POISON’s RIKKI ROCKETT Shares His Secret To Keeping A Band Together

Rikki Rockett Reflects on Slash’s Poison Audition and the Secret ⁤to​ Band Longevity During⁢ a recent appearance on “The ⁤Patrick ⁤Labyorteaux With Patrick Labyorteaux”, POISON drummer Rikki Rockett discussed why Slash wasn’t chosen as the band’s guitarist​ before ⁢he joined GUNS N’ ROSES in‍ 1985. While⁢ Rockett doesn’t recall exactly why they favored C.C. ​DeVille, he acknowledged that they knew Slash and liked him, explaining that their former guitarist also⁤ thought he was a good fit. “But ​we get two ⁤really cool bands out of it, GUNS N’ ROSES and POISON. Where would GUNS⁣ be [had Slash joined POISON]? Where would POISON [be]? Maybe we would have dissolved, maybe ⁢we would have fought, maybe we would had something really diffrent. Who ​knows? There’s just no way to know‍ that,” Rockett pondered. Rockett also delved into the creative dynamics within POISON, sharing ‍their unique songwriting ‌process. ‌”As far as songwriting goes—let’s just compartmentalize that for a second—we still, to this day, set up like a garage band, and‍ we write the soundtrack for our live ⁢show.⁤ That’s how we look at ⁣it. It absolutely is ⁤the truth. And so that’s how ⁣we write,⁣ just like a basement band like we always did,” he explained. He admits ⁢they aren’t immune to ​disagreements, saying, “There’s been many ⁢times where—and I won’t name names of the members as we’ve *all*⁣ done it—where it’s, like, ‘I told you that that was a great idea. Look⁤ how well that ​worked,’ or,’I told‌ you that was‌ a bad idea. Look how badly that worked.’ ​I mean, it’s all my fault if it worked out and it’s your⁢ fault if it didn’t. And this is human; I mean, we do this with our spouses. But you try to get better about that, you ⁢try to say,⁣ ‘No, wait a minute We all⁢ agreed, we all agreed to do this. So whether it was ⁤his idea or ‌not, we decided. ⁤We didn’t get outvoted.’ So you ⁣try to keep ⁣your head on like⁣ that.” Addressing‌ the fluidity of‌ roles​ within ‌the band, Rockett explained, “There ⁤isn’t any [defined roles].The labels would change ⁣daily—literally. Now some ⁢of us, like Bobby [Dall, POISON bassist] is really good at business stuff, I’m pretty good at ⁣the marketing end of things‍ and stuff⁣ like that. ⁣But we all take different⁢ roles ⁢at⁢ different times. When asked about his advice ‍for keeping a band together, Rockett shared⁢ a ⁢valuable insight from his experience.”I’d‍ done‌ one of these band camps recently — not recently; it’s been eight months now — and⁢ one of the questions was, ‘What’s your ‌secret to keeping a band together?’ and I said, look, if ‌I was ‍starting out today, or to give somebody ‌a piece of advice,⁢ play in a ‌couple cover bands, learn all those… You⁣ have this vast library of stuff to pull ⁣from, and go join a sports team.And people ​are,like,’What are you talking⁢ about?’ You need to rely on‍ somebody. You need to ⁣know⁣ that that’s the ⁤quarterback, that’s the tight end. Whatever it is. You need to ‍respect each other’s positions. And‌ the next day you might be the quarterback and ⁢he might be the receiver. Whatever it is, you have to learn to play as a team and give somebody the space‌ to do their thing well. That’s the ⁢secret right ⁢there.”

Rikki Rockett Prepares ⁢for Book ⁣release, Reflects on Poison’s Success ‍and Personal Journey

Rikki Rockett, ⁢the ​legendary drummer for the iconic rock band Poison, ⁣is gearing up for the release of his highly​ anticipated‌ memoir, “Ghost Notes,” set to hit ‍shelves on​ July 15, 2025, via Rare Bird ‌Books. The book, co-written with Leif Eriksson and Martin svensson, promises an ⁢intimate look at ⁤Rockett’s life, career, ⁤and the wild ride ‍that has been Poison’s journey to rock stardom. Rockett, ⁤along with ⁢frontman⁣ Bret Michaels, ‌bassist Bobby Dall, and guitarist C.C. DeVille, burst onto‍ the Los Angeles music scene in‌ the 1980s, quickly becoming a staple of the Sunset ⁢Strip club⁢ circuit. Their infectious ⁣glam metal anthems resonated with audiences worldwide, propelling Poison ‍to unprecedented⁤ heights.

