Stephen Pearcy on Ratt's Rise to Fame in the 1980s Rock Scene

Stephen Pearcy, founder and lead singer of the rock band Ratt, was at the forefront of the group during its rise to fame in the 1980s hair metal scene.

Ratt's 1984 debut album, "Out of the Cellar," and its hit single "Round and Round" propelled the band to prominence. However, by the early 1990s, the group had begun to unravel.

During a recent interview on Billy Corgan's "The Magnificent Others" podcast, Pearcy reflected on his career and said he would make different choices if given the chance.

"One thousand percent I would've done it differently," Pearcy said. "When I created the band Ratt, I didn't have all the answers. I just created the thing. And there was a lot of my songs. The whole first Ratt EP is all me. I wrote the whole EP except for '[You Think You're] Tough.' I give Robbin [Crosby, guitarist] credit because he was my right-hand man."

Pearcy said the band's eventual breakup was due to internal conflicts.

"It was cool the first few years, with Robbin and me directing the madness," Pearcy said. "Because I followed the Van Halen schematic. My work ethic was, 'We're gonna kick ass. We're gonna look great. We're gonna do this.' Then it wasn't that anymore."

By 1992, Crosby was struggling with heroin addiction, and Pearcy frequently clashed with other band members over creative control. Ratt disbanded, though drummer Bobby Blotzer and guitarist Warren DeMartini later continued with other musicians.

"When you start wanting to do things against the grain, you've got, like, mutiny on the bounty," Pearcy said. "They all went after me and then they all fell. So, you know, I'm the last man standing."

Pearcy still performs Ratt's classic material and, in recent years, has been joined onstage by DeMartini. He said he is satisfied with the band's legacy and the enduring popularity of its music.

"I'm proud of what we did," Pearcy said. "It was crazy, but it was a beautiful thing."