Poison Drummer Rikki Rockett on New Music, Vlogging + More – Interview

2018-06-08

Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Mark Weiss

Rikki Rockett of Poison and Anne Erickson talk music, vlogging and more in this new interview

As one of the original members of Poison, drummer Rikki Rockett has enjoyed every stage of the band’s success. Today, decades after the release of Poison’s 1986’s debut album, “Look What the Cat Dragged In,” the band is still a favorite on the touring circuit and maintains an energy and charisma onstage that’s all their own.

Poison is currently on tour with Cheap Trick and Pop Evil, and Rockett chatted with Anne Erickson from the road about the tour, what he loves about rocking out in Poison and his Rocket Vlog.

Read the interview below, and listen to the chat via the Audio Ink Radio podcast on iTunes.

Anne Erickson: Poison is back in full force. You guys were on tour with Def Leppard last year, and now you’re out with Cheap Trick. What motivates you guys to keep playing shows?

Rikki Rockett: Well, who doesn’t want to tour and play in front of crows and rock? If you’re a rock fan — and we’re all fans of rock to begin with — to do our own stuff and play it for people is the best way to make a living, literally.

When you were first starting out in Poison, did you have any idea you would still be going strong years later?

No, I didn’t! I knew what I wanted, and I knew that I wanted this, but I was hoping just to figure out a way to make a living, and I had no idea it would go this far.

It’s cool to see you on tour with Cheap Trick! What makes Poison and Cheap Trick a good fit together on a bill?

On a very simple level, I think it’s awesome that a fan can come and see all those songs and hear all those hits being performed live by the people who wrote them and performed them on the record, and I think that’s super important these days. A lot of times , you go see a new band, and It’s great, but you know one song. With this, you get a lot of stuff. You get a couple of hours worth of hit songs. I think that’s the appeal.

Is there any new music with Poison on the way?

I sure hope so! I don’t have an announcement about that, but we have talked about that, and we are going to have more meetings about the future of Poison very soon, and you will definitely be informed about that when it comes.

It’s been great chatting, Rikki. Is there anything else you want to add?

I have a side band, the Devil City Angels, and we just finished new single and just did a music video that we’re in the process of editing. And, I want people to watch my vlogs! I have a YouTube channel, and it’s the Rocket Vlog YouTube Channel (YouTube.com/user/RikkiRockett), and I want people to come check out my vlogs, because I talk about all sorts of stuff on there that I usually wouldn’t. I think it’s pretty cool.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.