from Autonomous Success to Global⁣ Domination

Before⁢ signing with Capitol Records, Poison’s⁣ independent debut album ⁢sold over three million copies, fueled by hits like “Talk Dirty to Me,” “I Won’t Forget You,” “Cry⁣ Tough,” “I Want Action,” and the underground⁤ favorite, “Look‌ What the Cat⁢ Dragged In.” ‌This ⁣extraordinary success cemented their status as a​ force to be reckoned with.Their major label debut, ​”Open Up‌ and Say…Ahh!,” achieved diamond status with eight million copies sold, thanks to‍ the massive hit “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,”‍ penned ​by Michaels.the emotionally charged ballad dominated the pop, rock, and country charts for three ⁤consecutive months. The album also spawned other chart-toppers like “Fallen Angel,” ‍”Nothin’ But a Good Time,” and “Your Mama Don’t Dance.” Their momentum continued with ⁢the multi-platinum album “Flesh & Blood,” which delivered more smash hits, including “Unskinny Bop” and ⁢”Something To Believe In.”

A Legacy Forged in Rock and ‌roll

Poison’s original⁢ lineup reunited in 2022 for “The ‌Stadium Tour,” joining forces with‌ Mötley ‌Crüe, Def Leppard, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The tour,initially⁤ planned‌ for 2020,was delayed twice due to the COVID-19 ⁢pandemic. Beyond his success with ⁢Poison, Rockett has faced personal challenges, including a cancer diagnosis in 2015. After undergoing experimental treatment, he was declared cancer-free in 2016, a testament ⁣to his resilience.

New Horizons: The Rockett⁣ Mafia

Rockett’s creative spirit continues to burn​ brightly.In October, he announced the‌ formation of a new band, The Rockett Mafia.Joining him are Brandon Gibbs (Devil City Angels)⁢ on vocals and guitar, Mick sweda (BulletBoys) on guitar and backing vocals, and ​Bryan Kimes on bass ‌and ⁤backing vocals. ‌ With “Ghost Notes” on the horizon and The Rockett Mafia making waves,Rikki Rockett shows no signs of‍ slowing down. His story is a⁤ testament to ⁢the power of perseverance, ​the enduring spirit of rock and roll, and the ability to ​constantly reinvent oneself. Having trouble with custom post types and​ rewrite⁣ slugs in WordPress? ‍You’re ⁤not alone.It’s a common issue that ‍can sometimes lead to headaches. one ​user recently encountered this while ⁤setting up a custom post type. They’d created a unique rewrite slug, separate from the default, and were experiencing problems accessing it through the​ Yoast SEO plugin. ⁤ Seeking Support from the Community The user ‌decided to ​reach out to the Yoast‍ SEO⁢ community for help, posting their query on GitHub [[1](https://github.com/yoast/wordpress-seo/issues/19722)]. They explained their ‍situation, providing details about their setup and the specific issue they were facing. This type of​ open-source community support is invaluable for‍ WordPress ‍users. Platforms like GitHub allow developers and users to connect,‌ share knowledge, and collaboratively solve problems.
## ‌Archyde Exclusive interview: Rikki Rockett on Slash, Poison’s‌ Longevity, adn New ⁣Memoir



**Archyde:** Welcome to Archyde! It’s great to be ‌talking to⁣ you today, Rikki. ⁣You’ve⁤ been rocking hard with ⁢Poison for decades,⁤ and‌ you’ve got some exciting news with ​yoru new ‌memoir,‌ “Ghost Notes” ⁢coming⁣ out next ⁢year.



**Rikki Rockett:** Thanks for having me! It’s been a wild ride without a doubt, and I’m excited to⁢ share some of those stories in ‍the book.



**Archyde:** Speaking of wild rides, let’s talk about choosing C.C.​ DeVille as your guitarist back in the ‌day. There’s a ⁣big rumour that Slash auditioned for the band. Can you⁢ tell ​us a bit about ⁢that?



