(Photo Rob Hoffman via @StephenEPearcy)
CLEAR LAKE – RATT’s legendary lead singer, Stephen Pearcy, today recognized the late, great, Eddie Van Halen on his birthday, just weeks before he again rocks the Surf Ballroom.
“On this day Happy Birthday brother Eddie Van Halen,” Stephen Pearcy posted today. The master guitarist was born on January 26, 1955. He tragically passed away on October 6, 2020, after years of work with his band Van Halen.
Pearcy, pictured at top (NIT photo) as he and RATT played the Surf Ballroom back on July 26, 2013, sometimes waxes nostalgic about the glory days of the 1980s, when hair was big, neon gleamed, Ronald Reagan was President, Miami Vice was the best show on TV and his band was near the top of the rock and roll mountain.
“If it wasn’t for meeting Ed and seeing this new band Van Halen at The Whisky A Go back in 1978, there might not have been a RATT,” Pearcy lamented.
“Or it might have taken me longer to hit the scene about to explode on the Sunset Strip 80’s. So many stories yet to tell,” the legendary singer continued. They exploded on the scene with 1984’s Out of the Cellar and continued to rocket to success with Invasion of Your Privacy in 1985.
“I was one of the lucky few to be considered a friend, that’s a blessing,” Pearcy wrote to his late friend today. “You changed the game, and the world of guitar playing forever. Everybody I told about VH before I moved back to L.A (back to) didn’t believe me until the first album and tour went through San Diego in 78. Then all hell broke lose. Especially when I’d take a friend or two up to the Pasadena house to trade gear, etc. Oh and btw, I did get my wish, to have my band RATT open a show for VH. I never pushed the subject, but knew it would happen one day.
“God bless brother, always an experience.”
Pearcy will be back in Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom on Saturday, February 22 at 8 PM. Tickets are $30.