RATT frontman Stephen Pearcy is talking openly about his liver cancer diagnosis, after three years of keeping things close to the chest. Ultimate Classic Rock reported Pearcy has been out promoting the new film, Nothing To Lose – A Stephen Pearcy Rockumentary, which is available now on ASY TV.
During a recent chat on the Laughingmonkeymusic webcast, Pearcy shed light on his illness, saying, “Everything’s kind of copacetic now. I’m on a ritual and monitoring things. I don’t know why I’m still here, but, look, I’m appreciating every day and minute above ground here, because all of our peers are seemingly disappearing. And it’s such a drag. But it’s under control.”
He explained why he never went public about the diagnosis until now: “I never wanted to bring it up until I really started feeling guilty about it. It’s a little personal to me, but I felt it was time to share it.”
Pearcy was asked how he came to realize he had cancer: “How I found out is just through a blood test. I had hepatitis. Well, then, getting another checkup, I found out, ‘By the way, you’ve got a bit of cancer thing going there. We’ve gotta get in there.’ Then your whole world changes. Still, I didn’t feel like it needed to be out there until I started feeling guilty. Like, ‘Wow, man, I can help some people.’ Get blood tests. Take care of yourself.”
FAST FACTS
- RATT is best remembered for its string of hair metal classics, including their biggest hit — the Top 12 single, “Round And Round,” followed by such favorites as “Wanted Man,” “Lay It Down,” “You’re In Love,” “Dance,” and “Way Cool, Jr.”
CHECK IT OUT: The trailer for Nothing To Lose – A Stephen Pearcy Rockumentary: