Robbin Crosby

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Robbin Crosby (August 4, 1959 – June 6, 2002), born Robbinson Lantz Crosby and nicknamed "The King" was the former lead guitarist in the glam metal band Ratt, who had several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid to late 1980s.

Robbin Crosby's guitar playing was largely influenced by guitar hero Jimi Hendrix. He joined Ratt in 1982 as the co-lead guitarist alongside noted shredder Warren DeMartini.

The hulking blond guitarist was quite a sight on stage with his Jackson King V guitars, the style he preferred. He would also put a red rose on the end of his guitar because, "I thought the chicks would dig it". He requested six red roses on the item list of the tour rider.

Albums (with Ratt):

• Ratt EP 1983
• Out of the Cellar 1984
• Invasion of Your Privacy 1985
• Dancing Undercover 1986
• Reach for the Sky 1988
• Detonator 1990

[edit] History

Not much is known about Robbin's personal life. He was born in La Jolla, California, and he had two sisters. There are rumors that Robbin was related to Bing Crosby, he even said this himself, but the rumors were never proven. Robbin was 6'6" tall, and weighed around 245 pounds at his healthiest.

He joined Ratt in 1982 and made a major songwriting contribution to the band, penning many of Ratt's hits including "Round and Round", "I'm Insane", "Back for More" and "Lay it Down". However, co-lead guitarist Warren DeMartini played more lead guitar in the band and wrote and recorded most of the guitar solos and riffs. This eventually made Ratt one the biggest rock acts in the mid-1980's. It, consequently launched Robbin into depression, which then resulted in his drug addiction (partly in order to deal with that depression.)

Eventually he bought a nice house in the Los Angeles area in which he proudly displayed his platinum albums, he bought a few cars including a 1979 Ferrari Dino. He dated Tawny Kitaen and Apollonia Kotero and eventually married Playboy Playmate Laurie Carr in 1987. They had no children. He had a reputation for the "rock and roll lifestyle" during Ratt's heyday, and he was a habitual heroin user for some time, allegedly it was Nikki Sixx who introduced him to the drug in Ratt's earlier days.

Interviewers in the 80's almost always mentioned that Robbin was a sweet person and a true gentleman who gave thoughful interviews. Things rarely mentioned about his peers in the business. There's footage on Ratt:The Video that shows the rest of the members running through crowds to the limo giving a wave on the way but Robbin would take the time to shake his fans hands, sign autographs and accept gifts which showed that he truly loved his fans.

By 1990, The pressure of fame and living the "sinful rock and roll lifestyle" finally got to him and Crosby's use of heroin and other drugs began taking over his life. There would be shows where he literally couldn't play. Due to the shame he had placed on his band and himself, he left Ratt. Later, Crosby worked as a producer for fellow metal band Lillian Axe, but always felt a feeling of guilt for wounding his real pride, Ratt.

Eventually he lost everything; his wife, his house and cars along with his place in Ratt. Between his habit and his divorce the millions he acquired in Ratt all went down the drain. In addition, it is often said that Crosby's habbits eventually sent Ratt into a deadly spin that would never be fully recovered from.

In 2001, Robbin Crosby publicly admitted that he had full-blown AIDS. He had been in and out of the hospital for eight years dealing with back problems and health issues associated with the aids virus.

Things began to look up for him. He tried to work on musical projects including one with ex-Ratt bassist Juan Croucier but relasped on heroin after moving a friend from his past, who was still using, in to his new apartment. Robbin was generous to a fault and couldn't let his friend end up on the street even though it was risky to have that influence around him again. Crosby died of a heroin overdose (not of AIDS as often believed) in Los Angeles on June 6, 2002, two months prior to his 43rd birthday.

At the time of his death Crosby had also changed physically, due to a pancreatic condition that changed his metabolism, the once handsome blonde guitarist gained signifigant weight since his '80s glam heyday. He was quoted as saying in an interview just before his death:

"Apparently my pancreas has given up and I'm not metabolizing food the way I should. It's real frustrating.... I have a roommate that probably weighs 150 lbs. and he eats a lot more than I do. It's not like I'm a pig or a slob."

In a 1999 interview that was first televised in 2006, Robbin stated:

"When I die, nobody cry at my funeral, in fact let's all have a party, I lived all my dreams and more."

In his rock and roll style, Crosby peacefully passed away June 6, 2002; not due to his body's ailments, but due to to a lethal dose of heroin.

According to an autopsy report after his death, Crosby weighed over 400 pounds.^[1]

Robbin's remains were cremated. The memorial was at WindanSea Beach in La Jolla CA, friends and family on surfboards spread his ashes out at sea.

[edit] References

1. ^ VH1 Article on Robbin Crosby's Death