Warren DeMartini and Carlos Cavazo discuss Ratt's history, gear and show you how to play "Way Cool Jr." and "Eat Me Alive." For the rest of this interview and lesson check out guitarworld.com
Underrated? No one who knows anything about guitar considers him underrated. He's always been considered one of the best. Maybe the word you chose is not the correct way to describe him. Perhaps he should be more popular or get more recognition than he does, but even then he's so well thought of
WD is such an under-rated player! He's written some great solos and riffs. Funny how all these new bands today can't even play 1 riff as memorable as some of Ratt's songs.
I think Cavazo is way more underrated. Dude is has been a beast in my head since the first time I heard battle axe from Quiet Riot when I was 3 years old. I remember it very clearly because my parents were hillbilly rich when my grandma passed and they had bought this massive Kenwood stereo system and my brother and I were just so excited about the new thing that was one thing, but in came in a bunch of boxes, that really wasn't one thing. The first thing dad put in the cassette player was this tape and It was just insane to hear music at that volume for the first time. That day and that album are what started me on a lifelong obsesssion with learning to play instruments....all of them.
Absolutely. Carlos is a Top Shelf Guitarist. I hope they can find a good replacement for Pearcy and keep this lineup. Warren & Carlos had some good stuff on Infestation.
Dobie Egan I came here to listen to Warren play, and walked away impressed with Carlos. I thought his leads were pretty tasty here, and I was a little surprised about that. Not that I ever thought he was bad… I just remember his guitar solos back in the 80s as being a little mechanical sounding as opposed to lots of feel, if that makes sense
absolutely and definitely down to earth, hung out with him after the show in KCMO in 83 at the holiday inn, He was so approachable and answered any question I put to him from the band to guitar techniques. One of the most memorable times in my life.
I met Ratt backstage at their last concert ever in Phoenix. All cool guys, and Warren was really down to earth. Got to chat with just him for maybe 15 minutes or so, but it was a real, real, honor. Always one of my heros, up there with Lynch. Good times.
I've met Carlos a few times over the years. A massive talent that is so laid back and fan accessible. The first time I met Carlos, on the "Terrified" tour, he let me ride his skate board and we tossed a Nerf football around in the club's parking lot.
I love these two together.. But has anyone else thought it weird that Carlos replaced Randy Rhoads in QR. Warren replaced Jake E. Lee in Ratt and Jake replaced Randy Rhoads in Ozzy.. anyone else think this world is crazy?
Nope , not crazy . I watch enough sports to know that very talented people " switch teams " at times. Musicians know more about each other than the basic fan could ever realize.
I saw Ratt open for MSG back in the late 80's, also saw them play Magic Mountain with Great White. Ratt always rocked it! Oh I forgot- I had my 1983 White 50 watt Marshall modified at Guitar Trader by the same guy who did Warren's, who I saw there a couple times. He was always nice to people.
2:38 in--Who would have thought that Zappa AND Ratt would be referenced in the same sentence? Amazing. Even after all these years of playing guitar ( and learning Ratt songs on guitar ) I still learn something new everyday. Even from a tune over 20 years ago. LOVE Warren ( and Carlos!! ).
I stood right in front of Carlos at a show here in Nashville at The Outer Limits ( no longer) . Dude you killed it. I was blown away and I play. I loved your volume. LOUD. I will never forget that.
Killer video. Warren and Carlos compliment each other well going back and forth on rhythm and lead. Hope to see them both back in Ratt one more time for a tour and one more album!
Invasion of Your Privacy is one of my most favorite albums of all time. I still listen to it all the time. Every song on that release is absolutely epic.
Man, I have always loved Warren DeMartini's lead / solo playing. I've been playing guitar as long as he has and it's never escaped my attention and acknowledgement that he has own thing going on. He's got that odd 4 note per string passage thing going on. Who does that? I mean, we all do, but in most our worlds, it's a punctuated phrasing thing that we can't ever seem get to sound worth a fuck because on playback it sounds like we either missed a note or broke a string. Warren connects it all together seamlessly with his outstanding and wide vibrato. But for it to work, you really need to actually play a wrong note and bend it into key. It's doable, but along with sense of melody no one has incorporated that into their technique / style. I mean, who here hasn't learned a Ratt song and a some juncture have to ask themselves, " What the fuck's going on here? " Anyway, love his stuff, and very glad he's made it his own. Withstanding the test of time only has only further solidified the effectiveness of that bat-shit-crazy thing's he does on guitar....
Carlos shreds on guitar. I've always loved his playing. I wish they would let him loose on guitar more. I think a lot of people don't realize how badass this dude is!
