Rikki Rockett

Rikki Rockett (born Richard Allan Ream, 8 August 1961, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania) is best known as the drummer for the American glam metal band, Poison.

Life and work

Rockett was the younger of two children to Norman and Margaret Ream. He attended Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill. Before founding Poison with vocalist Bret Michaels, Rockett worked as a hairdresser, lifeguard, dishwasher, Emergency Medical Technician and a suit salesman. Rockett was always an integral part of Poison's success. The tattoo photo featured on Poison's 1990 album Flesh and Blood is Rockett's right shoulder. The logo was already done a couple of years prior but he added "Flesh and Blood" in support of the title. The original album cover still has the blood running from the new tattoo though it was airbrushed out soon after its release. In late 1993, Rockett discovered that the then guitarist Richie Kotzen of Poison was having a relationship with Rockett's fiancee at the time, Deanna Eve. Kotzen was fired due to this incident. Rockett and Brian Cocivera joined forces creating Custom Built Drum kits called the chop-shop drum company. After almost twenty years with Poison, Rockett released his first solo album, Glitter 4 Your Soul on 7 January 2003 which was distributed online. The album was a tribute to 1970s glam rock. He also guested on Britny Fox's Bite Down Hard. In April 2006, Rockett made a guest appearance on TLC's new "Wrecks To Riches" auto overhaul series, helping to restore a 1969 Dodge Dart before giving Poison's new version of "We're an American Band" a spin on the car's amped-up sound system. On 26 April 2007 Rockett announced the creation of "Rockett Drum Works Inc". It is a drum manufacturing company, specializing in the creation of ultra custom drum kits, snare drums and custom accessories. Prior to setting up his enterprise, Rockett worked for Chop Shop Custom Drum. He departed after conflicting opinions with Chop Shop founder Brian Cocivera^[1]. Rockett recruited most of the staff from his old drum concern, the Chop Shop Drum Company, who he recently left, along with some newer staff members^[2]. He created the new company to express his personal concepts and create unique, high quality custom percussion instruments. On 19 September 2007, Bosphorus Cymbals unveiled the "Rockett Ride"; a custom ride cymbal in 20" and 22" sizes, designed to Rikki's exact specifications. Rockett is a well-known vegan, animal rights activist and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renato Magno.

Discography

Solo

• Glitter 4 Your Soul (2003)

Poison

• Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)
• Open Up and Say...Ahh! (1988)
• Flesh & Blood (1990)
• Swallow This (1991)
• Native Tongue (1993)
• Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986-1996 (1996)
• Crack a Smile...and More! (2000)
• Power to the People (2000)
• Hollyweird (2002)
• Best of Ballads & Blues (2003)
• The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock (2006)
• POISON'D (June 2007)

References

External links

• Rikki Rockett Official Site
• Rikki Rockett Official MySpace Site
• Rockett Drum Works Official Site
• Rockett Drum Works Official MySpace Site
• Poison Official Site