by Ed Rivadavia

Ratt emerged from the early-'80s pop-metal scene combining the prevalent Van Halen and Aerosmith elements with the staccato guitar-picking style of Judas Priest. After a well-received, self-titled independent EP, the band signed with Atlantic Records in 1984 and recorded what would be its most successful album, Out of the Cellar. Scoring a huge radio and MTV hit with "Round and Round," the record was very consistent and also spawned minor hits with "Wanted Man," "Back for More," and the excellent "I'm Insane."