Stephen Pearcy confirms his 4th solo album

Former Ratt singer Stephen Pearcy has confirmed his fourth solo album, Smash, will be released early next year.

It’s to be headed up with the launch of a single called I Can’t Take It, expected before the end of the month.

Pearcy and his band the Rat Bastards wrote 25 songs before choosing which ones to track. He recently said: “Until I have the best to pick from I won’t put the record out. The songs we have are so good we had no choice but to record as many as possible.”

The vocalist quit Ratt in April and later said: “30 years is enough time to be in something that’s so volatile.” But he added that he’d return to make one more album if his former colleagues agreed. “If it’s the four original guys, that would be cool,” he said. “If not, you’ll get what you got before. We’ll see.”

Drummer Bobby Blotzer reacted to Pearcy’s departure earlier this year by accusing him of being “delusional” – but added that he’d welcome “the nice Stephen” back into the fold.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.