Stephen Pearcy, the former vocalist for Eighties hair metal band Ratt, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday accusing former bandmates Bobby Blotzer and Warren DeMartini and former manager Tim Heyne of breach of contract and dissemination of false information. According to Pearcy, his ex-mates posted on the Internet that he had "quit" the band and caused the cancellation of January 2000 tour dates, and that he is an "alcoholic" and/or a "drug addict."

The singer contends that the group, which he formed in San Diego in 1978, ignored him when he informed them in December of 1999 that would not tour with them and that Blotzer and DeMartini misled the public in saying that he would.

Pearcy also charges his former colleagues with withdrawing thousands of dollars without his permission from a corporate checking account that they all shared. He is seeking an unspecified amount of general and punitive damages.

Ratt recently toured the Florida and the Midwest with replacement singer Jizzy Pearl and have a date at Las Vegas' House of Blues on March 16th.

JAAN UHELSZKI
(February 22, 2001)