Juan Croucier (ex-RATT) from the HARDROCK ALLSTARS - the band also featuring Jaime St. James (BLACK 'N BLUE), Jon E. Love (LOVE/HATE) and Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE) - caught up with Deb Rao from BraveWords.com recently for a quick Q&A.; It reads as follows:

BraveWords.com: How did the Hardrock Allstars all get together?

Croucier: "Jamie called. Actually he emailed me. We have known each other forever. He said to me, 'What do you think about playing together?' It is a fun band to hang around with. Normally, I just say no to everybody. But I have always enjoyed Black N' Blue. They are one of the bands I liked back in the day. I said to the guys, let's do it. So it was Jamie and me and we thought who do we get for guitar? So I thought about and thought about and, and I though of Johnny, I thought he would be perfect for the band. We are doing a really wide variety of music. It is not just one style. Johnny is really good in capturing a lot of different styles. He is very versatile. Jamie contacted me in November. The holidays were coming, we thought everybody’s got stuff to do for the holidays. We got together late January early February of 2010."

BraveWords.com: How has the music industry changed since back in the day? Do you see a ‘80s revival coming full circle?

Croucier: "Nowadays with the way the music world is, running your own studio is not easy. The thing about it is it takes a team of people to make sure the studio operates and actually gets paid for the work it does. I think there was always a high quality in '80s music. We had a high anarchy. Records companies, A&R; men made a grid and certain steps you had to go to get a record deal. Then there were additional steps touring and so forth and the video world. Nowadays, it has changed a little bit. I think we are in a transitory period. I think the great musicians like the people like Jamie, Pete and Jon will stay in the game. There is a problem like Johnny said. We go to LA and there are so many bands that are willing to play for nothing. It is really clouding it up for the bands that really work hard at their craft to really make it something unique and special. It gets overlooked. I think if you are band number 18 out of 100 good luck."

BraveWords.com: Back in the day it was like that. So many bands vying for attention and looking for that one big break. Bands used to pass out their flyers out on the beach...

Croucier: "The value that was placed in music back then in the '80s was higher than it is now. Music to a lot of consumers now is like should I listen to a CD or should I watch a movie? Or should I go on the internet or Facebook. It is like TV is the new radio. I didn't realize when I built my studio how lucky I was. We don't have to compromise. You can go in and not have to have a record company funding it. I've got a professional studio. The kind RATT made their records in. The kind that Love/Hate made their records in. The Hardrock Allstars purpose is to have a good time. It is a reminder why we got into music in the first place. We want to keep a really high level. We are kind of paying respect to our peers and our influences."

For more info visit Hardrockallstars.com.