In one particularly memorable scene from The Wrestler, Mickey Rourkes Randy The Ram Robinson puts the moves on Marisa Tomeis Cassidy at a North Jersey dive bar while serenading her with RATTs Round and Round; both wax nostalgic about 80s hair metal until the Ram complains, Then that Cobain pussy had to come around and ruin it all Dunno if RATT frontman Stephen Pearcy whose face is looking almost as battered as Rourkes these days, at least judging by a recent appearance on VH-1 Classic feels the same way, but it wouldnt surprise me. In the nearly two decades since grunge dethroned hair metal, Pearcys been through a handful of RATT breakups and reunions, RATT-related lawsuits, and a largely ignored solo career, but onward he goes. Like Randy the Ram, a Pearcy comeback seems unlikely; his persistence is noble but sometimes painful to witness. Yet he can still summon the strength to wow a crowd of the faithful, however small, and hell probably die doing what he loves. Cant fault a guy for that.
Sat., March 7, 8 p.m., 2009
