View source for Robbin Crosby

{{short description|American guitarist (1959–2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2010}}

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Robbin Crosby
| image           = Robbin Crosby.jpg
| caption         = Crosby in the music video for Ratt's "[[Wanted Man (Ratt song)|Wanted Man]]" (1985)
| image_size      = 
| background      = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name      = Robbinson Lantz Crosby
| alias           = King
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1959|8|4}}
| birth_place     = [[La Jolla, California]], U.S.
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|2002|6|6|1959|8|4}}
| death_place     = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| instrument      = Guitar
| genre           = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]], [[hard rock]], [[glam metal]]
| occupation      = Musician, songwriter
| past_member_of = [[Ratt]], Secret Service, MacMeda, Metropolis, Phenomenon
| years_active    = 1977–{{circa|2002}}
| website         = 
}}

'''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 complications from AIDS subsequent to a heroin overdose.

==Early life==
Crosby was born in [[La Jolla, California]], and had two sisters, Ristin and Bronle. His father, [[Harry W. Crosby]], was a high school science teacher who later became a professional photographer.<ref>https://chaospin.com/the-story-behind-the-tragic-death-of-robbin-crosby/</ref>  Robbin attended Bird Rock Elementary, Muirlands Junior High and [[La Jolla High School]], graduating in June 1976.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20663443 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He previously played baseball prior to shifting his focus to the guitar. He was the son of [[Harry W. Crosby]], a science teacher at La Jolla High and an author of books about California history.<ref>Karen Kenyon, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-12-vw-1109-story.html "Tracking the Hispanic Roots of California"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', April 12, 1987.</ref>

==Career==

===Before Ratt===
In the late 1970s, Crosby played in several San Diego bands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varga |first=George |date=June 7, 2017 |title=Robbin Crosby of San Diego-bred band Ratt died 15 years ago at 42 |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2017/06/07/robbin-crosby-of-san-diego-bred-band-ratt-died-15-years-ago-at-42/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Varga |first=George |date=2002-06-10 |title=Robbin Crosby, 42; guitarist for ’80s rock band Ratt |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2002/06/10/robbin-crosby-42-guitarist-for-80s-rock-band-ratt/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> From 1977–78 he played in Phenomenon, recording a single "The Final Word," which was written by Crosby. It was released in 1980.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20654492 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Phenomenon also featured future Warrior member Parramore McCarty.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aornightdrive.blogspot.se/2015/12/phenomenon-robbin-crosby-final-word.html | title=AOR Night Drive: Phenomenon (Robbin Crosby) - the Final Word &#91;Single&#93; (1980) | year=2015 }}</ref> While playing with Phenomenon, he took lessons from Thom Beebe, described as "a monster player in the Blackmore vein."<ref name="The Gear Page">[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20654602 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> 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{{clarify|date=April 2024}}.<ref name="The Gear Page"/><ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20655849 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20656149 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Crosby moved to [[Manhattan Beach, California]], in 1979, living with his girlfriend [[Tawny Kitaen]].<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20660312 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The band was short lived and, in 1980, Crosby was in a band Aircraft.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20657129 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aornightdrive.blogspot.se/2015/12/aircraft-robin-crosby-live-demos.html | title=AOR Night Drive: Aircraft (Robin Crosby) - Live Demos | year=2015 }}</ref> In 1981, Aircraft changed its name to Mac Meda,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/mac-meda/| title = Mac Meda {{!}} San Diego Reader}}</ref> which Crosby's brother-in-law managed.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20657981 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> They recorded six songs on Vulture record label sometime in 1981,<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20661072 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20666693 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

===With Ratt===
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 (Ratt song)|Round and Round]]", "[[Wanted Man (Ratt song)|Wanted Man]]" and "[[Lay It Down (Ratt song)|Lay It Down]]". The album ''[[Out of the Cellar]]'' went to triple platinum based on "Round and Round".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=bMBf3TYZigQC&q=%22Robbin+Crosby%22+died+OR+death+OR+dead&pg=PA476 The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Turkey Bacon Sandwiches] By Jeremy Simmonds. p. 476.</ref>

Crosby was dating actress [[Tawny Kitaen]] at the time he joined Ratt, and she appears on the album covers of both the ''[[Ratt (EP)|Ratt EP]]'' (1983) and ''[[Out of the Cellar]]'' (1984). Crosby and Kitaen broke up in 1984 after a six-year relationship.<ref>[https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/robbin-crosby-general-biography.1622298/post-20658755 The Gear Page]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

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 flavors.<ref name="Rock and Roll True Stories, 2022">[https://rockandrolltruestories.com/tragic-death-of-robbin-crosby/ Rock and Roll True Stories, 2022]</ref> 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.<ref name="Rock and Roll True Stories, 2022"/>

As Ratt stepped in{{clarify|date=April 2024}} the studio in 1990, Crosby entered rehab.<ref name="Rock and Roll True Stories, 2022"/> 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.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/12/arts/robbin-crosby-42-a-guitarist-with-heavy-metal-group-ratt.html New York Times, June 12, 2002]</ref>

===After Ratt===
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."<ref name="MTV">{{cite web
 |last=Kaufman
 |first=Gil
 |title=RATT Guitarist Robbin Crosby Dies
 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1455086/ratt-guitarist-robbin-crosby-dies/
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201064820/http://www.mtv.com/news/1455086/ratt-guitarist-robbin-crosby-dies/
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=February 1, 2015
 |website=MTV
 |date=June 10, 2002
 |access-date=May 23, 2016
}}</ref>

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 War Party. One of his last projects was with former collaborator and ex-Ratt bassist [[Juan Croucier]].

==Death==
Crosby died on June 6, 2002 from complications from AIDS subsequent to a heroin overdose.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://chaospin.com/the-story-behind-the-tragic-death-of-robbin-crosby/ | title=The Story Behind the Tragic Death of Robbin Crosby | date=May 15, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2017/06/07/robbin-crosby-of-san-diego-bred-band-ratt-died-15-years-ago-at-42/ | title="Robbin Crosby of San Diego-bred band Ratt died 15 years ago at 42" | date=June 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/founding-ratt-guitarist-dead-of-aids-75482/ | title="Founding Ratt Guitarist Dead Of AIDS" | date=June 7, 2002 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/12/arts/robbin-crosby-42-a-guitarist-with-heavy-metal-group-ratt.html | title="Robbin Crosby, 42, a Guitarist With Heavy-Metal Group Ratt" | date=June 12, 2002}}</ref>

According to an [[autopsy]] report after his death, Crosby was {{convert|6|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}} and weighed {{convert|400|lb}}.<ref name="MTV"/>

==Discography==

===With Ratt===
*''[[Ratt EP]]'' (1983)
*''[[Out of the Cellar]]'' (1984)
*''[[Invasion of Your Privacy]]'' (1985)
*''[[Dancing Undercover]]'' (1986)
*''[[Reach for the Sky (Ratt album)|Reach for the Sky]]'' (1988)
*''[[Detonator (album)|Detonator]]'' (1990)
*''[[Ratt & Roll 81-91]]'' (1991)

===With Jon Bon Jovi===
*''[[Blaze of Glory (Jon Bon Jovi album)|Blaze of Glory]]'' (1990)

===With Rumbledog===
*''[[Rumbledog]]'' (1993)

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Portal|Biography}}

{{Ratt}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crosby, Robbin}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:American male songwriters]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Deaths by heroin overdose in California]]
[[Category:Ratt members]]
[[Category:People from La Jolla, San Diego]]
[[Category:People with HIV/AIDS]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]