to the contrary. (Juan Croucier stated on his message board that Crosby's guitar parts are on the disc but were low in the mix.) Plagued by addiction for some time, Crosby authored just one song, "Can't Wait on Love", and contributed notably to another, "All or Nothing". Crosby entered a rehab facility during the early stages of recording.

During the seven shows of the Japanese leg of the 'Detonator' tour in February 1991, Crosby's substance abuse had reached a point where his playing had becoming increasingly inconsistent onstage. The band had already removed the acoustic intro to Back For More, which Crosby performed, along with modifying sections of other songs that featured Robbin as lead guitarist. During one particular show, after the band performed two songs using non-standard tunings, Crosby did not properly switch out guitars with his guitar technician. As a result, he was not in tune with the band for the next two songs. Some controversy over this incident has surfaced because of the comments during the Ratt Behind The Music biography. Whether the offstage crew member or the guitarist himself was at fault is a subject still debated among fans of the band. It has been asserted that Robbin wasn't aware of the change, didn't hear his tech, or was unable to respond. The last show of the Japanese tour, in Osaka, would be Robbin's last with Ratt. He would not record or perform with the band again.

When the band returned to the United States, Robbin checked into a rehab facility and Ratt continued on with Michael Schenker, formerly of Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group, and McAuley Schenker Group.

MTV Unplugged, Nobody Rides for Free and Ratt n' Roll 81–91 (1991–1992)

Ratt was featured on the first season of MTV Unplugged to promote their most current album and new single, sharing the stage with all-female rock band Vixen. Michael Schenker was still performing with Ratt at the time of this taping.

At the end of 1991, Ratt released the final single of their career, "Nobody Rides for Free" which appeared on the Point Break soundtrack album. The song and video clearly signal a change in the band. Robbin did not participate in the writing or recording of the song and was not present for the shooting of the video in which only the four remaining members appeared.

The band never again recorded or performed with the original five members.

Atlantic Records released a greatest hits compilation entitled Ratt & Roll 81-91 in September 1991. The album featured five songs from Detonator, more than any other album featured on the compilation. It also featured the aforementioned song "Nobody Rides For Free". This greatest hits compilation achieved Gold sales status.

Ratt "disbanded" or "on hiatus" (1992–1996)

In February 1992, Stephen Pearcy exited the group to form a new hard rock band, with former Cinderella drummer Fred Coury called Arcade, before moving on to VD in '95 and the industrial-tinged Vertex in '96.

Robbin Crosby started Secret Service, which included bassist Krys Baratto (Samantha 7, Juice 13). In 1993, Crosby performed on Rumbledog's self titled debut album.

Warren DeMartini (who had left after Pearcy in '92) was in Whitesnake in 1994 and issued two solo releases: a single, 1995's Surf's Up!, and a full length, 1996's Crazy Enough to Sing to You.

Bobby Blotzer and Juan Croucier both started to live more normal lives outside the public eye and the two of them became producers for underground bands.

Juan Croucier ran a recording studio called 'The Cellar', and, in 1994, received a lifetime achievement award in Los Angeles (Crosby was there). During that year, Robbin Crosby was diagnosed with HIV, which later developed into AIDS.

First reunion and self-titled album (1996–2000)

In 1996, the five classic era members of Ratt began discussing a reunion and a subsequent album after their publishing had to be renewed. After meeting with Robbin, it was decided that he was not in any physical shape to record or perform with the band. As the talks continued to progress, bassist Juan Croucier made the decision not to participate in the reunion as well. Rudy Sarzo was first thought as a replacement but would end up rejoining Quiet Riot. Ratt eventually moved forward with Pearcy, DeMartini and Blotzer, along with new member, Robbie Crane (formerly of Vince Neil's solo band and Pearcy's Vertex tour) on bass. The band issued a compilation album called Collage in July 1997, which consisted of B-sides, alternate recordings, and new versions of songs from the Mickey Ratt period. In 1998, Ratt secured a worldwide record deal with Sony. The 1999 self-titled Ratt album featured new material with a more conventional blues rock feel. With A&R; guru John Kalodner in control over how the album turned out, bringing in outside writers in the process , the album didn't come close to the platinum success that Ratt typically achieved, though, the album's first single, "Over The Edge", did graze the Top 40 Mainstream Rock charts.

Two versions of Ratt, Death of Crosby and new era (2000–2006)

After this, Ratt added Keri Kelli as a second guitarist. In 2000, Pearcy left the group again, going on tour as Nitronic, and soon after, as 'Ratt Featuring Stephen Pearcy'. His record label Top Fuel Records released some archived Ratt material and Pearcy solo work.

Meanwhile, DeMartini and Blotzer would carry on their version of Ratt replacing Pearcy with singer Jizzy Pearl and replacing Kelli with guitarist John Corabi. After a legal battle, the Demartini/Blotzer version would eventually win the rights to tour as 'Ratt' .

In 2001, former guitarist Robbin Crosby publicly announced that he was HIV positive. He died on June 6, 2002 from a heroin overdose. He was 42 years old.

For the next two years, they would be featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour alongside other 1980s hard rock/heavy metal bands. In 2001, Pearcy attempted to sue the band for touring under the "Ratt" name, but lost. Pearcy then toured as 'Stephen Pearcy' and occasionally nicknamed his solo band the Rat Bastards.

