It Happened Again: Stephen Pearcy Edition

I post this to not make fun of Stephen Pearcy. Rather, I want to bring into focus the crisis of addiction in America. It's a problem that politicians like to talk about once in awhile and then seemingly do nothing about... and for a lot of communities, problems with opioids, heroin and fentanyl are only getting worse.

I believe Stephen Pearcy has a bad knee and needs surgery. You can tell by the way he walks around stage - he is stiff. That happens after jumping around on stage, night after night, for 30 years or so. Just ask Prince. Except, you can't because he died of an overdose too, trying to mask the pain of a bad hip. Same story with Tom Petty.

Maybe fans put too much pressure on their idols to keep performing at the same level forever. It just isn't possible. Something goes: looks, voice, a hip or a knee. Or all of it. Then these musicians we say we love struggle to keep up and they get mocked, mercilessly, by the very people who profess to idolize them. It's an odd circle, isn't it? Keep in mind, you likely won't be able to do your job forever, either. Someone younger, faster and cheaper will come behind you and be the "best new thing." It happens in every industry, not just music. That's probably another reason we get a million stories of "economic anxiety" despite a robust economy and subreddits full of young people bemoaning "their lost generation."

By and large, a lot of things suck in the world today. But there's still more good than bad. I hope Pearcy finds the help he needs and that his "new breed" of RATT will stop enabling him and shove him toward rehab. Yeah, the "new breed" isn't making any money when not playing live, but doing shows like this is no way to earn a check: it's akin to theft from fans and it's pushing Pearcy one step closer to the edge.

STEPHEN PEARCY Was 'Stumbling' And 'Couldn't Remember The Words' During RATT's Concert In St. Charles (Video) https://t.co/CpTQNfqcIb pic.twitter.com/Oc9WKXwQwM

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) October 6, 2018

Comments

[fletch]

"Then these musicians we say we love struggle to keep up and they get mocked, mercilessly, by the very people who profess to idolize them. It's an odd circle, isn't it?" -Allyson


Well stated.

[Bob]

Very well-stated Allyson. pearcy's opioid addiction is bad enough, and certainly not unique to him given our government's warped sense of what should be legal and what shouldn't, but he also clearly has a problem with alcohol that makes his situation worse. I can personally attest to the fact that alcohol does not make a musician a better performer, and when you mix that with opioids, it's a recipe for disaster. Pearcy really needs to get off the road and work on drying out.

[Gary]

I’ll say it again. Dude, you’ve been down this road before. You know what’s coming. I know from personal experience what detoxing from years of daily opiate abuse (percoset and Vicodin being my personal hell), as do you. You know what? It beats dying, which is where he’s headed. A Body will only take so much. I gotta think Pearcy’s has to be close to cashing in after all these years of partying every night like you’re headed to the electric chair the following morning. Hope he gets his shit together before it’s too late.

[Jimbo/Spyke]

Very well said.The band DOES need to stop and send Stephen to get some professional help.The band needs to look at whats best for Stephen NOT for the band or the paycheck. Seems the money is more important than Stephens issue.Why do I think the 3 hired guns are maybe trying to intervene but getting blocked by one ratt?

[crued]

pearcy needs help..we get it. who lets him go onstage? this is a quick hijack.. HIm said its always nice to hear about new music and i got some for him... I think I'm first to post this.. it's not out yet but its awesome! just be on the look-out HIM....heres the write-up for it "Original Human Music", the first album from ULTRAPHONIX, the new band created by Corey Glover (Living Colour vocalist) and George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), alongside the great rhythm section formed by drummer Chris Moore and Pancho Tomaselli on bass, is without a doubt one of the best debuts of the year.

[crued]

Wish i could give all you guys thumbs up for your comments but all of you are dead on!

[Bob]

Crued, Ultraphonix is indeed tasty. While the CD comes out at the end of the week I think, the digital download was released about a month ago, although one of the tracks was corrupt. You are dead on, I think people will be very surprised at how good this record is.

[Neal]

The root of all the current RATT problems is Juan Courcier .... someone has to say what we are know and think ...

[Him]

Let's start high (no pun intended) . . . the new Ultraphonix stuff is pretty darn good. Great minds think alike, I guess.

Now let's go a bit low . . . Neal is half right. The problem is Croucier enabling Pearcy so as to enjoy a bit of time in the dim light of this last gasp of RATT. The first instance was evidence of that when Croucier made Pearcy's behavior into a tale of struggling to overcome adversity . . . for the fans. No, you could have pulled the plug on that show. And this one. You could have been the adult in the room, because Pearcy clearly never has been.

And all the poignant and heartfelt comments about addiction had me thinking (because you are all right): I hope, somewhere, in spite of all that has transpired, Blotz and DeMartini (even perhaps other former members) find a way to reach out and say: "Enough. None of the **** we have put each other through is worth another death in the RATT family. Get yourself together. This happened once. It doesn't have to happen again."

I doubt that will happen. And, even if it did, I doubt it would make a difference. But, at a certain point, legacy and cash and making albums makes little difference if you are facing another shadow on a wall that will never be a living human again.