You might see two versions of Ratt on the road in 2017.
Drummer Bobby Blotzer won the legal battle to use the name and control of the band’s company, WBS, in November 2015. But a decision handed down in federal court in California on November 8th says that Blotzer and WBS never actually had the rights to the name.
Here’s the legal mumbo jumbo pulled by a smart lawyer — under a 1985 agreement, the name was the property of the Ratt partnership and could be transferred only with the unanimous approval of all partners. So when Blotzer, singer Stephen Percy and guitarist Warren DeMartini transferred the trademark to WBS in 1997, that deal was invalid since bassist Juan Croucier was still a partner and never consented to the transfer.
Percy, DeMartini and Coucier’s lawyer tell say that the trio “have also expelled Blotzer from the partnership” and that he “may now only refer to himself as a ‘former member of Ratt’ as per the partnership agreement. DeMartini, Pearcy and Croucier look forward to continuing to tour as Ratt.”
Apparently Blotzer isn’t backing down just yet — his group is still billed as Ratt and will play a show under that name on Saturday in Spokane, Washington. He also has dates booked through early next year.