Drummer for the famed rock band, Poison



      What first made you decide to build a web site?

        Rikki: In the same way that a dog does what he can do just because he can, Ifigured the same holds true for a webpage.

          Tom: I think it surprises a lot of people to find out that you actually know HOW to do a web site! I think people tend to think every rock star just sits around loaded between every show. It's cool that you have hard core evidence that you are not only talented musically but technically too!

          Paula: When I first heard from you and went to your page, I just thought you were a cool guy - had no idea that you were "the" Rikki Rockett - Tom had to tell me, and then I said no way, cause he'd have someone just do a page for him and Tom again said, nope - it's him and he did this work. You sure did, Rikki, and no one could've done it better than you.

      What's your favorite all-time site on the net?

        Rikki: Yahoo and any good search engine.

          Paula: This surprises me, I was certain you'd name a site, but had no idea which one - this just shows that you're a "get to town" guy -

          Tom: Excite is quickly becoming a cool search engine, too. But my all time favorite site is The 100 Most classic Guestbook Entries Ever! Those guys are cool!

      Which way do you put the toilet paper? Over or under?

        Rikki: I've had so much trouble with that decision, I finally decided to put it "free-style" on top of the toilet bolster.

          Paula: This works, until it falls into the bowl!

          Tom: How did this ever become one of the BIG questions in life? Paula tells me it has to be over! She says even Dear Abby says so! What I want to know is what did they do before toilet paper dispensers? Probably just what Rikki does!

      What word do you dislike the most?


        Rikki: Maybe

          Tom: Whoa! That's deep.

          Paula: A totally cool and complete answer - I think this question reveals more about you than any other.

      If you had to run to the grocery store in the middle of the night, whatwould you buy?

        Rikki: Condoms, wine, cigs and coffee for the morning after.

          Paula: I think this covers just about any situation ;)

          Tom: What? No Vienna Sausages?? I never leave the store without these babies! Have you tried these things, Rikki? Paula thinks they're too mushy! These things are great!

      If you had to make a choice between your computer or your best friend, who would you choose? Who's your best friend? Does this person have a home page?

        Rikki: Hey, that's not fair. How about my best computer? It's my Mac 9500.

          Tom: Talk about not fair! I really want one of those 9500's BAD! Does yours have the PC board in it? These machines ROCK!

          Paula: Fair? Just tryin' to separate the total addicts from the regular ones!

      Which did you get first on your page - a background, a section about your interests, a links page, or a guestbook? And why?

        Rikki: Got the background first because as a comic book colorist, we generally work back to front... in comics that is.

          Paula: I see a sense of humor here, me, I got a guestbook first!

          Tom: My first page was hysterical! Looked like some kinda HTML nightmare! I used everything first! Every tag known to man - Flashing, blinking, Colors out the wazoo, guestbooks, 3D, Trippin backgrounds....I had to learn to use a little restraint!

      What do you think? A yellow traffic light means slow down and stop or speed up and go?

        Rikki: Just stop with these tuff ones please!

          Tom: There's a great connection between the way a person approaches yellow lights and the way they live life! The whole picture comes together at those stop lights! I'll bet you Zoom right through those yellows, Rikki! Paula Does!

          Paula: Tom asked me this too! I think he has a computer analyzing the results from this question! It's a scary one.

      What's your favorite section of your site, today?

        Rikki: Sisters of Mercy comic page.

          Paula: I like how you mix words - like cymbal for symbol, I liked seeing through some of your pages and seeing the real you show through.

          Tom: Have you guys considered doing an online version of the Sisters of Mercy? This could really be cool -- and pump up sales of the hard copy!

      Do you eat peas one at a time? With a fork or a spoon?

        Rikki: A fork and with my left hand.

          Tom: I'm shocked that you even EAT peas, Rikki! Don't rock dudes live on Jack Daniels?? Don't tell me you eat Brussel Sprouts, too!

          Paula: I pick the peas out of everything with my left hand.

      Are you excited about VRML? How about Java? Any plans for either to show up at your site?

        Rikki: Yes, both. This is where I'm gonna need help!

          Paula: I can see you getting into this, I don't think you'll need any help at all - your originality will lead the way.

          Tom: The Rikki Rockett site will for sure rock when java and VRML come to town! This should be worth waiting for!

      Which side of the bed do you sleep on?

        Rikki: The right, unless I'm in my bunk on the tour bus, then it's always in the middle with a strap to hold me in.

          Tom: I'm told that proper etiquette is for the guy to sleep on the side of the bed closest to the door so he can save his lovely lady if an intruder breaks in at night. It really just means you get KILLED first!

          Paula: I think I'm gonna ask Tom if he sleeps leaning back in his chair in front of the pc - he doesn't sleep. I wouldn't like sleeping on a tour bus! I hope that you can do a "life on the road" piece once you get a Poison section going.