On January 7, 2005 a fan asked Juan Croucier on his message board how long Blotzer and Croucier decided to put the band to rest back in 1992 after Pearcy and DeMartini left the group to which he responded:

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With this message on his website, Croucier became the first member of Ratt to admit that the band never did break up outright in 1992, as was previously reported, but were instead only on indefinite hiatus. Previous interviews given by band members (including Pearcy, Blotzer, and DeMartini) had at times indicated that they did disband in 1992.

On May 11, 2006, Ratt was profiled on VH1's Behind the Music. In the episode, It was revealed for the first time publicly that former guitarist Robbin Crosby died of a heroin overdose, and not AIDS-related complications as was sometimes erroneously reported.

During the group's quiet years, the members (and former members) continued to work on their own side projects. Blotzer, Corabi, and Crane joined forces with Keri Kelli in the classic rock cover band named "Angel City Outlaws". Warren DeMartini and Jizzy Pearl worked on their respective solo careers and continued to record new material. In a surprising turn of events, Juan Croucier and Stephen Pearcy toured with one another during the summer and fall of 2006. Even further surprisingly to many, Blotzer joined them onstage at a show on October 27, 2006.

Second reunion (2006–2008)

On December 1, 2006 the website "Metal Sludge" set off a firestorm of rumors after reporting that Pearcy and Croucier would re-unite with Blotzer and DeMartini. On December 4, 2006, Jizzy Pearl announced on his message board that he was no longer a member of the band, increasing speculation and excitement to a fever pitch. On March 17, 2007 another website "Bravewords.com" stated that Ratt would go on the 2007 tour with Poison and Great White. On April 12, Bravewords reported that White Lion would open for Poison and Ratt, while Great White was still 'in talks' to join the tour.

On March 20, 2007, the official Ratt website was finally updated with only the band's logo after a year and a half of being dormant. One week later, Blabbermouth.com reported that Ratt would take part in the "Rocklahoma" festival on July 13–15, 2007 in Pryor, Oklahoma, with original singer Stephen Pearcy and without Juan Croucier who decided to not participate in the reunion tour for the second time (Robbie Crane stayed on bass instead).

Tramp's White Lion was removed from the tour due to legal issues, and Vains of Jenna took their place. The summer tour started June 13, 2007 at the Bi Lo Center in Greenville, S.C., and ended August 19, 2007 at the Coors Amphitheatre in Denver. The tour, which brought Poison and Ratt onstage together for the first time since 1999, visited amphitheaters, festivals and fairs in such cities as Boston, Detroit, New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles.

Festivals the tour performed at include Birmingham, Ala.'s City Stages (June 16), Bay City, Mich.'s Bay City River Roar (June 22), Pryor, Okla.'s Rocklahoma (July 13), Sturgis, S.D.'s Buffalo Chip (August 5) and Newton, IA, Iowa Speedway (August 4).

On July 31, 2007, Ratt released a DVD entitled which chronicle the band's video history. On August 21, 2007, they also released a best-of CD entitled .

In November 2007, Ratt toured Japan and Australia. Throughout October the band was to tour Europe, but instead, the band planned to return in June 2008 to perform at some of Europe's most popular rock festivals including Spring and Airbrake as well as several other key dates in the UK and Scandinavia. At the end of January 2008 they played at MOTLEY CRUISE, a 4-day cruise in the Caribbean (Miami, Key West and Cozumel, MX) with Vince Neil, Skid Row, Slaughter, Endeverafter, and Lynam.

In May and June 2008 Ratt toured the UK. On June 5, 2008, they were supported by local Leeds band King Nothing at the legendary rock club Rio's.

In August 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio's Hair Nation channel reported that former Mötley Crüe singer John Corabi had resigned as rhythm guitarist for Ratt and was rumored to be replaced by former Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo. Bobby Blotzer confirmed these rumors stating that Cavazo was set to replace Corabi and would make his debut with the band on August 27.

Infestation and hiatus (2009–2010)

Ratt joined a variety of other hard rock acts on the November 2009 cruise entitled "ShipRocked". In April 2009 Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records announced the signing of a worldwide deal with Ratt. Their new album, Infestation, was released in April 2010. Infestation reached #30 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. Ratt just completed filming the new video for the first single titled "Best of Me". Infestation will be supported by a world tour.

In a March 18, 2010 interview with Metalholic Magazine, guitarist/founder, Warren DeMartini said of the new album, Infestation; "It really exceeded our expectations. Conceptually we kinda wanted to revisit the period of Out Of The Cellar and Invasion Of Your Privacy. We were sort of loosely trying to shoot for something that could fit between those two records. We were looking for more uptempo ideas and the double leads that Robbin Crosby and I started doing back in 1983."

RATT were confirmed playing the main stage at the Download Festival 2010 at Donnington Park, UK in June 2010. However, on June 8, 2010, it was announced on Download Festival's website that RATT had pulled out of the festival due to surgery of one of the band members.

On October 26, 2010, it was announced Ratt would be going into an indefinite hiatus after tensions within the band reared their head. It was announced that it is not known whether the band will be calling it a day or not, but in an interview with bassist Robbie Crane, he has confirmed that following the end of the band's tour supporting their latest album Infestation, the band is currently on an indefinite hiatus. He has also confirmed that all members are busy with their own projects: him touring with Lynch Mob, frontman Stephen Pearcy touring with his solo band for next six months, Warren DeMartini is touring with his and Dee Snider's Christmas band, and Carlos Cavazo and Bobby Blotzer are working on a new project together. Rumors are that bassist Robbie Crane may be out of Ratt whether the band decides to continue or not. On October 27, 2010, vocalist Stephen Pearcy confirmed that Ratt is going to be on hiatus "for a while."