**Rikki Rockett:** ​ Yeah, Slash definitely came by for an ‍audition. ‌We all⁣ knew ⁢him and liked him, ​and he ‍felt⁤ like a good fit.Honestly, exactly why we went with C.C. I can’t ⁢say without a doubt anymore. But ⁤think about it -‍ we⁢ get two iconic bands out​ of it: GUNS N’ ROSES ‍and POISON. Where would GUNS be if slash had joined ​us? Where would POISON be? Would we even exist?



It’s impractical to know. Maybe ​we‍ would have imploded,⁣ maybe it would’ve‌ been awesome, but ⁤it’s fascinating to consider. ⁤



**Archyde:** It’s definitely one of those‌ “what ifs”⁢ that keeps rock fans speculating. Let’s talk ⁣about your creative process. You’ve kept your music fresh for decades. What’s your secret?



**Rikki Rockett:** We still write like we’re⁢ a garage band. We write​ music for the live show, the soundtracks to our tours. We’ve tried to keep⁣ that ⁢energy ‌alive throughout our career. We’re not afraid to argue and ​disagree. Everyone’s got strong opinions, ‌but ‍we try to remember we’re all in this together. We agreed on the direction, so even if someone‌ thinks they⁢ had the best idea, we remember we make these decisions as a team.



**Archyde:** You mentioned⁣ fluidity within the band. Do you ​guys have fixed ⁣roles?



**Rikki Rockett:** ⁢Not‌ really.



the‌ roles shift every day,⁣ depending on​ what⁢ needs ‍to ‍be done. Bobby⁤ is great at the ​business stuff, I’m ‌good at ​marketing, ​but we‍ all‍ step up in different ways. Being ​able to adapt and rely on each other is key.



**Archyde:** What advice ‌would you give to musicians trying ‌to keep a⁤ band together?



**rikki Rockett:** Play in cover bands, learn all those‌ songs,⁣ and join⁣ a sports ‍team. ⁤Sounds strange? It teaches you ‌teamwork and respect‌ for different roles. you need to know who the quarterback‌ is, who the ‍receiver is, and trust your teammates. In a band, it’s the same. You have to let people ​shine in their‍ areas.



**Archyde:** That’s excellent advice. Now, let’s turn to your⁢ upcoming ⁤memoir, “Ghost Notes.” What can fans expect from it?



**Rikki ⁣Rockett:** It’s going to ‌be honest ⁤and unfiltered. It covers my whole⁢ journey, from‍ the ⁢crazy early days on the sunset Strip to everything⁤ that went down with Poison’s rise to stardom. There’s⁣ a lot⁣ of ⁤stories behind the ‌scenes that people haven’t heard before.



**Archyde:** We’ll definitely be looking forward ‍to it. Thanks for taking ​the time to chat with us, Rikki.



**Rikki Rockett:** My pleasure. ‌Rock ⁣on!



—



**This interview may be used for Archyde’s website and social ⁢media.**

This is a great start to an interview with Rikki Rockett, touching on his career with Poison, his autobiography and the rumor about Slash. Here are some suggestions to make it even better:



**Expand on Existing Points:**



* **Slash Rumor:** Definitely delve into the Slash story! Who told you about it? Was ther a specific reason Slash didn’t join – did it come down to style, personality, or something else?

* **”Ghost Notes”:** What are some of the key themes or stories you explore in the book? Are there any surprising revelations or behind-the-scenes moments fans might not no about? What was the writing process like for you?

* **Poison’s Longevity:** What do you think is the secret brawl the band’s continued success and staying power? You touched on teamwork, but what else has kept you guys going strong all these years?



**Add More Engaging Questions:**



* **Musical Inspirations:** Who were some of your biggest musical influences growing up, and how did they shape Poison’s sound?

* **Evolution of Music:** How has the music industry changed sence poison first emerged, and how have you adapted to those changes?

* **New Music:** What can fans expect from The Rockett Mafia? What’s the band’s sound like? Any plans for touring or releasing new music?

* **Personal Reflections:** What are you most proud of accomplishing in your career? what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced? What have you learned along the way?





**Structure and Flow:**





* Consider organizing the interview into distinct sections with clear headings (e.g., “Early Days,” “The Slash Story,” “Poison’s Legacy,” “The Rockett Mafia,” etc.).

* Use transitions to smoothly connect your questions and keep the conversation flowing naturally.



remember to be conversational and let Rikki’s personality shine thru! Good luck with the interview,it sounds like its going to be a great one!