I've alway been a big RATT fan, but after reading Bobby Blotzer's irrational, delusional and completely racist Facebook rant, I can no longer support this band. I get that everyone has a political slant, but I simply have zero tolerance for such vile and offensive rhetoric. His statements reveal him to be a complete bigot. I'm not naive enough to believe that any of my musical idols are perfect, but Blotz's incendiary remarks were still quite shocking. I wonder if his RATT bandmates, like me, feel saddened by this.

Wow! City to City! Dont think I ever heard this done live before. I think it sounds pretty good, I hope RATT keeps this song in their setlist for MOR cruise I did see Ratt with Jizzy perform this song but he completely butchered it. As for Blotz, I read his Facebook comments and I did not take his comments as racist statements at all! These were His opinions, most things he said are true but liberals are always quick to call someone Racist when they dont like what their saying. Hey facts are facts and statistics dont lie like Blotz says. If there was WET tv or Miss White america Blacks and liberals would scream thats racist but Blacks do it but whites are scared to say the same. Therefore I commend Blotz for HIS opinion! P.S. I also agree with his opinions on our President. I will support Ratt now even more now because of his bravery!!!!!

Blotz made the comments at about 3am. Knowing his past, my guess is he'd probably like to take those comments back, even though drunken statements are quite often sober thoughts....

As for his bandmates, I'm pretty sure they could give a 'Ratts Ass", However, given time I'm sure Pearcy will have something to say about it, as it's pretty well known they really don't like each other a whole lot.

Blotzer never said he hates blacks! He says he has black friends! cant find anything VILE in his statements. I dont know seems like we americans are getting too soft. Everyone is always offended!!!!!!!!!! Crazy! Keep pounding those skins Blotz! RATT N ROLL BABY!

"City To City" -- One of my fave RATT songs, as well.

Pearcy is mailing in the lyrics half the time here. Still, nobody can halfa*s vocals better than him, especially on a RATT song, because even in all his nonchalance, he's still got that unmistakeable RATT Sound only his voice, and his voice only, can deliver.

Hey, maybe that's why they called this fest Halfway Jam.

Also, nice backdrop, eh? What th? Gotta love that Penske Rent-a-Truck ready to load as soon as the sets over. Surprised Pearcy didn't look down at his watch during the performance.

p.s. Hey, Jack, we gotta raise a toast to BBG! on The Monsters of Rock Cruise. Whether I agree with Blotzer or you makes no difference to me when it comes to politics because there is one thing we all do agree on -- RATT'N'ROLL!!!

Jack:

I certainly support anyone's right to a political point of view, even if I vehemently disagree with it. This is America, after all. Hell, Ted Nugent drives me absolutely insane, but I have never heard him make such racist remarks about the black community. I think that you may be confusing Blotz's "bravery" with what is really just his ignorance.

Can I just say that I feel so lost. I have no idea what any of you are talking about regarding Blotzer's remarks. I'm Facebook friends with him but I seriously log in to Facebook about once a week. I'm sort of glad I'm in the dark on this one I think. - Allyson

Hey Allyson:

I haven't checked his FB page to see if the comments are still up, but Metal Sludge (a site not nearly as good as yours, if I might add) has the transcript posted.

I've known Blotz for decades. I have never known him to have a racist bone is his body. Just to be sure, I went & checked his FB page & couldn't find anything offensive there, either. I have to even admire his having the guts to spill it as to why he didn't attend NAMM & to be forthright about it, even if it doesn't paint his own band in a positive light. FOr a batch of musicians as dysfunctional as the Ratt Gang, I'm surprised they're gigging at all! And with all the living "classic lineup" members. You could have knocked me over with a feather when "Wielding Juan" stepped back in to the lineup.

Thanks for the tip, BatLizard. I just read his stuff over on Metalsludge. What a shame. You're right, he really is revealing his own ignorance in that rant.

Maybe I'll ask him about his comments on The Monsters of Rock Cruise. Maybe he'd like to know that 85% of all white murders are White on White Crimes. Why are so many Rockstars I love so right wing?!

I think Gary got the situation right: Blotzer did something no teenage girl or boy or college man or woman should ever do: he drunk texted (posted). At least there were no pictures.

But I think Gary also went a bit farther than need be: drunk comments can be the sober thoughts vomiting to the surface or they can be a fun-house version of real thoughts, distorted and twisted into something barely resembling a coherent argument. Drugs (booze is a drug) might give you courage; they don't guarantee clarity.

Follow-up comments that feature a certain "C" word (verboten in the States but less likely to arouse anger abroad), quickly followed by "love you bro" style responses to his defenders only further suggest he was in an altered state.

And my final two cents: people of all stripes, left or right, religious or not, are guilty of pulling a "nut job" stunt in front of the world (moreso when the internet is as close as whatever it is they are drinking or huffing or smoking or snorting). It's called "foot in mouth" disease and it afflicts most of human population. Some know how to control it; others do not. And, not to sound high and mighty (because I am guilty of this too), it is always striking how people see the world through their eyes, attributing the worst of intent to those not like them and the best of intent to themselves or those who are similar (it's called Attribution Theory).

Don't begrudge anyone their view (though I jab at Metalboy! and others on occasion for comments far more enlightening and far more lucid). Wouldn't want them to give up their free speech either. In the end everyone, including Blotzer, has to choose . . . and that goes for what they do in the early morning hours, altered state or not.

How about this ticket! Nugent/Blotzer for the oval office?

AWESOME! Always loved this song. Glad they put it on "Best Of." They actually sound good here, Pearcy aside. He's very hot or cold live. Here he's both. Great to see Juan where he belongs. Love the high notes he hits that I always thought were imperative to Ratt's sound. He was sorely missed.

And yes, Blotzer's rant was a huge turn-off. But if I started hating artists for stupidity I wouldn't have much of a media collection.

Jack:

African-Americans have a channel like BET and their own pageant simply because they are statistically not in the loop on TV. I mean aside from SOME hit shows and winning SOME talent events, how often, statistically, are they represented on mainstream TV, etc. Although better then it once was, there's still a lot of room for improvement.

Remember, numbers don't lie.

@ HIM

Well said!!!

Topher

Sugar coat it anyway you want still stinks of reverse racism!

Agree with Jack and Kevon - put your big boy pants on and deal with it. Keep the touchy feely crap - would rather have what's on someone's mind. Enough PC rhetoric on both sides to make us all puke. It's so easy to forget, what you give is what you get. PEACE

Its sad that this subject got into some poorly chosen words instead of the direction it was suppose to go.

Its great to see the Ratt boys mixing it up with some lesser played favorites of thier fans.

I am a long time fan and supporter of Ratt. I love the new material.

When it comes to thier live performances I guess I am of a differant opinion as everyone else because I think Pearcys performamces the last several years have been as poor as Vince Neil's.

Bat Lizard, Why is Blotzers opinions ignorant? I call them brave because he spoke his mind when many others just keep quiet and go with the flow as not to upset other races even though other races have no problem yelling when things dont go their way. Blotz we could use a man like you in the White House!

Bourbon Crow, amen Brother! Kevon, I think We need you in the White House! Ratt-n-Roll 4eva!