RATT Drummer 'Exhausted' With 'Unreasonable' Bandmates, Excited About Touring With QUEENSRŸCHE

Drummer Bobby Blotzer (pictured below) says that he is "exhausted" dealing with his RATT bandmates and insists that he is "very excited" about his new gig as a member of the singer Geoff Tate's version of QUEENSRŸCHE.

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June after fronting the group for three decades, recently sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

On September 2, Tate announced that he was launching his own version of QUEENSRŸCHE with Blotzer, former QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE and WHITESNAKE bassist Rudy Sarzo and former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover. Also on board in the new group are returning QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Kelly Gray — who played with the band from 1998 until 2001 and also produced several of their albums — and keyboardist Randy Gane, who has toured and recorded with QUEENSRŸCHE and Geoff's solo group in the past.

Addressing concerns from RATT fans about that band's future, Blotzer took to his Facebook page to write, "Hey peeps, I really appreciate the loads of positive feedback about the grouping with Geoff and company. A lot of questions about the state of RATT surfacing as well. Those should be directed in the direction the usual suspects in RATT's disappearance, Warren [DeMartini, guitar] and Stephen [Pearcy]. I've exhausted myself for two years with those two. I'm sorry for all the b.s. They have fed false info to fans. Not meant to be mean, just exhausted with unreasonable people."

In a statement posted on Queensryche.com, Blotzer said about his addition to the new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup, "Geoff and QUEENSRŸCHE and RATT have a long history of touring together and I am very excited about this new project with Geoff and the guys."

Tate and his wife, Susan, QUEENSRŸCHE's former manager, filed a lawsuit against Geoff's ex-bandmates on June 22 in King County Superior Court over whether he should be awarded the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being dismissed from the group in June. Their complaint states Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson wrongfully fired the singer and are tarnishing the group's brand by attempting to move forward without him.

If the case goes to trial, the date is set for November 18, 2013.

Original RATT bassist Juan Croucier rejoined the Californian rockers for their show at the M3 Rock Festival on May 12 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

RATT's first studio record in 11 years, "Infestation", sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 30 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was issued on April 20, 2010 via Loud & Proud.