Stephen Pearcy, founder and frontman of Ratt, joins Billy Corgan for a conversation that swings from the near-fatal accident that first pushed him toward music to the creative vision that shaped Ratt’s distinctive sound alongside guitarist Robbin Crosby. They trace Pearcy’s all-out hustle through the LA club circuit, following Van Halen’s blueprint while drawing from unexpected influences like David Bowie, Blue Öyster Cult, and Adam Ant—elements that gave Ratt a melodic edge that set them apart from their metal contemporaries. Pearcy speaks candidly about internal fractures, the business decisions that changed everything, why he believes Ratt was uniquely positioned to survive the grunge era and what it means to be an OG of the ’80s scene still driven to perform decades later.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices