Rikki Rockett
Rikki Rockett live with Poison on July 11, 2008 at the Moondance Jam
Background information
Birth name	Richard Aaron Ream
Born	(1961-08-08) August 8, 1961 (age 50)
Origin	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Glam metal, hard rock
Occupations	Drummer
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1983–present
Associated acts	Poison
Website	www.rikkirockett.com

Richard Allan Ream (born August 8, 1961), better known by the stage name Rikki Rockett, is an American drummer best known for his work with the glam metal band, Poison.

Biography[link]

Born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Rockett was the younger of two children to Norman and Margaret Ream. He attended Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill. Before founding Poison with vocalist Bret Michaels, Rockett worked as a hairdresser, lifeguard, dishwasher, Emergency Medical Technician and a suit salesman.

Rockett was always an integral part of Poison's success featuring on every Poison album ever released. The tattoo photo featured on Poison's 1990 album Flesh and Blood is Rockett's right shoulder. The logo was already done a couple of years prior but he added "Flesh and Blood" in support of the title. The original album cover still has the blood running from the new tattoo though it was airbrushed out soon after its release.

In late-1993, Rockett discovered that the then guitarist Richie Kotzen of Poison was having a relationship with Rockett's fiancee at the time, Deanna Eve. Kotzen was fired due to this incident. In VH1's "Behind The Music",singer Bret Michaels said he never wanted to speak to Kotzen again.

Rockett and Brian Cocivera joined forces creating custom built drum kits called the Chop Shop Custom Drum Company.

After almost twenty 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 2004 Rikki founded the "Brit Iron Rebels" a vintage and modern retro motorcycle internet group dedicated to the British Rocker motorcycle culture of the '50's & '60's.

In April 2006 the same year Poison celebrated their 20 year anniversary, Rockett made a guest appearance on TLC's new "Wrecks To Riches" auto overhaul series, helping to restore a 1969 Dodge Dart before giving Poison's new version of "We're an American Band" a spin on the car's amped-up sound system.

On April 26, 2007, Rockett announced the creation of "Rockett Drum Works Inc". It is a drum manufacturing company, specializing in the creation of ultra custom drum kits, snare drums and custom accessories. Prior to setting up his enterprise, Rockett worked for Chop Shop Custom Drum. He departed after conflicting opinions with Chop Shop founder Brian Cocivera.^[1] Rockett recruited most of the staff from Chop Shop along with some newer staff members.^[2]

In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Star Wars in May 2007, Rockett discussed his lifelong love of the series during an interview with Maul Stanley.^[3] Rockett wore a Star Wars patch on his vest in Poison's "Fallen Angel" music video and he said that his favorite character is C-3PO.

On September 19, 2007, Bosphorus Cymbals unveiled the "Rockett Ride"; a custom ride cymbal in 20" and 22" sizes, designed to Rockett's exact specifications.

In October 2008 Rockett married long time girlfriend Melanie Martel. On July 14, 2009, they had their first child, Jude Aaron Rockett.

Rikki currently 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.^[4]

False rape charge and exoneration[link]

Rockett was arrested on Monday, March 24, 2008 on a rape warrant out of Mississippi after his flight from New Zealand landed at LAX. The alleged crime took place at the Silver Star Casino located on the Choctaw reservation in Mississippi. The Silver Star Casino is owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians which is Choctaw and Federal jurisdiction.^[5] On May 22, 2008, Rockett was exonerated of all charges after it was determined that he was not even in the state of Mississippi during the time of the alleged crime. It is believed that someone by the name of John Minskoff impersonated Rockett to get someone to sleep with him.^[6]

Rocketry[link]

Rikki is also an avid rocket flyer. He grew up as a kid around 10-11 years old buying and flying Estes model rocket kits. He than moved up to High Power Rocketry where he has flown and built several rockets. One of his rockets, is the Jurassic Kick, a rocket Rikki built using kick drum shells. The rocket took 3 months to build, and the rocket was flown on a kosdon O motor. The rocket has flown twice on an o motor, but the first flight only reached 5,000 feet because of a motor malfunction, where the motor had chuffed at about 20 feet off the ground. The second flight was a success and was the largest Amateur rocket to fly using a single motor. His rocket flight, plus a small biography of the rockets build, are included in a rocketry magazine and video from Rocket man high thrust videos, Called Big Bad Rockets.

