Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison

by Rikki Rockett, Martin Svensson, Leif Eriksson

From the suburbs of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, to the neon glare of Los Angeles, Rikki Rockett’s journey is as raw and relentless as the beat of his drums.

Before becoming the flamboyant, fire-breathing drummer of Poison, Rockett was a restless kid with a taste for rebellion and an obsession with music that refused to let him go.

In Ghost Notes, Rockett pulls no punches as he recounts the wild ride from basement bands and dishwashing jobs to forming one of the most iconic glam-metal acts of the 1980s. Beyond the sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, he also confronts the fractured family ties, addiction, betrayal, cancer, brushes with death, and a lifelong search for meaning beyond the stage.

Brutally honest, darkly funny, and packed with never-before-told stories, Ghost Notes is both confession and celebration—a backstage pass to a life lived loud, fast, and without apology.

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 10, 2026

Reviews

[Lance Lumley]

As someone who loved the first two Poison albums, and still constantly play them., I was excited to read this book from drummer Rikki Rockett and his journey from PA to being in one of the top bands in the '80s (I always have a fondness to bands near me, living in Ohio). I was a little disappointed in the book because there were not many behind the scenes stuff, like how certain songs got written. There is a story about "Unskinny Bop" being named what it is , and the already known backstory of "Something To Believe In." Fans who are hoping for some comments about the recent disputes between the band and Bret Michaels not touring for their anniversary, you will not find it because the book went to print before all that happened.
Rockett has had a neat career with side bands and his life for martial arts, but the book doesn't provide anything new that many didn't already know, which is a shame because it could have been so much more, but die hard fans will still enjoy it. It was a very quick reda; one could fly through it in a few days. For my in-depth review, visit my page at: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...

[Christopher Long]

UNFILTERED, FUNNY, AND FAT-FREE...

In rapid-fire fashion, Rockett moves from his early suburban life in Pennsylvania to his wild Poison exploits to other professional endeavors, including his comic book operation, drum company, and video projects, as well as his personal passions for martial arts, the paranormal, and animal rights. But the story offers its most effective flex when Rockett punches past his sex, drugs, & rock and roll confessions and embraces his heartfelt, yet occasionally painful and conflicted relationships with colleagues, friends, and family.

While Ghost Notes “tells” more than it “shows,” Rockett’s unfeigned “voice” makes this memoir a tough one to set down. Although it begs for another 200 pages, both casual and diehard enthusiasts will likely find it to be a worthy, entertaining read from start to finish.

-Christopher Long