Bobby Blotzer Claims He Can Legally Tour As Ratt, Accuses Warren DeMartini of ‘Breach of Fiduciary Duty’
Bobby Blotzer has fired back at Warren DeMartini's plans to stop the drummer from touring as Ratt. In a new interview, Blotzer defended his decision, saying that, as half-owner of the name, he can do what he wants with it, with or without the guitarist's permission, and that DeMartini could possibly be violating of California corporate law.
"Me and Warren own 50/50 of the name," he said on Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM radio show. "He does not wanna tour. The other guys aren't gonna tour, so it leaves me sitting here -- the one guy who never quit, out of the whole band, and who's always been pushing the other guys to get back together [...] But my 50/50 partner doesn't wanna tour as a member, [and] he becomes a non-touring member, and that leaves me open to go out and bring the songs that people wanna hear on the road."
After having toured earlier this year as the Ratt Experience, Blotzer decided to use the name, despite DeMartini's unwillingness to go out without original singer Stephen Pearcy, who lost his share of the band's name when he parted ways with them in 2000.
Blotzer frames his argument as, "If I wanted to stay home and Warren wanted to go out, I'd be, like, 'Okay, just have the check here by Friday.' Because I will get dividends, and he will get dividends."
But even the thought of a check for doing nothing didn't sit well with DeMartini, who said, “He is soliciting his tribute band as Ratt, which he is completely unauthorized to do. I am totally against it, and steps are being taken to prevent any further misuse of the name as well as representation about future Ratt performances.”
For Blotzer, it's not just about wanting to get out and play again, but about what's required under the law. "Mind you, five years we've been off," he continued. "You can't do that legally. It's against corporate law in California. I don't know what everybody does outside this state, but you cannot be an officer and a shareholder and not work your company. It's called breach of fiduciary duty. That I know. And I'm surprised he's not knowing that."
Still, the drummer feels this latest round may be the final nail in the coffin for the band, which has seen more than its share of turbulence over the years. "I'm gonna say something right here that I've never said, ever," he said. "I don't ever see Ratt getting back together. There is just right now, at this point, four corners, and no one's leaving that corner.
As this battle plays out in the press and possibly the courts, the fourth member of Ratt's classic lineup has his own band going. Last week, original bassist Juan Croucier performed his first show at the Token Lounge in Westland, Mich. He used the name Ratt's Juan Croucier.
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