Musical style

Ratt's music is influenced by 1970s hard rock and heavy metal bands such as Aerosmith, Sweet, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, and KISS. They fused this style with NWOBHM influences, including Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

Although they later incorporated more of a blues-rock sound into their music, the band was one of the first glam metal style groups that appeared in the early 1980s in California. Their image bore similarities to that of Rough Cutt, which had several members who were previously in Mickey Ratt (from which Ratt evolved).

Band members

Current members

Stephen Pearcy – lead vocals; occasionally rhythm guitar (1976–1992, 1996–2000, 2006–present)

Warren DeMartini – lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1982–1992, 1996–present)

Bobby Blotzer – drums, percussion (1982–1992, 1996–present)

Robbie Crane – bass guitar, backing vocals (1996–present)

Carlos Cavazo – rhythm & lead guitars, backing vocals (2008–present)

Former members

Chris Hager - rhythm & lead guitars (1976–1981)

Matt Thorr - bass (1976–1981)

Dave Alford - drums, percussion (1976–1981)

Jake E. Lee - lead & rhythm guitars (1980–1981)

Marq Torien - lead & rhythm guitars (1982)

Joey Cristofanilli - bass, backing vocals (1983)

Robbin Crosby - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1981–1991)

Juan Croucier - bass, backing vocals (1982–1992)

Michael Schenker - rhythm & lead guitars (1991–1992)

Keri Kelli - rhythm & lead guitars (1999)

Jizzy Pearl - lead vocals (2000–2006)

John Corabi - rhythm & lead guitars (2000–2008)

Discography

Ratt (EP) (1983)

Out of the Cellar (1984)

Invasion of Your Privacy (1985)

Dancing Undercover (1986)

Reach for the Sky (1988)

Detonator (1990)

Ratt (1999)

Infestation (2010)

References in other media

Ratt is featured in One Tree Hill (Season 1/Episode 20) Lucas asks Peyton what she has been listening to. Peyton states, she has been on this huge 80's metal kick. She then says, "I picked up this Ratt album, it's outstanding" (In her arms is the Out of The Cellar L.P).

Ratt is featured on a promotional spot for Viacom's cable TV network, VH1 Classic. Set in the summer of 1985, the promo shows a person peeling The Grateful Dead bear sticker off of a car window and replacing it with a Ratt car sticker.

Ratt is mentioned in the movie Rock Star, starring Mark Wahlberg as a 80s rock vocalist who makes it big with a heavy metal band Steel Dragon. Steel Dragon's guitarist Kirk Cuddy pulls Wahlberg aside to talk with him about his changes he's suggesting to the band. Kirk states the band isn't gonna change and won't lose its fans to the musical styling of bands like Ratt.

Ratt is mentioned on The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror X episode. At a new years countdown concert, the announcer thanked a glam metal band that was playing and said "Thank you, and that was Whitesnake". The members debated on their name being Poison or Quiet Riot. The drummer then points at the bass drum with the Ratt logo on it and says "Says here we're Ratt"

The Ratt song "Round and Round" is featured in the popular video games , , and Rock Band 2.

"Lay It Down" is featured in the video game Brütal Legend

Los Angeles newstalk AM 640 KFI introduces its top of hour/bottom of hour news segment with "Round and Round"

The Ratt song "Nobody Rides for Free" was playing at the end of the 1991 movie Point Break.

The Ratt song "Body Talk" can be heard, and the video seen briefly, during the fight seen at the biker house, in the movie "The Golden Child"

"Round and Round" is featured in and sung by the protoganist of The Wrestler. The track is one of many glam metal tracks Randy 'The Ram' Robinson has a particular liking for that appear in the soundtrack.

The Ratt song "Round and Round" is played over the credits to "Billy and Mandy Save Christmas".

References

External links

The Official Ratt website

[ Ratt] at Allmusic

* Category:Glam metal musical groups Category:American heavy metal musical groups Category:Heavy metal musical groups from California Category:Rock music groups from California Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles, California Category:Musical groups from San Diego, California Category:Musical groups established in 1976 Category:Musical quintets Category:1980s music groups Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:2010s music groups Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Roadrunner Records artists

Name	Warren DeMartini
Born	April 10, 1963,Chicago, Illinois, United States
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Instrument	Guitar
Genre	Glam metal, heavy metal, hard rock
Occupation	Musician, songwriter
Instrument	Guitar
Associated acts	Ratt, Dokken, Whitesnake, Dio
Years active	1981–present
Url	http://www.therattpack.com/
Notable instruments	Fernandes RetrorocketCustom Charvel models

Warren Justin DeMartini (born April 10, 1963), nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.

Early life

DeMartini was born on April 10, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of six children. The family later relocated to San Diego, California. He became interested in rock music due to the influence of his older brothers Bernard and James, whose band rehearsed in the family basement. DeMartini's grandmother was also a musician of note, playing piano accompaniment to silent movies in Preston, Minnesota.

DeMartini's mother bought him a guitar at his request when he was seven years of age. As he struggled early on learning to play it, he became frustrated and smashed the instrument as he had seen Pete Townshend of The Who do onstage. His mother, angered, refused to buy a replacement. At age 15, he received enough money for Christmas to purchase a new electric guitar. He took lessons to learn basic guitar technique, learned quickly, and formed a band called The Plague. Later he formed another band known as Aircraft.

