ROBERT MASON was in and out of RATT before he ever played a show with the band. Apparently, the band he's currently with, SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, threatened to quit if he left to tour with RATT, and booked studio time conflicted with the tour dates. So JIZZY PEARL, one of the singers who'd auditioned for the gig, was called in, and Ratt is currently rehearsing for a tour with WARRANT and L.A. GUNS that starts at Los Angeles' House of Blues on July 21. "We're doing five weeks, and maybe another three weeks after that," says drummer BOBBY BLOTZER. Ironists will appreciate the fact that Pearl briefly sang with L.A. Guns, which will now be opening for him, but according to Blotzer, neither Pearl nor TRACII GUNS have a problem with that. Now the problem is finding a guitarist to replace KERI KELLI, who joined SLASH's SNAKEPIT. "I'm bummed, but I wish him the best," says Blotzer, who is "stoked we're going out. I think it will be cool."
Speaking of RATT... BOBBY BLOTZER and ROBBIE CRANE have teamed up with JANI LANE and KERRI KELLI to form a side project called PHUCK IT. Also, STEPHEN PEARCY, former lead singer for RATT, recently turned 41. He's currently out on the road with his new band, NITRONIC.
DESTRUCTION begins a U.S. tour to support All Hell Breaks Loose on July 20 in Salisburty Beach, Massachusetts. The 13 city jaunt runs through August 9 in Houston, Texas, with KATAKLYSM in support.
PANTERA have enlisted the help of Kira Kener and others from Vivid Video's stable of adult entertainment starlets to spice up in-store appearances during their stint on Ozzfest. The mid-summer rock n' erotic fusion is the perfect extension for the band, whose drummer, VINNIE PAUL, owns the infamous all-nude Clubhouse in Dallas, TX. Pantera will indulge some of their other passions while out on the road as well with additional cross-promotional activities including the chance to play golf with the band and a chance to play Sega against Vinnie Paul on the jumbotron at Ozzfest at certain dates on the tour. After Ozzfest, the band will headline tours in South America in September and the U.S. in November and December. October, as always, is reserved for lead singer, Philip Anselmo's annual New Orleans frightfest, the House Of Shock.