Carlos has always been such an underrated guitarist. Such a soft spoken guy was always under the radar. US festival QR was a head turner for him he smoked that show up
Don't ever under estimate these interviews because they are spectacular. I love these kinds of things. I know they are supposed to be mostly for guitar players (which I'm still learning.....not there) but are great for anyone. Such happy songs from Ratt and such an original sounds that there will never be another, so thank you so much for all of this. So cool ...THAT's A FACT!!! Class act!! xoxox
Demartini and Cavazo together in Ratt. Doug Aldrich(formerly, I guess it's Joel Hoekstra now) and Reb Beach together in Whitesnake. I love this trend of 80s metal bands taking a cue from Priest and stacking killer lead guitarists.
these two cats are insane guitarists. a lot of the 70's & 80's bands have insane guitarists. I'm not a fan of poison but there guitarist is insane as well & Billy Idols guitarist as well,the list goes on. today's guitarists are very limited when it comes to main stream guitarists.
+Sudsy Sutherland Well, I wouldn't call CC DeVille (Poison) "insane", but if you dig his playing, that's cool. Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) is an extremely talented guitarist/songwriter, agreed. As far as your thought on today's young crop of players, I vehemently disagree. The virtuosity displayed by a great many is staggering. New school hard rock and metal is saturated with some awe-inspiring instrumentalists.
Carlos is a personal favourite of mine. Seen him with Ratt in Calgary and got a pick he played that night. Underrated player and song writer and totally cool stage presence. Great down to earth guy. Will go see Carlos anytime he is in Alberta! Any one have tab for the parts Carlos is playing on this video?
I knew this song was an instant classic first moment I heard it. Then again, I raced my car to the record store to buy the first RATT EP when I heard you think you’re tough. I knew where they were heading for the very start bravo guys.
Warren you got a great guitar player which I’m sure you know. I’ve been listening too Ratt for years. Since 84. Carlos I’ve for some reason woke up singing Bang your Head. I’ve been wearing that video out. Ah the good ol days. I was 12, 13 at the time lol now 47.
Ratt hit it big when I was like a Jr in highschool, no doubt about it Warren is a guitar 🎸 God one of my favorite guitarist. In my mid 50's now still love Ratt and àllways will, these two together sound awesome. Peace......
Lay it down is a killer riff. When I heard that as a kid, and the rest of the band kicking in, it blew me away. I remember buying the cassette and the hot chick on the cover. Bonus!! Hahaha
I saw Ratt perform this in Victoria,TX on 07/07/07 it was great..and thanks Warren for explaining in detail one of the greatest song's outta so many the band wrote...it was a pleasure to meet you and the band through mutual friends in Houston TX .
Two of the most underrated guitarist in hard rock heavy metal in my opinion. Definitely Carlos cavazo. He is one of my favorite all-time guitarist. Whatever he does in a band that's cool as hell with me
Love to see Carlos in Ratt. Does anybody know are they still together? All his stuff with QR is killer. I'd almost say it's more aggressive than bluesy than that of Warren's sound. Awesome.
I like that I can change the balance on my computer to mute either guitar in this video, just like I used to do when playing along with my guitar on Out of the Cellar in the 80s.
They have great chemistry! I saw Ratt in Vegas back in 2009 when Carlos and Warren were on stage together. The band is definitely not the same without Warren.
DeMartini is a great player. He writes some tasty, catchy stuff. Not a huge fan of Cavazo's tone when he was with QR, but I respect that he had to fill Rhode's shoes. Not an easy gig.
4:20.....yep. Brings back killer memories of all the great times these guys and their respective bands played a part in. Chokeu2...cheers! I hope these guys keep rockin for many many years to come.
Both would tell you Randy is UnReplaceable just like George Lynch said when he got the very first call from Ozzy very shortly after Randy's death and He turned Ozzy down because of it
I always loved that Charvel guitar design. A mistranslation of “Too fast to live, too young to die.” It should be “Trop vite pour vivre, trop jeune pour mourir.” Still has that 1793 French graffiti down-packed. Should have drawn a guillotine blade and topless Lady Liberty waving her flag (just in case you’re thinking of getting a tattoo like that).
He's only the rhythm guitarist on one album by Ratt. The rest of his career he was the lead player for Quiet Riot. He's solid, but doesn't stand out from the rest of the pack to me. Seems like a great guy.
I love these two together.. But has anyone else thought it weird that Carlos replaced Randy Rhoads in QR. Warren replaced Jake E. Lee in Ratt and Jake replaced Randy Rhoads in Ozzy.. anyone else think this world is crazy?
I remember hearing this song as a kid and thinking it was just nasty af. The attitude of the guitar and bass together just gave this song such soul. A great song then and still is over 30 years later.
im 44 , played guitar all my life, listenin to ratt since its inception and am still amazed at how much warren sounds like joe perry on steroids!!!! Ive always loved his playing. Nice and tight. Carlos shreddin to.
Saw Ratt before they even recorded their EP... they were playing in the dinkiest clubs in Orange County ... Rock City was one of them and another club in the same strip mall in Fullerton cant recall the name .... [Edit:] It was the Woodstock Concert Club. I think Juan was playing in Dokken simultaneously. Saw post the Rhoads Quiet Riot at Roxy and ironically at Magic Mountain just before they played the Us Festival... saw them there too...