      How much email do you get a week? Do you answer it all?

        Rikki: A ton. I answer what I can. I also write in a lot of folders on AOL.

          Paula: Email is the first thing I have noticed that can get out of hand, I actually feel nervous about it, like it's going to crawl out at me if I don't do something about it.

          Tom: I get alot of mail, too. But once I made the mistake of subscribing to a mailing list (the Doom list). What a nightmare! I was getting hundreds of e-mails an hour! And then it took like 3 weeks to get the crazy thing unsubscribed! Every since then regular mail seems managable!

      Are you left handed or right handed?

        Rikki: Right handed but I eat with my left (I don't know why!)

          Tom: A drummer has to coordinated with both hands...and feet! You can probably eat with more style with your left foot than I can with my right hand!

          Paula: I bet you eat with your left, because you have a pen in your right hand.

      What do you use to edit HTML (an editor, notepad, etc)?

        Rikki: I used to use Simple Text until I discovered Web Weaver for Mac.

          Paula: When you find an editor that lets you "think" it in, let me know.

          Tom: I'm a notepad kinda guy. Those Editors restrict things way too much. But if I had a 9500 maybe I'd TRY Web Weaver....could I borrow yours for a few days!!

      Does your computer clock tell the correct time?

        Rikki: Believe it or not... yes!

          Tom: Cool! I bet it's a Mac thing! PC clocks never work! Mine speeds up and then slows down. It's downright schizophrenic!

          Paula: I keep forgetting that I have a clock on the computer, most of the time, I'd rather NOT know how long I've been on or what time it is.

      What kind of salad dressing do you use?

        Rikki: Italian, and ginger in Chinese restaurants.

          Paula: Never tried ginger, I'm going to, in honor of you, but I'm going to write if I don't like it, cause I'm a French and Ranch combo person.

          Tom: Do they have salads at Chinese restaurants? I always end up with some kind of egg foo thing or other! I'm gettin salad next time!

      Have you always wanted to be rich and famous?

        Rikki: Yes, but fame comes way before rich. And fame you have very little control over. It's something other people give you. Success is what you give yourself.

          Paula: I've thought about this answer a lot and it is really good. You can answer this question from experience and I wonder if you'd ever want to go back, or change anything.

          Tom: Whoa! Another deep one. This needs to be on one of those calendars at the mall!

      What platform do you use (Mac, PC, other)?

        Rikki: Mac. Would love a Silicone Graphics Machine.

          Paula: I start drooling whenever anyone mentions a Silcone Graphics machine -

          Tom: Calm down, Paula! Rikki will let us borrow his when he gets it!

      Do you drink regular or decaf?

        Rikki: Regular leaded strong-assed stuff.

          Tom: Yeah! John Wayne style! The kind that gets up and walks off! And then grows shag carpet on your chest!

          Paula: Is there anything else????

      And a few more for good measure!

      Is anyone else in the band into computing? And do any of you plan to do an official Poison web site?

        Rikki: Blues has been known to come on AOL quite a bit and Bobby has a Powerbook and a Performa, but not yet on the web.Yes, as a matter of fact I am going to do a Poison website. I got granted free space for the LCA stuff from INSTANET and I need to move those files and create Poison ones. I am also going to have an area called "Rikki's Niteclub", an area for fans and friends pictures all dressed up and somewhere to go...My webpage!

          Paula: I'm looking forward to this - also glad to hear you've got support on LCA.

          Tom: Cool! It outta ROCK! Maybe some sound files and video clips from the tour to make it just right!

          NOTE: At the time of this interview the Poison web site was not up, however that site is now active.

      Why don't you have any drum related stuff on your site?

        Rikki: I don't know! I'll probably put it in the profiles section of the Poison page.

          Paula: Rikki's ready to rock, as Tom would say - imagine a VRML drum site!

          Tom: Yeah! Paula's on it! a VRML drum site - now that would be so cool!

      Is it true you used to do hair?

        Rikki: Yes! People get into music to meet girls, doing hair is much better for that, really!

          Paula: Too funny - Tom tells me the same - suppose I'd have to become a health spa towel girl to get the same results, but I don't know about those guys either - guess I'll stick to the safety-net here!

          Tom: Doing hair is the ultimate form of art, too (OK, so I'm a little biased!) And it's true, most of my clientele is female. I'm getting some great material for my book! The tales these ladies tell are too good to be kept a secret!

      What are your plans for your web site down the road?

        Rikki: VRML, Applets, Scripting, I want it all!

          Tom: You're gonna kick some butt, Rikki! The whole music industry is gonna look at your site to see how it ought to be done. I can't wait!

          Paula: I think the "I want it all," says it all!Thanks, Rikki, for letting us crawl into your mind and home away from home, it's been great!

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