PEARCY PISSES OFF THE 'OTHER' RATT

After touring Europe with ALICE COOPER and DIO, the remaining members of RATT returned home to Los Angeles to find that former frontman STEPHEN PEARCY was billing himself and his upcoming tour under the RATT moniker, something he is evidently not legally entitled to do. He's managed to thoroughly piss off his ex-bandmates Warren DeMartini and Bobby Blotzer, who do have the legal rights to tour under the name RATT.

"He doesn't have the legal right to do it, not in any way, shape or form," says DeMartini, explaining that rights to the name was signed over to the band's corporation by the members, and when Pearcy quit right before a booked tour was to start last year, "he lost the right to use it." The matter is in the hands of lawyers now, and a June 5 court date should decide the matter of Pearcy's suit against the band claiming wrongful termination as well as the use-of-name. Meanwhile, DeMartini says that there have been talks of Ratt going out on the road again, possibly with LYNCH MOB and JOHN SYKES, in September. "We're going to explore it further."