Discography[link]

Solo[link]

• Glitter 4 Your Soul (2003)

Poison[link]

• Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)
• Open Up and Say...Ahh! (1988)
• Flesh & Blood (1990)
• Swallow This Live (1991)
• Native Tongue (1993)
• Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986-1996 (1996)
• Crack a Smile...and More! (2000)
• Power to the People (2000)
• Hollyweird (2002)
• Best of Ballads & Blues (2003)
• The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock (2006)
• Poison'd (June 2007)
• Live, Raw & Uncut (2008)
• Poison – Box Set (Collector's Edition) (2009)
• Double Dose: Ultimate Hits (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rikki Rockett official site
• Rikki Rockett official MySpace site
• Rockett Drum Works official site
• Rockett Drum Works official MySpace site
• Poison official site
• [1]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2008)

Ritsuki Nakano (中野 律紀, Nakano Ritsuki^?, born January 19, 1975), professionally known as Rikki (りっき^?), is a Japanese folk singer.

Born in Amami Ōshima, Japan, she began to sing traditional Japanese music when she was four years old. Later, at the age of 15, Rikki was the youngest winner ever to win the "Grand Prix" of the Japanese traditional folk music awards (known as All Japan Minyo awards). She first performed in Tokyo, Japan, at the prestigious Festival Konda Lota in 1992. She released her first single "Maten no Hoshi" (which means "Sky Full of Stars") in December 1993, originally released in the Kyūshū region of Japan. Shortly thereafter, she produced debut album, Kaze no Koe.

Rikki is widely known by gamers as the singer of the Final Fantasy X main theme, "Suteki da ne", released as a single on July 18, 2001. Other songs on the single include the Instrumental version of Suteki Da Ne, "Pure Heart" (a vocal arrangement of Aeris' Theme from Final Fantasy VII), and a new song entitled "Tsukisama" (which means "The Moon"). One reason why Nobuo Uematsu and Kazushige Nojima chose her to perform "Suteki Da Ne" (translated into English as "Isn't It Wonderful?") is that she is very famous in Japan as a traditional folk singer and he believed that her voice is rather nice and gentle and that it has a higher pitch than the voices of mainstream Japanese singers. Rikki was 26 years old at the time of Final Fantasy X's release. Many professional and amateur singers were inspired by her singing voice and ability to make combinations and mixtures of pop and rock music.^{[citation needed]}

In 1998, Rikki was chosen to participate at the opening ceremony of the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano, Japan, sing the Paralympics theme song "Tabidachi no Toki".

In 2001, she produced a picture album alongside Joe Hisaishi for the motion picture Spirited Away (directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

In 2006, Rikki joined the band Sound Horizon for the release of 5th Story CD: Roman. She was involved in Sound Horizon's releases until 2008, when she gave birth to twins and returned to Amami Ōshima, as she said in her blog. She returned to Sound Horizon in 2009 for their Triumph III live tour.

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

• "Manten no Sora" (1 December 1993)
• "Tsubasa o Hiroge" (1 May 1994)
• "Suteki da ne" – Featured in Final Fantasy X (18 July 2001), re-released by Square Enix on July 22, 2004
• "Karatachi Nomichi / Toki" (19 March 2003)

Albums[link]

• Mucha Kana (21 May 1993) – Re-released on August 21, 2002
• Kaze no Koe (16 December 1993)
• Taiyō no Shita de (24 August 1994)
• Rikki (16 December 1995)
• Miss You Amami (15 November 1998) – Re-released in the UK on 15 June 2004
• Kanaria (3 October 2001)
• Mitsu (21 August 2002)
• Shimauta TRICKLES (25 September 2002)
• Musunu Shima He (19 January 2005)

External links[link]

• Rikki Official Website
• Ritsuki Nakano discography at MusicBrainz
• RIKKI discography at MusicBrainz
• Another biography about Ritsuki Nakano

Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee, Hollywood, CA, on March 20, 2012
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Lee Bass
Born	(1962-10-03) October 3, 1962 (age 49) Athens, Greece
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal, alternative metal, rap metal, electrohouse, progressive house
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, drummer, DJ
Instruments	Drums, piano, vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, turntables
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Leathür, Elektra, MCA
Associated acts	Mötley Crüe, Methods of Mayhem, Rock Star Supernova, Fuel, Deadmau5, Sum 41, Jack's Mannequin, Rob Zombie, DJ Aero
Website	tommylee.com
Notable instruments
Pearl Drums Zildjian Cymbals Ahead Sticks Remo Drum Heads MacBook Pro Schecter Guitar Research Randall Amplifiers

Thomas Lee Bass (born October 3, 1962), best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects. He has been married to model Elaine Bergen and actresses Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson.