By 1979, he played his first concert in front of a small crowd at San Diego's La Jolla High School. By this time he was emerging as one of the San Diego area's most talented and sought-after young guitar players, winning the Guitar Center contest in Mira Mesa the year he signed up. He graduated from high school in 1981. DeMartini began taking classes at a local college, but in the first semester was invited up to Los Angeles to join Mickey Ratt; the band that would eventually become the highly successful 1980s metal band, Ratt.

Ratt

DeMartini replaces Jake E. Lee in the band, who had recently been hired by Ozzy Osbourne. DeMartini was at one point the roommate of Lee, and each greatly influenced the other's styles.

DeMartini's lead guitar became one of Ratt's most recognizable aspects, and he would co-write several of the band's best known songs, including "Round and Round", "Lay It Down", "Dance", and "Way Cool Jr.". Ratt would ultimately become one of the top-selling and most popular glam metal acts of the decade, issuing four consecutive platinum albums and one EP in the 1980s before disbanding in February 1992.

Post-Ratt

After Ratt broke up, DeMartini was briefly a touring guitarist for hard rock band Whitesnake in 1994. After that, he released two solo projects; the EP, Surf's Up! in 1995, and his only full-length album to date, Crazy Enough To Sing To You in 1996. Ratt re-united in 1996 and released two albums, Collage in July 1997, and a self-titled album in July 1999, which was a critical and commercial failure. In 2003, DeMartini was hired to replace guitarist Doug Aldrich in the band Dio but after several rehearsals he decided to leave the band due to musical differences with band leader Ronnie James Dio. Ratt reformed again in 2007 and began a tour in the summer of that year.

Influences

Over the years, DeMartini has cited many legendary guitarists or other musicians as his primary musical influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Robbin Crosby, Steve Lukather, Uli Roth, Joe Walsh, Jake E. Lee, Joe Perry, Tommy Bolin, Miles Davis, Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch and Randy Rhoads.

According to Allmusic, Demartini was heavily influenced by Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick as a teenager.

Technique

DeMartini has often been praised for his technique and ability. Website Xtreme Musician labeled him as one of the most under-rated guitarists of his era. His playing often incorporates 4 note per string passages, which is still fairly unorthodox and some chromatic runs give DeMartini an almost jazz fusion sound for some solos. Along with that, his playing includes fast minor scales and wide vibrato.

Warren uses finger vibrato, similar in style to George Lynch. This technique features moving the finger/wrist rapidly back and forth along the length of the string to alter the pitch (like a violinist), as opposed to bending the string.

Personal life

Discography

Ratt

Ratt EP (1983)

Out of the Cellar (1984)

Invasion of Your Privacy (1985)

Dancing Undercover (1986)

Reach for the Sky (1988)

Detonator (1990)

Ratt & Roll 81-91 (1991)

Collage (1997)

Ratt (1999)

(2007)

Infestation (2010)

Solo

Surf's Up! (1995)

Crazy Enough to Sing to You (1996)

References

External links

Official RATT Website

Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Lead guitarists Category:American rock guitarists Category:Glam metal musicians Category:Ratt members Category:Whitesnake members Category:American musicians of Italian descent

Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Name	Michael Schenker
Born	January 10, 1955Sarstedt, Germany
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument	Guitar, vocals
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Associated acts	Scorpions, UFO, The Michael Schenker Group, McAuley Schenker Group, Ratt, Contraband, G3, Schenker Pattison Summit
Label	BMG
Years active	1969–present
Url	Official website
Notable instruments	Gibson Flying VDean Signature V model

Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955) is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the Michael Schenker Group in various incarnations. He is the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker, who is still a guitarist with the Scorpions. His career has had many ups and downs, partly due to a long history of alcoholism and personal problems; still, Schenker continues to perform and record and to maintain a following,

Early career: Scorpions, UFO

Michael Schenker started playing guitar at an early age, after his brother Rudolf brought home a Gibson Flying V guitar, which captured his imagination. He played his first gig when he was 11 with Rudy and the Scorpions in a nightclub. Schenker debuted with Scorpions on their debut album Lonesome Crow at age 17.

The Scorpions went on tour after recording their first album, opening up for upcoming UK band UFO in Germany. Schenker was offered the position of lead guitar player (taking over for Bernie Marsden, himself a temporary replacement for Mick Bolton) and, with the blessing of his brother, accepted (the Scorpions replaced him with Uli Roth), even though he didn't speak English.

Schenker wrote the music for most of UFO's major label (Chrysalis Records) debut album Phenomenon. His career with UFO was turbulent—he sometimes walked off mid-song and caused shows to be canceled. Despite having a series of successful albums and tours, Schenker finally left UFO soon after the last show of their US tour in Palo Alto, California, in October 1978; during this tour, the band recorded their seminal live album Strangers in the Night, which was released after he left the band.

Schenker's playing with UFO attracted attention from music critics and especially from the guitar community; in fact, according to some writers, UFO is only to be distinguished for having had Schenker in their ranks.

Schenker briefly re-joined the Scorpions in late 1978, when they were recording the album Lovedrive (he plays lead guitar on three songs, "Another Piece Of Meat", "Coast To Coast" and "Lovedrive"). according to Martin Huxley, Schenker stormed out of the room after some Nazi-jokes were made. He also considered playing for Ozzy Osbourne; Osbourne said in a 1982 Hit Parader interview that he did contact Schenker following the death of Randy Rhoads: "It so happens I did contact Michael Schenker, but he wanted a king's ransom before he'd do anything...I don't need that annoyance." Schenker himself, in an interview with KNAC radio, claims he was the one to say "no" to Ozzy: " If I would have joined Ozzy Osbourne, I would have screwed up my life. I was almost about to do it, and something told me: DON'T!!"

