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Robbin Crosby
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Crosby in the music video for Ratt's "Wanted Man" (1985)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robbinson Lantz Crosby |
| Also known as | King |
| Born | (1959-08-04)August 4, 1959 La Jolla, California, U.S. |
| Died | June 6, 2002(2002-06-06) (aged 42) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1977–c. 2002 |
| Formerly of | Ratt, Jon Bon Jovi, Secret Service, MacMeda, Metropolis, Phenomenon |
Robbinson Lantz Crosby (August 4, 1959 – June 6, 2002) was an American guitarist who was a member of glam metal band Ratt, earning several platinum albums in the US in the 1980s. Crosby died in 2002 from a heroin overdose.
Crosby was born in La Jolla, California, and had two sisters, Ristin and Bronle. Robbin attended Bird Rock Elementary, Muirlands Junior High and La Jolla High School, graduating in June 1976.[1] He previously played baseball prior to shifting his focus to the guitar. He was the son of Harry W. Crosby, a science schoolteacher at La Jolla High and an author of books about California history.[2]
In the late 1970s, Crosby played in several San Diego bands. From 1977–78 he played in Phenomenon, recording a single "The Final Word," which was written by Crosby. It was released in 1980.[3] Phenomenon also featured future Warrior member Parramore McCarty.[4] While playing with Phenomenon, he took lessons from Thom Beebe, described as "a monster player in the Blackmore vein."[5] After Phenomenon folded, Crosby and the drummer from Phenomenon began playing with Metropolis from 1978–1979, playing popular Judas Priest and Robin Trower songs on the La Jolla Beach Circuit[clarification needed].[5][6] Metropolis didn't last long, and, in 1979, Crosby teamed up with former members of Phenomenon and Metropolis to create a new band, Secret Service.[7] Crosby moved to Manhattan Beach, California, in 1979, living with his girlfriend Tawny Kitaen.[8] The band was short lived and, in 1980, Crosby was in a band Aircraft.[9] The same year he also recorded a live demo with the band Aircraft, which also featured Rob Lamothe, later in Riverdogs with Dio/Whitesnake/Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell.[10] In 1981, Aircraft changed its name to Mac Meda,[11] which Crosby's brother-in-law managed.[12] They recorded six songs on Vulture record label sometime in 1981,[13] but the songs didn't help them launch a career. However, the move to the Los Angeles area provided Mac Meda with access to a vibrant club scene, which they soon became a part of, even playing the famed Troubadour (West Hollywood, California) on May 7, 1981.[14]
Crosby was one of the original members of the San Diego rock band Mickey Ratt, later to be rechristened simply Ratt. He would end up co-writing many of Ratt's songs, including "Round and Round", "Wanted Man" and "Lay It Down". The album Out of the Cellar went to triple platinum based on "Round and Round".[15]
Crosby was dating actress Tawny Kitaen at the time he joined Ratt, and she appears on the album covers of both the Ratt EP (1983) and Out of the Cellar (1984). Crosby and Kitaen broke up in 1984 after a six-year relationship.[16]
In the coming years, Crosby would buy a home in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. He married Playboy Playmate Laurie Carr in 1987; they divorced in 1991. They had no children.
Crosby's solos were blues-based, as he drew inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, which gave Ratt melodic flavours.[17] His style was at odds with shredding style of fellow Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini, but their two styles also complemented each other, differentiating Ratt from other west coast glam rock bands. Feeling "overshadowed" by DeMartini, Crosby began "self-medicating with drugs and alcohol," which led to a crippling heroin addiction.[17]
As Ratt stepped in[clarification needed] the studio in 1990, Crosby entered rehab.[17] According to Crosby's brother-in-law, the guitarist was also addicted to cocaine and "other stuff" and was repeatedly in and out of rehab.[18]
Crosby eventually left Ratt. Prior to leaving, Crosby worked as a producer for metal band Lillian Axe.
In a June 1999 interview for a Ratt episode of VH1's Behind the Music, Crosby talked about how drug addiction and his HIV status changed his life. "What has drug addiction done for me?" he asked. "It's cost me my career, my fortune, basically my sex life when I found out I was HIV positive."[19]
In 2001, Crosby publicly stated that he had AIDS and had been HIV-positive since 1994. He had also been in and out of the hospital for eight years dealing with back problems and health issues associated with HIV. To occupy his time he became a Little League coach, and also worked on a guitar fan/collector project, which was to create a limited-edition run of Jackson King V "Big Red" replica guitars.
Crosby also attempted various musical projects, first (post-Ratt) re-uniting with Perry McCarty, Krys Baratto, Dino Guerrero and Mark Lewis as an updated version of Secret Service, a moniker used by McCarty and Crosby previously for their pre-Ratt San Diego band. Later moving to El Paso in 1996, he briefly played with the Country/Western group Bill&Kev&War Party. One of his last projects was with former collaborator and ex-Ratt bassist Juan Croucier.
Crosby died outside of a club in Minneapolis on June 6, 2002. Although his death was reported to be from complications from AIDS, he actually died of a heroin overdose (although he had also previously tested positive for HIV).[20]
His girlfriend, Lila Frasier, was questioned and subsequently arrested for supplying the narcotics.
At the time of his death, Crosby had changed physically, due to a pancreatic condition that altered his metabolism; Crosby had gained significant weight since his 1980's Ratt 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."
According to an autopsy report after his death, Crosby was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and weighed 400 pounds (180 kg).[19]
In a 1999 interview that was first televised in 2006, when Ratt's Behind the Music episode finally aired, Crosby stated, "When I die, nobody cry at my funeral, in fact let's all have a party; I've lived the life of ten men. I lived all my dreams and more."
Crosby's remains were cremated. His memorial was at Windansea BeachinLa Jolla, California; friends and family on surfboards spread his ashes out at sea.
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