Ratt Detonator U.S. tour

[thunderdan]

I was looking into it, listening to Bang Tango lately. Was it only 13 shows in the U.S., i know it didn't do well and was brief but was that it?

[Bono Nettencourt]

There was a lack of advertising funds.

[FreddyFender]

Google says they did some dates with Vixen and then some with Saigon Kick in 1990. More than 13.

This was when Crosby came out of rehab fucked up and got sent home after being a mess in Japan. They brought Schenker in to finish the tour and did some of those bullshit Contraband shows.

Pearcy was out of there after that.

[Domino]

the first 12 clubdates 1990 Detonator tour was just a sort of warm up small tour before the Japan one. The idea was to do a big tour in US in spring/summer 91, but unfortunately there was the Robbin issue and they replaced him with Michael Schenker.
Ratt anyway was really on fire in those small tour as you can hear from this awesome Detroit show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ_crGfEjas&t=1774s

[tooth]

I went to the club date in Boston, who would have opened up, Saigon Kick?

[LAglamrocker]

1991 show was at Irvine Amp
ABC taped the In Concert Series that came on tv

Contraband was first band- Vixen and LA Guns also

[wrko680]

I went to the Boston show and was shocked to see how few people were there. Great show, but was a 2,000 capacity venue and wasn’t even really half full.
Was in the front row and Robin handed me a pick which I still have to this day.
Another interesting note was they did an in store appearance at Tower Records up the street before the show. I arrived and the place was dead and empty.
An employee told me hardly any people showed up so the band left. Don Dokken did a show the night before at a smaller club next door the night before that I also attended and all the Ratt guys were there watching. I knew this was the end of Ratt as I knew it. Four years earlier they were doing a sold out arena tour.

[Domino]

1991 show was at Irvine Amp
ABC taped the In Concert Series that came on tv

Contraband was first band- Vixen and LA Guns also

is there any recording of this show available since it was taped?

[thunderdan]

thanks domino. anyone have full list of arena dates? setlist.fm my go to is where i only found the 13 shows.

[Domino]

thanks domino. anyone have full list of arena dates? setlist.fm my go to is where i only found the 13 shows.

https://www.chmetal.info/tourdates/Ratt_1990.htm
add Roseville/Detroit on dec 9th and LA Whiskey dec 22nd

[FreddyFender]

Imagine having a guy in your band that was such a fuck-up that bringing in Michael Schenker was an improvement.

Ratt was one-of-a-kind.

[Wednesday 13 Fan]

But Nirvana hadn't hit yet, how can that be?

[Mister Freeze]

It's interesting. Even before grunge hit, the writing was on the wall. This era of Ratt is a good example. Heartbreak Station is another.

Since cookies know everything I do, this concert was recommended on my YouTube feed after reading this thread. It's Ratt playing Bally's in Las Vegas in 1991, just days after the Ratt n' Roll compilation was released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK-Ao9b9-2w&t=193s

Not sure if this was considered a continuation of the Detonator tour or something new. Some of the Contraband guys make encore appearances at the end.

"Round and Round" was played mid-set. Stephen Pearcy is using that half-stand microphone a la Freddie Mercury and Axl Rose. Robin was off the road at this point.

Bally's is a weird choice for Vegas. Did they play the Jubilee Theater? If so, that's a small venue.

[FreddyFender]

Ratt didn't fit the formula for the late-era hairband - no power ballads, no pop-crossover. Meanwhile the newer bands like Skid Row and Warrant just blew them away. Ratt had more in common with Quiet Riot and Aldo Nova by 1990.

They took some swings at selling out on Detonator, but it didn't work. The wannabe Poison/Skid Row "One Step Away" is the kind of failed song only a Sludger could love.

Warren fuckin smokes on the album, some of his best playing. "Heads I Win" is killer. But it was over.

[Sleek]

Since cookies know everything I do, this concert was recommended on my YouTube feed after reading this thread. It's Ratt playing Bally's in Las Vegas in 1991, just days after the Ratt n' Roll compilation was released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK-Ao9b9-2w&t=193s

Not sure if this was considered a continuation of the Detonator tour or something new. Some of the Contraband guys make encore appearances at the end.

Bally's is a weird choice for Vegas. Did they play the Jubilee Theater? If so, that's a small venue.

I was on that tour, probably standing right off-stage in this video.