Solo career

In 1979, Schenker entered upon a solo career by founding the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). The history of MSG is strewn with personality conflicts and incidents. In 1982, original singer Gary Barden, who sang on the first two studio albums, The Michael Schenker Group and M.S.G. as well as the band's third release (the live album One Night at Budokan) was fired in favor of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz). Bonnet lasted one album (Assault Attack) and was fired from the band because he often lost his voice during shows, although the actual firing happened after he dropped his pants in a warm-up gig in Sheffield before the Reading Festival. Barden was called in at the last minute and did the show with only a few hours rehearsal. He stayed with MSG for the recording of a new studio album (Built to Destroy) and the band's second live album (Rock Will Never Die).

After Barden's second departure, Schenker reorganized the band around himself and new singer Robin McAuley and renamed it the McAuley Schenker Group. The new incarnation of MSG was steered toward a more commercial hard rock sound. After three albums, Schenker and McAuley parted company. In the meantime, he briefly replaced Robbin Crosby in Ratt, appearing on their 1990 MTV Unplugged performance.

In 1995, Schenker briefly rejoined UFO for their reunion album Walk on Water and toured with them briefly. Schenker then resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new members and recorded three more albums, The Unforgiven, Written in Sand, and Beware of Scorpions. He later rejoined UFO for two further releases, Covenant and Sharks.

2000 and after

Schenker fell on hard times in the early 2000s. His wife, after selling most of his belongings, divorced him and disappeared with the couple's son, and his manager allegedly ran off with his earnings; Schenker ended up having to sell three of his prized Flying V guitars. He picked himself up and got back to the business of making and performing music, recording the album Arachnophobiac and supporting it with two years of touring. In 2004, recognition came from Dean Guitars, which began producing a Schenker signature Dean V (with subtle differences from the Gibson, but with the split black and white trademark Schenker finish).

2005 brought the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group. Schenker put together a new album of songs called Tales of Rock'n'Roll to celebrate the anniversary and enlisted singers from each iteration of the band to sing on the album. However, in that same year the collection Heavy Hitters, a set of covers featuring Schenker and a revolving group of heavy metal all-stars, was marketed as a Michael Schenker Group album, with the result that Schenker only received a flat fee. as exemplified on the song "Rock Bottom" from the UFO album Strangers in the Night, was listed among the 50 greatest tones of all time by Guitar Player magazine. In recent years Schenker has switched to using a signature model Dean V.

In 2007 Dean Guitars, after producing a signature Schenker Dean V, also made two acoustic models with the familiar black and white "V" design.

In video games

The Michael Schenker Group's song, Armed and Ready, featured in Guitar Hero: Metallica.

The song Assault Attack was featured in Brutal Legend.

Discography

with Scorpions

Lonesome Crow (1972)

Lovedrive (1979)

with UFO

Phenomenon (1974)

Force It (1975)

No Heavy Petting (1976)

Lights Out (1977)

Obsession (1978)

Strangers in the Night (1979)

The Best Of (1992)

Walk on Water (1995)

Covenant (2000)

Sharks (2002)

with Michael Schenker Group/McAuley Schenker Group

The Michael Schenker Group (1980)

M.S.G. (1981)

One Night at Budokan (1981, live)

Assault Attack (1982)

Built To Destroy (1983)

Rock Will Never Die (1984, live)

Perfect Timing (McAuley Schenker Group) (1987)

Save Yourself (McAuley Schenker Group) (1989)

M.S.G. (McAuley Schenker Group) (1992)

(McAuley Schenker Group) (1992)

The Essential Michael Schenker Group (Best Of-style compilation, 1992)

M.S.G. Unplugged (McAuley Schenker Group) (1993)

Written in the Sand (1996)

The Michael Schenker Story Live (1997)

The Unforgiven (1999)

The Unforgiven World Tour (2000)

Be Aware of Scorpions (2001)

Arachnophobiac (2003)

Heavy Hitters (2005)

Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006)

In the Midst of Beauty (2008)

The 30th Anniversary Concert - Live In Tokyo (2010)

Solo

Thank You (1993)

The Story Of Michael Schenker (1994, Compilation)

Thank You 2 (1998)

Thank You With Orchestra (1999)

Adventures of the Imagination (2000)

The Odd Trio (2000)

Thank You 3 (2001)

Dreams And Expressions (2001)

(2003)

Thank You 4 (2003)

(2008) (Heavy Hitters + 4 additional tracks)

Greatest Riffs (2009, US-only compilation)

Instrumental Intensity (2010, Shrapnel Records compilation)

Other Schenker projects

Contraband (1991)

The Plot (2003)

Under Construction (2003)

Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam (2004)

Siggi Schwarz & The Electricguitar Legends (2004)

Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam Continues (2005)

Siggi Schwarz & The Rock Legends (2005)

Siggi Schwarz and Michael Schenker - Live Together (2006)

Schenker Barden Acoustic Project - Gipsy Lady (2009)

Strangers In The Night (2010)

MSG videography

Rock Will Never Die (1984)

The Michael Schenker Story Live (1994): see also The Michael Schenker Story Live, the audio recording.

