:Rikki Rockett

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Rikki Rockett

| image = RikkiRockett.JPG

| caption = Rikki Rockett live with Poison on July 24, 2000 at the Moondance Jam

| landscape = yes

| birth_name = Richard Allan Ream

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|8|8}}

| death_date =

| origin = Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| instrument = {{flatlist|

Drums
percussion

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1979–present

| label =

| current_member_of = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|rikkirockett.com}}

}}

Richard Allan Ream (born August 8, 1961), known professionally as Rikki Rockett, is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band Poison. The band has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide{{cite web|url = http://www.poisonweb.com/?module=news&news_item_id=28 |title=Poison joins Def Leppard for summer 2009 tour!|publisher=Signatures Network Inc|date=February 25, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2010}} and 15 million records in the United States alone.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTopArt&action= |title=Top Selling Artists |publisher=RIAA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725020825/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTopArt&action= |archive-date=July 25, 2013 }}

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.

In late 1993, Rockett discovered that the then guitarist Richie Kotzen of Poison was having a relationship with Deanna Eve, Rockett's fiancée at the time. 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.

In 1995 Rikki co-created and coloured the 6 issue comic book series, Sisters Of Mercy, published by Maximum Press.

After almost 20 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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.drummerszone.com/news/newsItem.php?n01ID=4570&type=3|title=Rockett Drum Works Poison drummer launches custom drum company|publisher=drummerszone.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121204233/http://www.drummerszone.com/news/newsItem.php?n01ID=4570&type=3|archive-date=November 21, 2007|df=mdy-all}} 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|publisher=mikedolbear.com}}

In 2015 Rockett co-formed a new rock supergroup the Devil City Angels with guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), bassist Eric Brittingham (Cinderella) and vocalist and rhythm guitarist Brandon Gibbs (Cheap Thrill).{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/devil-city-angels-featuring-poison-cinderella-l-a-guns-members-hit-the-studio-photos-posted|title=DEVIL CITY ANGELS Featuring POISON, CINDERELLA, L.A. GUNS Members Hit The Studio; Photos Posted - Bravewords.com|author=bravewords.com|date=June 24, 2014 |publisher=bravewords.com|access-date=August 27, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1219|title=KNAC.COM - News - Rolling Stones' Richards Slags|publisher=knac.com|access-date=August 27, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tracii-guns-talks-to-do-you-know-jack-about-devil-city-angels-project-audio/|title=Tracii Guns Talks To 'Do You Know Jack?' About Devil City Angels Project (Audio) - Blabbermouth.net|date=August 15, 2014 |publisher=blabbermouth.net|access-date=August 27, 2014}}

Their self-titled debut album was officially released September 11, 2015.{{cite web|url = http://www.centurymedia.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=16361&IdCompany=3 |title =Devil City Angels new album|publisher=Century Media}}2015

=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 Melanie had their second child, a daughter named Lucy Sky. Both children are named after The Beatles' songs "Hey Jude" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". They separated in July 2015 and their divorce became final in June 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/06/poison-drummer-rikki-rockett-divorce-final-tour/|title=Poison Drummer Rikki Rockett's Divorce is Final, He Owes More if Band is Touring|date=July 6, 2017 }}

Rockett 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.{{cite web|title=Street Sports Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructors|url=http://streetsportsbjj.com/Street_Sports_Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu/Instructors.html|website=Street Sports Jiu Jitsu|access-date=October 26, 2015}}

Rockett is a vegan.{{cite journal |last= Rosenberg |first= Kirsten |author-link= Kirsten Rosenberg |date= October 15, 1999 |title= Something to Believe In: an interview with Rikki Rockett |journal= The Animals' Agenda |issn= 0892-8819 |access-date= May 12, 2011 |url= http://webspace.webring.com/people/fp/poison_mania/rikinterview.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120921032720/http://webspace.webring.com/people/fp/poison_mania/rikinterview.html |archive-date= September 21, 2012 |quote= ... his vegan lifestyle (down to his non-leather shoes), ... |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}

In December 2015, Rockett announced that he had been battling throat cancer.{{cite web|last1=Trunk|first1=Eddie|title=POISON Drummer RIKKI ROCKETT Is Battling Oral Cancer|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/poison-drummer-rikki-rockett-is-battling-oral-cancer/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=December 15, 2015}} In July 2016, he reported that he is now cancer-free.{{cite web|url=http://people.com/celebrity/poison-drummer-rikki-rockett-declared-cancer-free/|title=Poison Drummer Rikki Rockett Declared Cancer-Free After Undergoing Experimental Treatment}} In July 2021, Rikki celebrated the fact that he is still cancer free, six years after the original diagnosis.{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/poison-drummer-rikki-rockett-is-still-cancer-free/|title=POISON Drummer RIKKI ROCKETT Is Still Cancer Free|date=July 28, 2021 }}