It was supposed to be a Ratt/L.A. Guns/Contraband tour, but Richard Black got his fool self thrown off after the first date in Florida...so it ended up being Schenker just sort of melded in with Ratt, then Tracii would come out at the end and they would do whatever Contraband shit with Pearcy singing, usually just some jammy covers like in this video.

We used a little Randall (1x12 or 1x15) tube combo amp on a chair for Tracii during that part of the show. DO NOT KNOW WHY I REMEMBER THAT BUT NOT MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY.

I think my laminate still has the Detonator picture on it. I'm not home or I would look at it and go: "Meh."

The Bally's date was the last show of the tour, I think. If not, it was next-to last. 4 of my brain cells think there might have been an L.A. show after this, BUT AM NOT SURE.

The show was in this gigantic semi-permanent tent structure in the parking lot. Probably topped out at 6,000 seats. It was big, but not full-assed arena big.

[EzyRider]

Imagine having a guy in your band that was such a fuck-up that bringing in Michael Schenker was an improvement...

[PBFSUCKS]

Ratt seems like a band that got less popular after Out of the Cellar when they should have been huge. Probably the boring live show.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Ratt seems like a band that got less popular after Out of the Cellar when they should have been huge. Probably the boring live show.

And one of the worst lead singers of all time.

[LitaStrauss]

Ratt didn't fit the formula for the late-era hairband - no power ballads, no pop-crossover. Meanwhile the newer bands like Skid Row and Warrant just blew them away. Ratt had more in common with Quiet Riot and Aldo Nova by 1990.

This. There were plenty of hairbands during that era that were doing great and all over MTV. But Ratt never crossed over like Motley did and the newer hairbands had better looks, songs, and vocals. I remember thinking at that time that they were already old. LOL. Looking back that's obviously silly but that's just how kids think. I didn't know any girls who had pinups of any member of Ratt on their walls at that time. It was all Bret, Sebastian, Warrant, Axl, Motley, Tom Keifer, Nelson, Slaughter, etc.

[Tommy2Tone84]

Ratt didn't fit the formula for the late-era hairband - no power ballads, no pop-crossover. Meanwhile the newer bands like Skid Row and Warrant just blew them away. Ratt had more in common with Quiet Riot and Aldo Nova by 1990.

This. There were plenty of hairbands during that era that were doing great and all over MTV. But Ratt never crossed over like Motley did and the newer hairbands had better looks, songs, and vocals. I remember thinking at that time that they were already old. LOL. Looking back that's obviously silly but that's just how kids think. I didn't know any girls who had pinups of any member of Ratt on their walls at that time. It was all Bret, Sebastian, Warrant, Axl, Motley, Tom Keifer, Nelson, Slaughter, etc.

What? Giving Yourself Away should have been a big hit. LYADJ was great.

Ratt weren’t that good live and SP lacked skills as a front man. Not that Jani Lane was all that amazing

They should’ve gotten somebody else besides Schenker

[Bono Nettencourt]

Lol. As if that would've helped. The Schenker MTV Unplugged is actually one of their career highlights. What they really needed to do was call Des Child in 1988. 1990 was too late.

[risingfarce]

Ratt seems like a band that got less popular after Out of the Cellar when they should have been huge. Probably the boring live show.

And one of the worst lead singers of all time.

I agree. Pearcy is/was a terrible singer and terrible frontman. I saw them on the "Dancing Under Cover" tour and Poison blew them away. Poison had energy. Ratt was boring.

[Domino]

Ratt seems like a band that got less popular after Out of the Cellar when they should have been huge. Probably the boring live show.

And one of the worst lead singers of all time.

I agree. Pearcy is/was a terrible singer and terrible frontman. I saw them on the "Dancing Under Cover" tour and Poison blew them away. Poison had energy. Ratt was boring.

We'll talk about it again when I'll see Poison doing a show like this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UERSN6hQSc&t=2s

[Love_Industry]

Ratt seems like a band that got less popular after Out of the Cellar when they should have been huge. Probably the boring live show.

They never made an album as good either. Invasion is close but there is more filler there.

You could argue that TFFL was Mötley's best but at least they had quality singles like HSH, Wild Side and GGG. Ratt after Invasion had what? Way Cool Jr, I Want a Woman....

[nuno_cherone]

I went to the club date in Boston, who would have opened up, Saigon Kick?

