POISON's RIKKI ROCKETT Believes There Are Successful Rock Musicians Who Are Autistic

In a recent interview with Kadin McElwain of Autism Digest, POISON drummer Rikki Rockett spoke about the fact that people with autism are highly creative, imaginative individuals who often have special talents in areas such as art and music. Explaining that autism may be disabling for musicians on the spectrum in social settings, but it doesn't hinder them when it comes to making music, Rikki said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think there are artists that are autistic. There's artists that are ADHD [Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder], I think I'm probably ADD [Attention Deficit Disorder] myself.

"Here's the thing: a lot of autistic people can multitask in ways that people that don't [have autism] can't," Rikki continued. "And I've found that sometimes it's a superpower — literally. And you cannot judge a book by its cover. And the cool thing is, is that at least for the most part — and this isn't across the board — but for the most part, I feel like musicians who are a little more open to all kinds of different people, as long as they have something to contribute and they're being creative, I think other musicians listen to other musicians, and if they don't, they usually don't last that long. You can usually pick 'em out. They're usually not the ones that are the cream of the crop. It's the ones that are very open-minded. And I would recommend that artists listened, if a neurodivergent artist had a great song idea, for example, listen to the song. Listen to the song. Maybe it's not good. Maybe it's something that you never, ever would've thought, because it's coming from somebody that perceives things just a little bit different than you do, and that's key."

Rikki's new rock project THE ROCKETT MAFIA recently signed a deal with Pavement Entertainment. The partnership includes live show engagements, merchandise, and upcoming music releases.

In addition to Rockett, THE ROCKETT MAFIA includes Brandon Gibbs (DEVIL CITY ANGELS) on vocals and guitar, Mick Sweda (BULLETBOYS) on guitar and backing vocals and Michael Adams (PUDDLE OF MUDD) on bass.

THE ROCKETT MAFIA performs a powerful mix of classic rock from the 1970s and 1980s, often reimagining songs from that era with a heavier, more contemporary feel. Their live set also features deep cuts from POISON's catalog — songs the legendary band rarely performs — giving fans a rare and exciting experience.

Rikki's memoir, "Ghost Notes", which was written with writer duo Leif Eriksson and Martin Svensson, is due in April 2026 via Rare Bird Books.

POISON exploded into the highly competitive Los Angeles music scene in the 1980s, making a name for itself in the clubs on the Sunset Strip.

POISON has sold over 50 million records worldwide, releasing eight studio albums, four live albums, and four compilations. The band has charted 10 singles on the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10 singles and one Hot 100 number-one smash hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".