Guitarist for Rock Band Ratt Dead From AIDS (posted 6/10/2002)

Reuters via NYTimes.com ^ | 6/10/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 4:21 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rock guitarist Robbin Crosby, a founding member of the 1980s heavy-metal ``hair'' band Ratt, has died after an eight-year battle with AIDS, according to the group's official Web site. He was 42.

Crosby, who went public with his illness in a radio interview last July, saying he had contracted the disease through heroin use, died on Thursday.

The band's Web site (http://www.therattpack.com) carried a photograph of the guitarist performing in concert beneath the words, ``In Memory of Robbin Crosby.'' The site's ``forum'' section posted dozens of messages of condolences from grieving fans.

Crosby co-founded Ratt in 1983 with vocalist Stephen Pearcy, and after adding guitarist Warren DeMartini, bassist Juan Croucier and drummer Bobby Blotzer, the Los Angeles-based group became one of the most popular rock acts of the mid-1980s.

The band released its self-titled debut independently in 1983, leading to a major-label recording contract with Atlantic Records, which issued the band's breakthrough LP, ``Out of the Cellar,'' in 1984. The album featured the huge radio and MTV hit ''Round and Round,'' which like many of Ratt's songs was co-written by Crosby.

Three more platinum-selling albums followed, starting with ''Invasion of Your Privacy'' in 1985, but the band's popularity waned after the 1990 release of ``Detonator'' as the alternative rock movement took hold, and the band broke up in 1992.

In keeping with the band's raucous, free-wheeling image, Crosby's indulgence in drugs took its toll as the musician's lavish lifestyle dissolved into a maelstrom of addiction.

``Robbin had everything kids dream of growing up,'' his brother-in-law, Bill Decker, told the San Diego Tribune. ``He was married for a while to a Playboy Playmate, he had a Ferrari, a Laurel Canyon house with a pool that overlooked L.A., a personal assistant. ... But then he started getting heavily into drugs, and his marriage started to fall apart. He lost his way.''

In July 2001, Crosby disclosed in an interview with the Los Angeles radio station KNAC that he had full-blown AIDS, a disease he said he believed he contracted when he began using heroin in the mid-'80s as a member of Ratt.

``Basically, it's killing me,'' he said at the time. ``I've been in the hospital for eight straight months, and in and out for over seven years.''

Ratt reunited without Crosby in 1997 to release another two albums. Last year, Blotzer and DeMartini launched a tour with several new members, and are due to play this summer's Rock Fest tour with other 1980s glam-metal acts.

[My Favorite Headache]

Wrong. He was on the original Geraldo show back around 93ish...and his hands were totally swollen from heroin use and said he contracted the disease through that method. Apparently he had shared a needle with a friend who had the virus and that is how he traced back the source. There is a 200 post thread on this story already on FR.

Robbin also was related to Bing Crosby.Also dated Tawney Kitaen and Heather Locklear.

[Drew68]

Wrong. He was on the original Geraldo show back around 93ish...and his hands were totally swollen from heroin use and said he contracted the disease through that method.

You could be right. I recall, however, seeing Crosby on a "Behind The Music" or some such show recently and he was blaming it on groupies. I may have him mistaken with someone else.

Also dated Tawney Kitaen and Heather Locklear.

Didn't every rocker back in the '80s?

[My Favorite Headache]

Of course...it was all the same circle...take your turn with Tawney and help out Heather.

[VMI70]

Also dated Tawney Kitaen and Heather Locklear.

I wonder if they have signed up for blood tests yet.

[ThreeYearLurker]

What goes around, comes a Round and Round

[donozark]

We all know how AIDs began. Sure he claims to have gotten it through heroin use. But heroin was abused for decades with no AIDs resulting.

Next time you feel like doing something constructive, go donate blood. Then you will be in a better position to discuss AIDs...

[RockinRight]

BOTTOM OF THE BARREL??? Ratt was among THE best in their genre...far superior to later acts like Winger and Warrant...

[Shazbot29]

Ratt was among THE best in their genre

That is like saying someone is the best yodeler in Compton.

[RockinRight]

OK then. Pick up a guitar and shred like Warren DeMartini or George Lynch and then get back to me.

You may not like their style, but there was talent in 80s metal. Lots of it.

I'll admit that there's talented opera singers, but I still think opera sucks.

[general_re]

Sorry the guy died though. That sucks.

It sucks to be dead?

;^)

[reagan_fanatic]

So sad to hear of his passing. Although the band sucked, I do like 'Round and Round'. Great 80's hair band song.

[Revolting cat!]

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

"Round and round/Your love got me six feet deep!"

[RockinRight]

[Dolphan]

I remember seeing Ratt and Poison in concert at the Hollywood Sportatorium when I was about 14.

The "Ratt-Poison" concert.

[surely_you_jest]

Perhaps they should have called their band "Gerbil".

[Paulus]

Never in my life have I thought I would be here on FreeRepublic reading and discussing about which band was better? Winger, Warrent or Ratt. (I need a life)

[BikerNYC]

The late Robbin Crosby

[NYC Republican]

That is like saying someone is the best yodeler in Compton.

LOL!