Hey, yes it was definitely Saigon Kick. I was there as well. It was at Citi which soon after became Avalon, which eventually got swallowed up with Axis next door to become the present day Boston HOB.
My memory of the show and in store is different than the poster below. Was it sold out, probably not. But I clearly remember not having much space around me for the show.
I clearly remember the in-store. I got all 5 of them including Robbin (looking back I guess it was a miracle he went to Tower Records that day) to sign my jacket. All the guys were polite. The line was outside the building and back to where the entrance was on Mass Ave for the Green Line T stop. Several yuppie types stopped and asked me while I was in line who was inside. When I told them Ratt they said “oh” and kept walking haha maybe the line dwindled quickly after initially being longer. Idk.

[Domino]

I went to the club date in Boston, who would have opened up, Saigon Kick?

Hey, yes it was definitely Saigon Kick. I was there as well. It was at Citi which soon after became Avalon, which eventually got swallowed up with Axis next door to become the present day Boston HOB.
My memory of the show and in store is different than the poster below. Was it sold out, probably not. But I clearly remember not having much space around me for the show.
I clearly remember the in-store. I got all 5 of them including Robbin (looking back I guess it was a miracle he went to Tower Records that day) to sign my jacket. All the guys were polite. The line was outside the building and back to where the entrance was on Mass Ave for the Green Line T stop. Several yuppie types stopped and asked me while I was in line who was inside. When I told them Ratt they said “oh” and kept walking haha maybe the line dwindled quickly after initially being longer. Idk.

thanks for the memory, much different was that event from what the other attendee posted here.

[FreddyFender]

Also... who the fuck decided it was a good idea to put Ratt in a spaceship?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqH34jNQVGg

[Mister Freeze]

Since cookies know everything I do, this concert was recommended on my YouTube feed after reading this thread. It's Ratt playing Bally's in Las Vegas in 1991, just days after the Ratt n' Roll compilation was released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK-Ao9b9-2w&t=193s

Not sure if this was considered a continuation of the Detonator tour or something new. Some of the Contraband guys make encore appearances at the end.

Bally's is a weird choice for Vegas. Did they play the Jubilee Theater? If so, that's a small venue.

I was on that tour, probably standing right off-stage in this video.

It was supposed to be a Ratt/L.A. Guns/Contraband tour, but Richard Black got his fool self thrown off after the first date in Florida...so it ended up being Schenker just sort of melded in with Ratt, then Tracii would come out at the end and they would do whatever Contraband shit with Pearcy singing, usually just some jammy covers like in this video.

We used a little Randall (1x12 or 1x15) tube combo amp on a chair for Tracii during that part of the show. DO NOT KNOW WHY I REMEMBER THAT BUT NOT MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY.

I think my laminate still has the Detonator picture on it. I'm not home or I would look at it and go: "Meh."

The Bally's date was the last show of the tour, I think. If not, it was next-to last. 4 of my brain cells think there might have been an L.A. show after this, BUT AM NOT SURE.

The show was in this gigantic semi-permanent tent structure in the parking lot. Probably topped out at 6,000 seats. It was big, but not full-assed arena big.

Thanks for the insight. I'm trying to imagine where that tent would've been. Maybe where the Grand Bazaar Shops are now or next door at the site of Paris, which wouldn't even exist for eight more years.

[pieceofme]

Also... who the fuck decided it was a good idea to put Ratt in a spaceship?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqH34jNQVGg

Great song. Video is fine. Especially for the 80s/early 90s. A lot of videos didn't make much sense back in that era.

[tooth]

I went to the club date in Boston, who would have opened up, Saigon Kick?

Hey, yes it was definitely Saigon Kick. I was there as well. It was at Citi which soon after became Avalon, which eventually got swallowed up with Axis next door to become the present day Boston HOB.
My memory of the show and in store is different than the poster below. Was it sold out, probably not. But I clearly remember not having much space around me for the show.
I clearly remember the in-store. I got all 5 of them including Robbin (looking back I guess it was a miracle he went to Tower Records that day) to sign my jacket. All the guys were polite. The line was outside the building and back to where the entrance was on Mass Ave for the Green Line T stop. Several yuppie types stopped and asked me while I was in line who was inside. When I told them Ratt they said “oh” and kept walking haha maybe the line dwindled quickly after initially being longer. Idk.

Thanks & I for sure missed the news re: the Tower instore, but it was 91. At that point, if you didn't catch the add in The Phoenix, you wouldn't have known about it! I remember thinking "I can't believe I'm standing this close to these guys while they play these songs in a place this small." Like the above poster said, you knew that was the end of Ratt &, in a sense, "hair" metal.