Early life[link]

Lee was born on October 3, in Athens, Greece, as Thomas Lee Bass,^[1] the son of David Oliver Bass, a US Army serviceman of Welsh descent,^[2] and Vassiliki Papadimitriou, a 1957 Miss Greece contestant. His family moved to West Covina, California one year after his birth. He received his first drum when he was four and his first drum kit when he was a teenager. Lee has one younger sister, Athena Lee (Athena Michelle Bass, b. 1964), who was married to James Kottak, the drummer for the band Scorpions and she was also the drummer of his solo band KrunK.

As a teen he listened to Queen, Kiss, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest. After listening to Kiss, his main drum influence became Peter Criss. After transferring from South Hills High School (West Covina, California); he joined the marching band at Royal Oak High School (now Royal Oak Middle School) in Covina, California.

Music career[link]

His first successful band Suite 19 played the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles during the late 1970s. At this time he met future bandmate, Nikki Sixx. Casually, Sixx was forming a theatrical band that would specialize in anthemic heavy metal, and was impressed by Lee's drumming. At this time, he changed his name to Tommy Lee and earned the nickname "T-bone" due to his 6′ 2½″ height and his skinny physique. Shortly afterward, guitarist Mick Mars joined the band. Mars recommended a singer Tommy had met while in high school, Vince Neil, who soon joined the group, and Mötley Crüe was formed.^{[citation needed]}

Mötley Crüe[link]

Mötley Crüe from left to right: Nikki Sixx, Lee, Mick Mars, and Vince Neil.

Mötley Crüe quickly built a strong fan base and they released their debut album Too Fast for Love in 1981, on their own independent label (Leathür Records). Elektra Records decided to sign the band shortly thereafter, reissuing their debut in 1982. The band then began a string of hit releases throughout the decade—1983's Shout at the Devil, 1985's Theatre of Pain, 1987's Girls, Girls, Girls, and 1989's Dr. Feelgood-establishing the quartet as one of the biggest hard rock/metal bands of the '80s.

Lee used several memorable gimmicks during his drum solos at concerts, such as having his entire kit revolving and spinning, or having the entire kit float above the crowd while he continued to play. He was legendary for mooning the crowd at nearly every show. The band was known for their decadent behavior both on and offstage, often consuming excessive amounts of drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, pills and alcohol.

In 2004, Lee reunited with the original Mötley Crüe line-up to release the double-disc album of hits entitled Red, White & Crüe, which went quad platinum and launched a monumental reunion tour to support it, The Red, White & Crüe Tour 2005: Better Live Than Dead, the band's first in six years. They finished the year number 8 on the top concert money earners list. They played 81 shows and grossed $33 million US (Billboard Boxscore).

Solo career[link]

Lee at Digital Playground Party on September 22, 2004.

Tommy Lee came back once with Motley Crüe to go on the Crüe's Greatest Hits tour in 1999. With the popularity of rap metal, Lee formed a band called Methods of Mayhem. The band released a self-titled album the same year and toured in support of it. Although Lee distanced himself from Mötley Crüe after splitting, he agreed to take part in their 2001 autobiography, The Dirt. In addition to Mötley Crüe and Methods of Mayhem, Lee has made guest appearances on albums by other artists, such as Stuart Hamm, Nine Inch Nails and Rob Zombie. He also contributed a song, "Planet Boom" (originally on Mötley Crüe's Quaternary EP) to the soundtrack of then-wife Pamela Anderson's 1996 movie, Barb Wire, and produced an album for the pre-Goldfinger project from John Feldmann and Simon Williams, the Electric Love Hogs.^[3] Lee parted ways with Methods of Mayhem partner Tilo and began recording with members of Incubus. He then released his first solo album. The album, 2002's Never a Dull Moment, has tones of rap metal and electronica. The song "Blue" features guest vocalist Rodleen Getsic (the credits read: "Rolleen"). In August 2002, Tommy Lee and his solo band joined Ozzfest, mainstage. In 2006, he formed a new band called Rock Star Supernova with Jason Newsted (Voivod, ex-Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses).

