The Rockett Mafia, a newly formed rock project led by Poison drummer and founding member Rikki Rockett, is moving ahead with plans to record its debut EP later this year. The release is expected to arrive via Pavement Entertainment.
The band’s current lineup also includes Brandon Gibbs (Devil City Angels) handling vocals and guitar, Mick Sweda (BulletBoys) on guitar and backing vocals, and Michael Adams (Puddle of Mudd) on bass.
On Saturday, January 10, Rockett addressed the project’s future on social media following news that Sweda had rejoined BulletBoys. He commented on how that development could impact Sweda’s role in The Rockett Mafia, writing:
“Been getting questions about Mick re-joining the Bulletboys and what that means for Rockett Mafia… Mick is desirous to continue on with The Mob. If anything changes, I’ll report [as soon as possible].”
“I support Mick‘s return to the [Bulletboys] as this was his baby for many years,” Rikki added. “Either way, Rockett Mafia is a force this coming year and here’s why… We are starting to book shows and look forward to some amazing dates. This is the first week back it as our agent is busy mapping out some cool stuff. We are also planning an EP. Writing songs, etc. There will be originals and maybe a cover or two on the EP. Hope to knock it out very soon!”
The Rockett Mafia’s live shows pull heavily from classic rock of the 1970s and 1980s, reworking familiar songs from that era with a tougher, modern edge. The band also dips into lesser-heard tracks from Poison’s catalog, spotlighting songs that rarely make it into the legendary group’s setlists.
Speaking on the Iron City Rocks podcast earlier, Rockett discussed the direction of The Rockett Mafia, which debuted its first single in February 2025 with a cover of “I Think I Love You,” the 1970 Tony Romeo–penned song originally recorded by the fictional TV band The Partridge Family. When asked whether the group has discussed creating and recording original material, Rockett explained:
“Yes, we have. In fact, Mick and I played yesterday and we’ve been talking about stuff. And we got a couple of things under our hat now. We’re just trying to do it one step at a time and put all the pieces together. So, if we do something, we can actually make a really decent effort out of it and not — pardon the French, but half-a** it. I don’t wanna do that.”
Regarding covers that The Rockett Mafia plays at shows, Rikki said: “We do a Faces song. We do a Billy Joel song. We do an Elton John song. We’ve taken some of this stuff and just kind of reimagined it in a hard rock format. And that’s the idea of it, rather than take something that was already a rock song and compete with it. I don’t wanna redo a Black Sabbath song. I’m not gonna do a better job than Bill Ward; I’m just not. To me, that’s the pinnacle of Black Sabbath. And Faces arguably… But back then, I feel like some of those recordings were rushed… [Faces‘] ‘Stay With Me’, by way of example, I’ve heard so many versions of that — funky versions and fast versions and slower versions — and it’s okay to do our own version. I don’t wanna do ‘War Pigs’ my way.”
