Stephen Pearcy

For the attorney of the same name, see Stephen Pearcy (activist).
Stephen Pearcy
Background information
Born (1956-07-03) July 3, 1956
San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres Heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal, alternative metal, industrial
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, record label owner
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1973–present
Labels Cleopatra, Top Fuel Records
Associated acts Ratt, Arcade, Vertex, Vicious Delite
Website stephen-pearcy.com

Stephen Pearcy (born July 3, 1956) is an American vocalist, best known as the former lead singer of the metal band Ratt, from 1973 until 1992, 1996 until 2000, and 2006 until 2014. He has also been in the bands Firedome, Crystal Pystal, Buster Cherry, Arcade, Vicious Delite, Vertex, Nitronic, and Band from Hell. He has also recorded as a solo artist.

Pearcy has also worked as an actor, playing the killer hippie, Timothy Bach, in the horror film Camp Utopia.[1]

Early career

In his early teens, Pearcy aspired to be a top fuel race car driver and expressed no desire to pursue a career in music.[2] He listened to music and occasionally went to concerts in the 1970s, however he had not so much as played a note in his whole life. Fate interfered in the form of a hit-and-run driver who struck Pearcy while he was riding his friend's bike one night during the summer of 1971. While he was in the hospital recovering from his bike accident, somebody gave him an acoustic guitar. After fiddling around with the guitar for a short time, Pearcy decided to shift his vocational focus from driving race cars to playing music. He started a band which he named Mickey Ratt, a take on the Walt Disney character Mickey Mouse, in San Diego during the late 1970s.

After he and the band moved to Los Angeles in 1980, the band's name was shortened to Ratt and the original lineup was solidified. Playing clubs like The Roxy and The Whisky, Ratt amassed a large local following. After releasing an eponymous six song EP in 1983, Ratt released their breakthrough album Out of the Cellar on Atlantic Records in 1984, and it went multi-platinum. After releasing one gold and four platinum albums, Pearcy left the band in February 1992. Pearcy and former Cinderella drummer Fred Coury formed the band Arcade in 1992. Arcade released a self-titled album in 1993 and another album the following year. In 1996, Pearcy dabbled with an industrial metal band called Vertex (with Megadeth's Al Pitrelli and drummer / electronic producer Hiro Kuretani). Pearcy reunited with Ratt in 1996, only to leave the band for a second time in 2000 on the eve of a tour due to differences over financial allocation amongst band members.

Recent efforts

On December 1, 2006 the website "Metal Sludge" reported that Pearcy and Juan Croucier might re-unite with Blotzer and Warren DeMartini and will thus, Robbie Crane and stated that John Corabi will most likely stay with the group.[3]

On May 3, 2011, Pearcy announced Suckerpunch as the title of his new solo album. The CD's first single, "Don't Want To Talk About" was released digitally via iTunes that same day. Pearcy will hit the road in June 2011 as part of the "Metal in America" tour with his new solo band. The new line up consists of drummer Greg D'Angelo (ex-White Lion, Anthrax), guitarist Greg Walls (ex-Anthrax), bassist Mike Duda (W.A.S.P.), and guitarist Erik Ferentinos (Antidivision; signed to Pearcy's Top Fuel Records).[4] On April 24, 2014, it was announced that Pearcy had quit Ratt.[5]

Personal life

Pearcy married American model Melissa Pearcy in 1999. The couple has one daughter, Jewel, born July 25.[6] The family currently lives in Los Angeles, California.[7]

Stephen Pearcy Band members

  • Stephen Pearcy – lead vocals, guitar (2000–present)
  • Erik Ferentinos – guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
  • Matt Thorne – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2005, 2013–present)
  • Greg D'Angelo – drums (2011–present)
  • Chris Hager – guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
Former
  • George Lynch – guitar (2005; recording only)
  • Tracii Guns – guitar (2005; recording only)
  • Mark Zavon – guitar (2005; recording only)
  • Keri Kelli – guitar (2005; recording only)
  • Troy Johnson – bass, backing vocals (2005–2011)
  • Rich Contadino – drums (2005; recording only)
  • Todd Roberson – drums (2005; recording only)
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals (2005, 2011–2013)
  • Juan Croucier – bass, backing vocals (2006; live guest)
  • Bobby Blotzer – drums (2006, 2012; live guest)
  • Joaquin Revuelta – drums (2011–2012)
  • Greg Walls – guitar, backing vocals (2011–2013)

Discography

With Year Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
Ratt 1983 Ratt Time Coast / Atlantic 133 300,000
1984 Out of the Cellar Atlantic 7 3 million
1985 Invasion of Your Privacy 7 2 million
1986 Dancing Undercover 26 Platinum+
1988 Reach for the Sky 17 Platinum+
1990 Detonator 23 Gold+
1991 Ratt & Roll 81-91 57 Gold
Arcade 1993 Arcade Epic 133 100,000+
1994 A/2 20,000+
Vicious Delite 1995 Vicious Delite Top Fuel Records
Vertex 1996 Vertex Blue Dolphin
Ratt 1997 Collage RATT Records
1999 Ratt Portrait Records 169 Estimated 200,000 worldwide
Nitronic 2000 D.O.A. Live 2000 Top Fuel Records
Solo 2002 Social Intercourse
2006 Fueler Top Fuel Records / Cleopatra Records
Stripped Sidewinder Records
2008 Under My Skin Top Fuel Records / Airline Records
Ratt 2010 Infestation Loud & Proud / Roadrunner Records 30 50,000+
Solo 2011 Suckerpunch Top Fuel Records

References

External links

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