Robbin Crosby

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.

In the late 1970s, Crosby played in several San Diego bands.

Robbin attended Bird Rock Elementary, Muirlands Junior High and La Jolla High School, graduating in June of 1976.

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.

From 1977–78 he played in Phenomenon, recording a single "The Final Word," which was written by Crosby.

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 popular La Jolla Beach Circuit.

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.

Crosby moved to Manhattan Beach, California, in 1979, living with his girlfriend Tawny Kitaen.

It was released in 1980.

Phenomenon also featured future Warrior member Parramore McCarty.

While playing with Phenomenon, he took lessons from Thom Beebe, described as "a monster player in the Blackmore vein."

The band was short lived and, in 1980, Crosby was in a band Aircraft.

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.

In 1981, Aircraft changed its name to Mac Meda, which Crosby's brother-in-law managed.

They recorded six songs on Vulture record label sometime in 1981, 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.

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".

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.

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.

His style was at odds with shredding style of fellow Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini, but their two styles also complimented 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.

As Ratt stepped in the studio in 1990, Crosby entered rehab.

According to Crosby's brother-in-law and former manager with Mac Meda, the guitarist was also addicted to cocaine and "other stuff" and was repeatedly in and out of rehab.

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."

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.

Crosby died in 2002 from a heroin overdose.

Crosby was born in La Jolla, California, and had two sisters, Ristin and Bronle.