Rikki Rockett

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Rikki Rockett
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Rikki Rockett live with Poison on July 11, 2008 at the Moondance Jam
Background information
Birth name Richard Allan Ream
Born (1961-08-08) August 8, 1961 (age 63)
Origin Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Glam metal, hard rock
Occupation(s) Drummer, musician
Instruments Drums, percussion, backup vocals, vocals
Years active 1979–present
Associated acts Avenged Sevenfold
Poison
Devil City Angels
Website rikkirockett.com

Richard Allan Ream (born August 8, 1961), better known by the stage name Rikki Rockett, is an American drummer for the multi-platinum selling glam metal band, Poison. The band have sold over 45 million records worldwide[1] and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone.[2] The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10 singles and the Hot 100 number-one, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".[3]

Biography

Richard Allan Ream was born on August 8, 1961 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, the youngest of two children of 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 featuring on every Poison album ever released. 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. 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-based group dedicated to the British Rocker motorcycle culture of the '50s & '60s.

In April 2006 the same year Poison celebrated its 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" a spin on the car's amped-up 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 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.[4] Rockett recruited most of the staff from Chop Shop along with some newer staff members.[5]

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.[6] Rockett wore a Star Wars patch on his vest in Poison's "Fallen Angel" music video and he said that his favorite character is C-3PO.

On September 19, 2007, Bosphorus Cymbals unveiled the "Rockett Ride"; a custom ride cymbal in 20" and 22" sizes, designed to Rockett's exact specifications.

Personal life

In October 2008 Rockett married longtime girlfriend Melanie Martel. On July 14, 2009, they had their first child, Jude Aaron Rockett. On March 2, 2013, Rikki and Melaine welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucy Sky.

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.[7]

Rockett is a vegan.[8]

In December 2015, Rockett announced that he had been battling throat cancer.[9]

Rocketry

Rockett is also an avid rocket flyer. As a kid, he bought and flew various Estes model rocket kits. He then moved up to High Power Rocketry where he has flown and built several rockets. One of his rockets, the Jurassic Kick, is a rocket Rikki built using kick drum shells. It took three months to build, and was flown on a Kosdon O motor. The rocket has flown twice on an O motor, but the first flight only reached 5,000 feet because of a motor malfunction, where the motor had chuffed at about 20 feet off the ground. The second flight was a success and was the largest amateur rocket to fly using a single motor. His rocket flight, plus a small biography of the rocket's build, are included in a rocketry magazine and video from Rocket man high thrust videos, Called Big Bad Rockets.

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.[10] 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.[11] It is believed that someone by the name of John Minskoff impersonated Rockett to get someone to sleep with him.[12]

Discography

Solo

Poison

References

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External links

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