More Info on Rikki RockettSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Rikki Rockett| image = RikkiRockett.JPG| caption = Rikki Rockett live with Poison on July 11, 2008 at the Moondance Jam | image_size =| landscape = yes| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist| birth_name = Richard Aaron Ream| alias =| birth_date = Birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|8|8| death_date =| origin = Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania|Mechanicsburg , Pennsylvania , U.S.| instrument = Drum kit|Drums | genre = Glam metal , hard rock | occupation = Drummer | years_active = 1983& ndash;present| label =| associated_acts = Poison (band)|Poison | website = URL| http://www.rikkirockett.com/ Richard Allan Ream (born August 8, 1961), better known by the stage name Rikki Rockett , is an American drummer best known for his work with the glam metal band (music)|band , Poison (band)|Poison .
Biography
Born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania|Mechanicsburg , Pennsylvania , 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 singer|vocalist Bret Michaels , Rockett worked as a hairdresser , lifeguard , dishwasher , Emergency Medical Technician and a suit sales man.
Rockett was always an integral part of Poison (band)|Poison 's success featuring on every Poison album ever released. The tattoo photograph|photo featured on Poison's 1990 album Flesh and Blood (Poison 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 airbrush ed 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. In VH1's "Behind The Music",singer Bret Michaels said he never wanted to speak to Kotzen again.
Rockett and Brian Cocivera joined forces creating custom built drum kits called the Chop Shop Custom Drum Company.
After almost twenty years with Poison, Rockett released his first solo album, Glitter 4 Your Soul on January 7, 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 2004 Rikki founded the "Brit Iron Rebels" a vintage and modern retro motorcycle internet group dedicated to the British Rocker motorcycle culture of the '50's & '60's.
In April 2006 the same year Poison celebrated their 20 year anniversary, 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 (song)|We're an American Band " a spin on the car's amped-up sound reinforcement system|sound system .
On April 26, 2007, Rockett announced the creation of "Rockett Drum Works Inc". It is a drum manufacturing company, specializing in the creation of ultra custom drum kit s, snare drum s 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.cite web|url= http://www.drummerszone.com/news/newsItem.php? n01ID=4570& type=3|title=Rockett Drum Works Poison drummer launches custom drum company Rockett recruited most of the staff from Chop Shop along with some newer staff members.cite web|url= http://www.mikedolbear.com/story.asp? StoryID=1325|title=Rikki Rockett announces Rockett Drum Works
In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Star Wars in May 2007, Rockett discussed his lifelong love of the series during an interview with Maul Stanley .cite web | url= http://www.maulstanley.com/interviews/rockett.htm | title=Maul Stanley Talks Star Wars with Ricki Rockett | publisher=MaulStanley.com | accessdate=2008-09-23 Rockett wore a Star Wars patch on his vest in Poison (band)|Poison 's " Fallen Angel (Poison song)|Fallen Angel " music video and he claimed that his favorite character is C-3PO .
On September 19, 2007, Bosphorus Cymbals unveiled the " http://bosphoruscymbals.com/newsmedia.html#7582622613916718230 Rockett Ride"; a custom ride cymbal in 20" and 22" sizes, designed to Rockett's exact specifications.
In October 2008 Rockett married long time girlfriend Melanie Martel. On July 14, 2009, they had their first child, JudeAaron Rockett.
Rikki currently holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu , under trainer Renato Magno and trains at Street Sports Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, located in Santa Monica, California .
Rockett is a Veganism|vegan .cite journal |last= Rosenberg |first= Kirsten |authorlink= Kirsten Rosenberg |date= 1999-10-15 |title= Something to Believe In: an interview with Rikki Rockett |journal= The Animals' Agenda |volume= |series= |issue= |page= |pages= |issn= 0892-8819 |accessdate= 2011-05-12 |url= http://webspace.webring.com/people/fp/poison_mania/rikinterview.html |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ydb6pesh |archivedate= 2011-05-12 |quote= ... his vegan lifestyle (down to his nonleather shoes), ...|postscript=
False rape charge and exoneration
Rockett was arrested on Monday, March 24, 2008 on a rape warrant out of Mississippi after his flight from New Zealand landed at LAX. The alleged crime took place at the Silver Star Casino located on the Choctaw reservation in Mississippi. The Silver Star Casino is owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians which is Choctaw and Federal jurisdiction.cite news | url = http://search.clarionledger.com/sp? aff=1100& skin=100& keywords=rikki | title = Rocker's rape charge goes to DA |author=Clarion Ledger | date = 2008-03-29 | accessdate = 2008-03-31 On May 22, 2008, Rockett was exonerated of all charges after it was determined that he was not even in the state of Mississippi during the time of the alleged crime. It is believed that someone by the name of John Minskoff impersonated Rockett to get someone to sleep with him.cite web|url= http://knac.com/article.asp? ArticleID=6325 |title=Rikki Rockett Exonerated of Rape Charge |publisher=KNAC.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-26
Power to the People (Poison album)|Power to the People (2000)
Hollyweird (2002)
Best of Ballads & Blues (album)|Best of Ballads & Blues (2003)
The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock (2006)
'' Poison'd (June 2007)
Live, Raw & Uncut (2008)
'' Poison – Box Set (Collector's Edition) (2009)
Double Dose: Ultimate Hits (2011)
References
reflist
External links
http://www.rikkirockett.com/ Rikki Rockett official site
http://myspace.com/rikkirockett Rikki Rockett official MySpace site
http://www.rockettdrumworks.com/ Rockett Drum Works official site
http://myspace.com/rockettdrumworks Rockett Drum Works official MySpace site
http://www.poisonweb.com/ Poison official site
Poison Persondata | NAME =Rockett, Rikki | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =August 8, 1961 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Rockett, Rikki Category:Poison members Category:American rock drummers Category:Glam metal musicians Category:Musicians from Pennsylvania Category:People from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Category:American practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:American activists Category:Animal rights advocates
