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.
Rockett is a vegan.
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.
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)Their self-titled debut album was officially released September 11, 2015
In December 2015, Rockett announced that he had been battling throat cancer. In July 2016, he reported that he is now cancer-free.
All The Way To Memphis
Rikki Rockett Lyrics
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Half way to Memphis 'fore I realized
Well I rang the information - my axe was cold
They said she rides the train to Oreoles
Now its a mighty long way down the dusty trail
And the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails
And I look like a bum 'n I crawl like a snail
Well I got to Oreoles ya know - it took a month
And there was my guitar, electric junk.
Some spade said "Rock n' rollers, you're all the same.
Man that's your instrument." I felt so ashamed.
Now its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Through the Bradford Cities and the Oreoles
And you look like a star but you're still on the dole
All the way from Memphis
Yeah it's a mighty long way down rock n' roll
From the Liverpool docks to the Hollywood Bowl
And you climb up the mountains and you fall down the holes
All the way from Memphis
Yeah its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
As your name gets hot so your heart grows cold
And you gotta stay young man, you can never be old
All the way from Memphis
Yeah its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Through the Bradford Cities and the Oreoles
And you look like a star but you're really out on parole!
All the way from Memphis
Rikki Rockett's "All The Way To Memphis" is a song about the struggles and sacrifices that musicians go through in order to make it big in the music industry. The song opens with the singer realizing he forgot his guitar, his "six-string razor," before realizing he is halfway to Memphis. He points out the difficulty of the journey, which involves riding trains and walking long distances to get to gigs. He references the infamous Bradford Cities, known for poverty and unemployment, as well as Oreoles, which could be a reference to Baltimore, Maryland.
When he finally arrives at his destination, he is met with derision from a spade who suggests that all rock and rollers are the same, and the only thing they care about is their instrument. The singer feels ashamed, indicating that he genuinely cares about his craft and wants to be taken seriously. The rest of the song speaks to the difficulty of breaking out as a musician and the toll it takes on one's spirit, as well as the need to stay relevant and "young" in an industry that is constantly evolving.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgot my six-string razor - hit the sky
I left my guitar behind and headed out on tour, excited for what's to come
Half way to Memphis 'fore I realized
I was so caught up in the moment that I didn't even notice how far I had gone
Well I rang the information - my axe was cold
I called to check on the status of my guitar and it hadn't been used in a while
They said she rides the train to Oreoles
My guitar was being transported to a different city by train
Now its a mighty long way down the dusty trail
Touring is a difficult journey with lots of ups and downs
And the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails
Traveling on trains is uncomfortable due to the weather and the roughness of the ride
And I look like a bum 'n I crawl like a snail
After months of touring, I'm exhausted and beaten down
All the way from Memphis
This is the life of a touring rock musician
Well I got to Oreoles ya know - it took a month
It took a lot of time and effort to finally make it to my destination
And there was my guitar, electric junk.
Finally being reunited with my guitar was a relief, despite its condition
Some spade said 'Rock n' rollers, you're all the same.
Being judged for being a musician is a common occurrence
Man that's your instrument.' I felt so ashamed.
Feeling like my guitar was a crutch that I couldn't live without made me feel insecure
Now its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Being a successful rock artist is a difficult and tiring journey
Through the Bradford Cities and the Oreoles
Traveling through different cities and countries is exhausting but necessary for success
And you look like a star but you're still on the dole
Even though I may look successful, I still struggle financially
Yeah it's a mighty long way down rock n' roll
The journey of being a successful rock musician seems never-ending
From the Liverpool docks to the Hollywood Bowl
From the start of my career to its peak, the journey is long and difficult
And you climb up the mountains and you fall down the holes
Success is a rollercoaster with its high points and low points
All the way from Memphis
This is the journey that I signed up for as a rock musician
Yeah its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Being a successful rock musician is an arduous and challenging journey
As your name gets hot so your heart grows cold
Along the way to success, it's easy to lose touch with reality and become cold and hardened
And you gotta stay young man, you can never be old
To stay successful, it's important to keep a youthful spirit and energy
All the way from Memphis
This is the reality of being a successful rock musician
Through the Bradford Cities and the Oreoles
Traveling the world and performing for fans is both exciting and exhausting
And you look like a star but you're really out on parole!
Despite the appearance of success, being a rock musician can sometimes feel like being in prison
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind