Ratt n Roll is back with the release of Infestation.
Anybody that knows me knows just how much of a hair metal dork I am. You can routinely find me listening to Hair Nation on Sirius most weekends, followed by healthy doses of “Metal Mania” on VH1 Classic. So, it was a no-brainer for me when I received the request to interview one of the titans of the 80s Sunset Strip scene, Ratt. Ratt is out with their first album since 1999, Infestation, and it doesn’t try and keep up with trends or anything- it is tried and true “Ratt ‘n Roll.”
Before their show at the unbelievably sweltering Harpo’s, in which the band played a awesome 75-minute hit filled set, I had a chance to interview guitarist Warren DiMartini. The inner 14-year-old inside of me was completely geeking out to songs like “Back For More” and “Lay It Down” and enjoyed every second of it. Warren and I discussed the mindset with the new album and the guitarists he looked to for inspiration. Here’s my interview with Warren:
MyCityBuzz: What was the mindset going into recording Infestation?
Warren DiMartini: We loosely wanted to revisit the idea and sound of the music that would have come out sometime between the albums Out of the Cellar and Invasion Of Your Privacy. It was to show where our heads were at around ’84 or ’85 and then didn’t want to sit there and work on things for too long- like we did then. We really went for a gut instinct on a lot of the songs and not spend too long over-thinking the songs.
MCB: How do you feel this recording process was different than the process for the self-titled album in 1999?
WD: In ’99, we were exploring a lot of other styles and exploring the idea of the album more. We spent a lot more time of demos and rewrites back then versus now. So, I think that was the major difference this time around.
MCB: What sort of new lyrics and topics showed up on Infestation that didn’t show up on previous albums?
WD: Every time we get together and create new material, there’s always a different element to it- so it’s hard to compare one album versus another. I think stylistically we were going in with a different energy than in the past- so I think that was the only real premeditated option we had going in. We wanted to keep the music very up-tempo, very bright, something that had a continuity from beginning to end.
MCB: How did the band decide on Carlos Cavazo (ex-Quiet Riot) as the band’s new guitarist?
WD: I guess about 3 or 4 years ago, we were gonna get close to a situation where we thought we were gonna have to replace someone. It was back then that I thought about approaching Carlos, but we ended up not doing anything at the time and it just kinda blew over. 2 or 3 years went by, and I still had in my head about the idea about getting Carlos. We’re not a band who liked a lot of member changes, because I think it makes the musicianship better if you’ve played with the same guys for a while. But sometimes, you have no other choice and in this situation- Carlos was the first guy I called.
MCB: As a guitarist- who did you idolize in the past and who did you admire as guitarist back then and now?
WD: I always looked at bands like the Scorpions, UFO, definitely Van Halen- those kinda groups were what I was listening to when I joined Ratt. Those are the bands I looked up to coming up. There are plenty more, but that’s the short list.
MCB: The band has done some of the cruises, such as the Motley Cruise. Does the band have anymore of those planned?
WD: We have nothing at the moment, but that’s just because we haven’t booked any. But having said that, we had a really good time on them and definitely would consider doing one again.
Ratt continues their Infestation tour through the rest of the year. For more dates and band info, check out www.therattpack.com. Their brand new album, Infestation, is out now on Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records.
