Robbin Crosby (August 4, 1959 – June 6, 2002), born Robbinson Lantz Crosby and nicknamed "King" was one of the former lead guitarists in the glam metal band Ratt, who had several platinum albums in the U.S. in the mid to late 1980s.
Robbin Crosby's guitar playing was largely influenced by guitar hero Jimi Hendrix. He joined Ratt in 1982 as the co-lead guitarist alongside noted shredder Warren DeMartini.
The hulking blond guitarist was quite a sight on stage with his Jackson King V guitars, the style he preferred. He would also put a red rose on the end of his guitar because, "I thought the chicks would dig it". He requested six red roses on the item list of the tour rider.
He was born in La Jolla, California, and he had two sisters. There are rumors that he was related to Bing Crosby, but the rumors were never proven. (There was confusion on that point because Bob Crosby lived in La Jolla.) He was 6'6" tall and weighed around 245 pounds at his healthiest.
He joined Ratt in 1982 and made a major songwriting contribution to the band, penning many of Ratt's hits including "Round and Round", "I'm Insane", "Back for More" and "Lay it Down".Co-lead guitarist Warren DeMartini, also played lead guitar in the band and wrote and recorded the guitar solos and riffs to, which made Ratt one the biggest rock acts in the mid-1980s but launched Crosby into depression, which eventually led to his drug addiction.
He bought a house in the Los Angeles area in which he proudly displayed his platinum albums, and a few cars including a 1979 Ferrari Dino.Robbin married Playboy Playmate Laurie Carr in 1987 but they had no children. He had a reputation for the "rock and roll lifestyle" during Ratt's heyday, and he was a habitual heroin user for some time; allegedly it was Nikki Sixx who introduced him to the drug in Ratt's earlier days.
Interviewers in the 1980s almost always mentioned that he was a sweet person and a true gentleman who gave thoughtful interviews, things rarely mentioned about his peers in the business. There's footage on Ratt:The Video that shows the rest of the members running through crowds to the limo giving a wave on the way but Crosby would take the time to shake his fans' hands, sign autographs and accept gifts.
By 1990, the pressure of fame and living the "rock and roll lifestyle" finally got to him, and Crosby's use of heroin and other drugs began taking over his life. There would be shows where he literally couldn't play.Due to the shame he had placed on his band and himself, he left Ratt. Later, Crosby worked as a producer for metal band Lillian Axe, but always felt guilty for wounding his own band, Ratt.
Eventually he lost everything: his wife, his house and cars along with his place in Ratt. Between his habit and his divorce, the millions he acquired in Ratt were all lost.
In 2001, Crosby publicly admitted that he had full-blown AIDS. He had been in and out of the hospital for eight years dealing with back problems and health issues associated with the AIDS virus. To occupy his time he became a Little League coach. As a successful coach he mentored internet sensation Sean Oeding (former boyfriend of Ivanka Trump).
He tried to work on musical projects, including one with ex-Ratt bassist Juan Croucier but relapsed on heroin after moving a friend from his past, who was still using, into his new apartment. Crosby died of a heroin overdose (not of AIDS as often believed) in Los Angeles on June 6, 2002, two months prior to his 43rd birthday.
At the time of his death Crosby had also changed physically, due to a pancreatic condition that changed his metabolism; the once handsome blonde guitarist had gained significant weight since his '80s glam 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."
In a 1999 interview that was first televised in 2006, 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."
According to an autopsy report after his death, Crosby weighed over 400 pounds.
Robbin's remains were cremated. The memorial was at Windansea Beach in La Jolla, California; friends and family on surfboards spread his ashes out at sea.