Name Dispute Exterminates Ratt Show

Recent developments regarding the naming rights for Ratt prevented an iteration of the band that currently uses the marks from taking the stage Dec. 29 in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Bobby Blotzer, the original drummer of the band and who claims ownership over the name, was scheduled to perform with his version of Ratt at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.

The day of the performance, though, the venue issued a statement on its Facebook page that it had received a cease and desist order from the band’s other original members, Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Juan Croucier.

“After careful review, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has concluded that it cannot proceed with the performance of Mr. Blotzer due to the current legal dispute over the RATT band trademark,” the statement read. “Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort looks forward to booking RATT on a later date if and when the dispute regarding the trademark is resolved.”

– Ratt

For its part, Blotzer’s Ratt claimed it chose to not participate in the gig.

“Soaring Eagle Casino dictated it would not allow RATT to perform unless Soaring Eagle Casino was allowed to take control over the performance and presentation of RATT’s show for its fans. This was a violation of the contract signed by Soaring Eagle Casino,” Blotzer’s Ratt wrote on the band’s Facebook page. “Because of RATT’s artistic integrity and demand to bring the fans the best show possible, RATT could not allow Soaring Eagle Casino to control the presentation of RATT’s performance.”

Co-headliner Night Ranger still played its set as planned. There have been numerous legal conflicts surrounding use of the name in recent years. The latest development in the saga was when a California judge ruled Blotzer’s claim on the copyright to the name is invalid because the original partnership stipulated that ownership could only be transferred with knowledge and consent of all five original members.

Original guitarist Robbin Crosby died in 2002. As Croucier was not a participant in the 1997 negotiations where the rights were allegedly transferred to WBS, Inc., which is 50 percent owned by Blotzer, the judge said the deal was illegitimate. Croucier has toured as Ratt’s Juan Croucier.

The non-Blotzer trio of original members performed without a name on the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in October. Blotzer has publicly stated they have no right to perform under the name Ratt, but the three said in a press release Nov. 29, after the judge’s ruling, that they were expelling Blotzer from the partnership and could he could only refer to himself as a former member moving forward.

Perhaps everything is best summed up by Blotzer’s attorney, Drew Sherman, who Blabbermouth reported as saying, “It’s a long time before this is done. We’re not even at the appeals part yet.”