Live in Tokyo 1997 (1997)

World Wide Live 2004 (2004)

The 30th Anniversary Concert - Live In Tokyo (2010)

References

External links

Michael Schenker Himself, Official site

Michael Schenker Interview

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:German Christians Category:German rock guitarists Category:German heavy metal guitarists Category:Lead guitarists Category:Slide guitarists Category:Scorpions (band) members Category:UFO members Category:Michael Schenker Group members Category:McAuley Schenker Group members Category:Ratt members Category:G3

Name	Stephen Pearcy
Background	solo_singer
Born	July 03, 1959 San Diego, California
Spouse	Melissa Pearcy (1999-present)
Instrument	Vocals, Guitar
Genre	Heavy metalHard rockGlam metalAlternative metalIndustrial
Occupation	MusicianSongwriterRecord label owner
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Cleopatra, Top Fuel Records
Associated acts	Ratt, Arcade, Vertex, Vicious Delite
Url	http://www.stephen-pearcy.com

Stephen Eric Pearcy (born July 3, 1959) is the lead singer of the 80's metal band Ratt. He has also been in the bands Arcade, Vicious Delite, Vertex, Nitronic, and Band From Hell. He has also recorded as a solo artist.

Pearcy has also worked as an actor, playing the killer hippie, Timothy Bach, in the horror film "Camp Utopia".

Early career

In his early teens, Pearcy aspired to be a top fuel race car driver and expressed no desire to pursue a career in music. He listened to music and occasionally went to concerts in the 1970s, however he hadn't so much as played a note in his whole life. Fate interfered in the form of a hit-and-run driver who struck Pearcy while he was riding his friends bike one night during the summer of 1974. While he was in the hospital recovering from his bike accident, somebody gave him an acoustic guitar. After fiddling around with the guitar for a short time, Pearcy decided to shift his vocational focus from a race car driver to playing music. He started a band which he named Mickey Ratt, a take on the Walt Disney character Mickey Mouse, in San Diego during the late 1970s. After he and the band moved to Los Angeles in 1980, the band's name was shortened to Ratt and the original lineup was solidified. Playing clubs like The Roxy and The Whisky, Ratt amassed a large local following. After releasing an eponymous six song EP in 1983, Ratt released their breakthrough album Out of the Cellar on Atlantic Records in 1984, and it went multi-platinum. After releasing one gold and four platinum albums, Pearcy left the band in February 1992. Pearcy and former Cinderella drummer Fred Coury formed the band Arcade in 1992. Arcade released a self-titled album in 1993 and another album the following year. In 1996, Pearcy dabbled with an industrial metal band called Vertex (with Megadeth's Al Pitrelli and drummer / electronic producer Hiro Kuretani). Pearcy reunited with Ratt in 1997, only to leave the band for a second time in 2000 on the eve of a tour due to differences over financial allocation amongst band members.

Recent efforts

The year 2000 was a prolific one for Pearcy. He put out a collection of previously released songs called Before and Laughter. He also re-released an independent side project from 1995, called Vicious Delite (VD), in conjunction with the label, Triple X, distributing his own record label Top Fuel Records. Pearcy released Social Intercourse, his first album of new solo material, in 2002.

His May 2005 album, Fueler, features a song called "Drive With Me" that has been featured on ESPN2's weekly program devoted to National Hot Rod Association drag racing. Pearcy also released a compilation of reworked Ratt and Mickey Ratt songs in June 2005 called Rat Attack that included spots from ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch and former L.A. Guns axeman Tracii Guns. After touring with W.A.S.P. and L.A. Guns earlier in 2005, Pearcy he appeared on VH1 Classic's Metal Mania Stripped tour along with Kip Winger, Jani Lane of Warrant, FireHouse, and Don Dokken. His acoustic version of the Ratt song "Round and Round" appears on the VH1 Classic Metal Mania Stripped Volume 2: The Anthems CD. Top Fuel Records is now associated with the Cleopatra label and continues to release material from Pearcy as well as find new upcoming talent. Top Fuel Entertainment is developing a funny car dragster with driver James Day.

On October 6, 2005, Pearcy posted a message on his website denying rumors of a Ratt reunion. Even so, a Los Angeles Daily News article published on October 9, 2005 quoted Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer saying that the band was "very close" to reuniting with Pearcy. However, Blotzer posted a message later that day on Ratt's website stating the interview was out of date and inaccurate.

On December 1, 2006 the website "Metal Sludge" reported that Pearcy and Juan Croucier might re-unite with Blotzer and Warren DeMartini and will thus, Robbie Crane and stated that John Corabi will most likely stay with the group. In March 2007 it was announced that Ratt would take part in the "Rocklahoma" summer festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, with original lead singer Stephen Pearcy but without original bassist Juan Croucier, who decided not to participate in the reunion tour.

The three remaining members, Pearcy/De Martini/Blotzer, toured alongside Poison in 2007 for a very promising future. The band has since toured the world in 2008; Japan, Spain, Europe, Australia, and many other countries.

On April 1, 2007, hip-hop artist, KRS-One released the rock-rap single 'We Will Rock You'. Pearcy featured on the single's B-side track 'Round & Round'.

Pearcy collaborated with The Donnas on a remake of the Ratt mega hit "Round and Round", which is included on the U.S. release of Pearcy's third solo album, Under My Skin. July 22, 2008 on Airline Records/Top Fuel Records.

Discography

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |- !With !Year !Title !Label !US Billboard Peak !US sales |- |rowspan="7"|Ratt |1983 |Ratt (EP) |Time Coast/Atlantic |align="center"|133 |300,000 |- |1984 |Out of the Cellar |rowspan="6"|Atlantic |align="center"|7 |3 million |- |1985 |Invasion of Your Privacy |align="center"|7 |2 million |- |1986 |Dancing Undercover |align="center"|26 |platinum+ |- |1988 |Reach for the Sky |align="center"|17 |platinum+ |- |1990 |Detonator'' |align="center"|23 |Gold+ |- |1991 |Ratt & Roll 81-91 |align="center"|57 |Gold |- |rowspan="2"|Arcade |1993 |Arcade |rowspan="2"|Epic |align="center"|133 |100,000+ |- |1994 |A/2 |align="center"| |20,000+ |- |Vicious Delite |1995 |Vicious Delite |Top Fuel Records |align="center"| | |- |Vertex |1996 |Vertex |Blue Dolphin |align="center"| | |- |rowspan="2"|Ratt |1997 |Collage |RATT Records |align="center"| | |- |1999 |Ratt |Portrait Records |align="center"|169 |estimated 200,000 worldwide |- |Nitronic |2000 |D.O.A. Live 2000 |rowspan="2"|Top Fuel Records |align="center"| | |- |rowspan="4"|Solo |2002 |Social Intercourse |align="center"| | |- |rowspan="2"|2006 |Fueler |Top Fuel Records/Cleopatra Records |align="center"| | |- |Stripped |Sidewinder |align="center"| | |- |2008 |Under My Skin |Top Fuel Records/Airline Records |align="center"| | |- |Ratt |2010 |Infestation |Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records |align="center"| 30 | |}

References

External links

Stephen Pearcy's official website

Stephen Pearcy on Myspace

Interview with Stephen Pearcy

Interview with Stephen Pearcy

Stephen Pearcy In Arcade

Official RATT Website

RATT Official Myspace

Category:1959 births Category:People from San Diego, California Category:Living people Category:American male singers Category:Glam metal musicians Category:Ratt members Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American Jews

Playername	Stephen Bywater
Fullname	Stephen Michael Bywater
Dateofbirth	June 07, 1981
Cityofbirth	Manchester
Countryofbirth	England
Height
Youthyears1	????–1997 | youthclubs1 = Rochdale
Currentclub	Derby County
Clubnumber	1
Position	Goalkeeper
Years1	1997–1998 |clubs1 = Rochdale |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0
Years2	1998–2006 |clubs2 = West Ham United |caps2 = 59 |goals2 = 0
Years3	1999 |clubs3 = → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) |caps3 = 2 |goals3 = 0
Years4	1999–2000 |clubs4 = → Hull City (loan) |caps4 = 4 |goals4 = 0
Years7	2005 |clubs7 = → Coventry City (loan) |caps7 = 14 |goals7 = 0
Years8	2006 |clubs8 = → Derby County (loan) |caps8 = 2 |goals8 = 0
Years9	2006– |clubs9 = Derby County |caps9 = 142 |goals9 = 0
Years10	2008 |clubs10 = → Ipswich Town (loan) |caps10 = 17 |goals10 = 0
Nationalyears1	2001–2003
Nationalteam1	England U21
Nationalcaps1	6
Nationalgoals1	0
Pcupdate	15:58, 15 January 2011 (UTC)
Ntupdate	21:16, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Stephen Michael Bywater, (born 7 June 1981 in Manchester) is an English professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He has made appearances for seven clubs, most notably his current club Derby County, where he won the 2007 Championship Playoff final and West Ham United, where he spent eight seasons and made over 60 appearances. He is also a former England Under-21 international.

Club career

West Ham United

Bywater attended the Blue Coat School, Oldham as a boy and started his career in August 1997 with Rochdale. His only first team appearance was against Carlisle United in an Autoglass Trophy game which Rochdale lost 6–1. He was brought to West Ham as a 16 year old by Harry Redknapp in February 1998 for £250,000, rising to £1.75m depending on performances and achievements. He graduated through the youth set-up and featured in West Ham's 1999 winning team along with Joe Cole and Michael Carrick.

He spent the next two seasons learning from former Manchester United, Aston Villa and Coventry City goalkeeper Les Sealey and sitting in the pecking order behind Craig Forrest, Bernard Lama and Shaka Hislop. With first team opportunities limited, Bywater joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan in September 1999, making two appearances, and then went to Hull City on loan in November 1999, making four appearances. A broken leg for Shaka Hislop meant a debut for Bywater at the age of 19 against Bradford City in February 2000, in a game that saw Bradford score four times but which West Ham eventually won 5–4. Bywater also appeared in the final three games of the 1999–00 season, against Arsenal, Sunderland and Leeds United and made a single appearance in the following season against Bradford in February 2001. but he returned to West Ham the following month having not made an appearance for Wolves other than on the bench in the opening game of the season against Portsmouth. His chances to move up the pecking order were limited with the club signing David James in July 2001 and the retention of Shaka Hislop as James was injured on international duty in August 2001, and he did not make a single appearance for West Ham in the 2001–02 season nor in the 2002–03 season. Bywater became a regular starter in the first-team, making 23 appearances as West Ham reached the First Division play-off final, where they were beaten 1–0 by Crystal Palace. He signed a three-year contract extension in June 2004, saying "I am very pleased to have signed on for another three years at West Ham. We were very unlucky last year and I am sure that we will start next season with a squad capable of challenging for promotion again. The club have invested a lot in my career and the manager showed great faith in me last season. I am determined to repay everyone at the club by helping the team back into the Premiership."

He soon had to share the role of the club's primary keeper with Jimmy Walker who was brought in from Walsall in June 2004 to provide competition for Bywater. Bywater made 39 league and cup appearances in the 2004–05 season for West Ham as the club were promoted to the Premiership,

The signing of Roy Carroll in June 2005 and the re-signing of Shaka Hislop on a one-year contract in July 2005 once again limited Bywater's first-team opportunities and he joined Coventry City in August 2005, on loan until the end of the year, where he made 14 appearances. He made a single appearance for West Ham in the remainder of the 2005–06 season, against West Bromwich Albion in November 2005. Before the 2008–09 season, he wore the number 43 shirt at Derby as a tribute to his mentor and former goalkeeping coach Les Sealey, who died at the age of 43 in 2001, saying, "Les looked after me most of the time. He took me to training every day, coached me and advised me on life. I know he is watching over me and that he wants me to do well, so that was for him." Bywater made 43 league and cup appearances in the 2006–07 season

In June 2007, Bywater reiterated his desire to play for England and his hopes to be noticed in the 2007–08 season, saying "I grew up with a few of the lads like Paul Robinson, Rob Green and Chris Kirkland and they are good but I don't think they are anything special. I do believe if I play well and have a good season, I will be up there in contention. I am confident but not cocky." After a first half of the season that saw Derby County rooted to the foot of the Premier League, Bywater joined Ipswich Town on loan in January 2008 for the rest of the season. Jim Magilton, manager of Ipswich Town, described him as, "...a young, ambitious keeper who knows what is needed to win promotion from this division." Following Derby's relegation at the end of the 2007/08 season, Bywater almost returned to the Premier League with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. However, when the deal fell through, Bywater remained with The Rams and, after initially playing as second fiddle to Roy Carroll for the start of the 2008–09 season, Bywater regained and retained his place in the team after Carroll was sent off against Norwich City. His form was good enough that he held the number 1 position for the rest of the season and he signed a new 3 year contract with Derby on 13 January 2009. He made his 100th appearance for the club away to Blackpool on 8 August 2009, keeping a clean sheet. In December 2009, after keeping two successive clean sheets, manager Nigel Clough praised Bywater's performances in the two games: "Stephen has been exemplary. He is fully fit and approaching the peak of his career. He has a good temperament, which is probably a factor of his age. He works hard in training and, like all goalkeepers, he is a bit daft." An injury sustained away to Reading in March 2010 saw Bywater ruled out for two games which brought to an end a run of 71 consecutive league appearances in the Derby goal. He returned and put in Championship Team of the Week performance as Derby drew 0–0 at Sheffield Wednesday. After Derby secured survival with a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace, Bywater sat out the last two games of the season to rest a sprained rib joint. He returned to the first team in the 2010–11 season and made his 150th appearance for the club in a 2–0 defeat at Hull City. Bywater played every minute of Derby's opening 11 games of the season, keeping two clean sheets, before a wrist injury sustained in training during the October international break ruled him out for a month.

International career

Bywater made his England U19 debut during 1999 and rotated in the role with both Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland. He later progressed to the U21 team with the same group of players though by that time both Kirkland and Robinson had become established league players. Injuries had limited his opportunities with both a broken finger and later on a fractured wrist holding up his development and limiting his opportunities. He made six appearances for the U21 team.

Bywater was tipped to be called up for the England squad after Derby's promotion to the Premier League in 2006/07, but he wasn't picked. Derby County manager Nigel Clough believed Bywater had an outside chance of making the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 as a 3rd choice goalkeeper for the England squad though this, again, failed to arise.

Personal life

Bywater has on reiterated on several occasions his intention to move into mixed martial arts and cage fighting when his playing career ends, saying "I have told my agent that one day I am going to take it up! He laughs at me – but I'm serious."

He has also been involved in several controversies. In an October 2007 interview with Clare Tomlinson on Sky Sports' Goals On Sunday programme he spelt out the word "cunt" whilst live on air as part of an anecdote, an incident which saw Tomlinson placed on two months leave.

In September 2010, Bywater stirred more controversy in regards of a provocative art installation in the player's garden in Sutton on the Hill, Derbyshire. The installation – a horse box with mattresses and a sex doll strapped to it with graffiti such as "love" and "Dave" sprayed on the side – brought complaints from neighbours, who decried the piece as "very ugly" and an "eyesore". Bywater, who claimed that art was his latest hobby and the installation was his masterpiece, issused a statement via Derby County stating "I would like to apologise to any supporters and local residents in Derbyshire who have been offended. It was and is still my view that my actions were made as a private citizen and in no way linked to Derby County Football Club. However, now it has been brought into the public domain, I acknowledge that this does not reflect well on me as a professional or the Club in general. I apologise again if my actions have in anyway damaged my reputation or the reputation of the Club." He eventually auctioned the piece, announcing the eBay sale via. his Twitter page, saying all the proceeds would be donated to the Teen Pride charity.

References

External links

Official Derby County Profile

Profile on BBC website

Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:People from Manchester Category:English footballers Category:Association football goalkeepers Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players Category:West Ham United F.C. players Category:Wycombe Wanderers F.C. players Category:Hull City A.F.C. players Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Coventry City F.C. players Category:Derby County F.C. players Category:Premier League players Category:The Football League players Category:England under-21 international footballers