The 2006 season of Rock Star selected Lukas Rossi as the lead singer for Supernova. Dilana, Magni Ásgeirsson, and Toby Rand with his own band Juke Kartel were the three runners up and accepted an offer to go on tour with Supernova. The self titled debut album Rock Star Supernova was released on November 21, 2006.

Lee released his autobiography, Tommyland and his second solo album, Tommyland: The Ride in 2005. The CD featured as a soundtrack to the book and includes the singles, "Tryin to be Me", "Good Times" which was the theme song to his reality TV series "Tommy Lee Goes to College"^[4] and "Hello, Again" which features Andrew McMahon from Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin. Tommy Lee was also a guest DJ at WXRK "K-Rock" in New York during the Fourth of July Monster Metal Meltdown in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Lee also recorded drum tracks for the alternative rock band Jack's Mannequin, which has released the album Everything in Transit.

Lee with Criss Angel at the 2007 Scream Awards.

In November 2007, it was announced by Nikki Sixx that Tommy Lee was no longer a member of Mötley Crüe. Lee reportedly quit after the rest of the band sued his manager, Carl Stubner, for forcing Tommy to take part in reality TV shows, thus forcing the cancellation of a lengthy leg of Crüe tourdates in 2006. Lee already quit once in 2007 in September before returning to the band. Vince Neil refuted the claims that Tommy Lee resigned from the band and that the band would be going into the studio in January to start recording their newest studio album. In the end, Tommy Lee did end up recording the new album, Saints of Los Angeles, and toured with Crüe in 2008 in their tour, Crüefest. Mötley Crüe is now on their Saints of Los Angeles Tour, which started on February 2, which includes Lee. This tour will be followed by Crüfest 2.^{[citation needed]}

Tommy Lee's current artistic endeavors include touring as an electronic dance music DJ with his Methods Of Mayhem DJ/production partner, DJ Aero (birth name: Chester Deitz). As DJs, they are also known as Electro Mayhem and have clocked over 60 club dates as DJs throughout North America (with stops in the Bahamas and Central America) in 2007 alone, with more international dates planned for 2008 (including a stop in Iceland). Lee and Aero debuted as DJs on the mainstage at Ultra Music Festival during Winter Music Conference (WMC) in 2004. Lee and Aero have been DJing together since 2000, and they will again have a major presence at Miami's WMC in 2008. In 2009, Lee appeared in select cities with Sharam, one half of Grammy Award nominated and Grammy Award winning Deep Dish, accompanying Sharam live on the piano during his house DJ sets. Lee and DJ Aero also accompanied deadmau5 in his 2011 Meowington Hax tour.

In an interview held backstage at the 2009 Download Festival, Tommy Lee confirmed that he is currently working on his yet-to-be-named third solo album. It is expected to be released sometime in 2010. On June 27, 2010 Tommy played drums for Ludacris at the BET Awards 2010. On March 25, 2010, he co-presented the International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) along with Roger Sanchez and DJ Rap.

Television career[link]

In 2004, Lee briefly attended, but did not enroll in, the University of Nebraska for a few weeks in the fall of 2004, while filming a reality television show for NBC called Tommy Lee Goes to College. The show featured a "fish-out-of-water" premise as it followed Lee's effort to fit into the collegiate experience, including trying out for the marching band (as a drummer), taking courses in horticulture, chemistry, and literature, and receiving constant support from a sexy and smart tutor.

Lee was also one of the producers of the show. In spring 2008, Lee commenced filming another reality TV show with rapper Ludacris for Planet Green (Discovery Channel's 24-hour eco-friendly network) titled,"Battleground Earth". The show focuses on environmental challenges between Lee and Ludacris to raise awareness for green causes. The Planet Green shows aired through until September 2008.

In June 2010, it was announced that Lee would guest-star in an episode of Californication as a singer.^[5] Also in 2010, Lee appeared on an episode of the Comedy Central show, Tosh.0.

Personal life[link]

Relationships[link]

Lee was married to Elaine Bergen in 1984; they divorced after one month.^[6]

In 1986, Lee married actress Heather Locklear. The couple divorced in 1993.

In 1995, he married actress and Playboy Playmate Pamela Anderson (1995–98). They have two children. Anderson and Lee married only four days after meeting, after Lee pursued her while she was on vacation with a friend. They wed on a beach, Anderson wearing only a white bikini. The couple divorced in 1998. Although divorced, the couple reunited briefly upon his release from prison but eventually split again.

In 2008 it was announced that he and Pamela Anderson were back together and living with each other and their children.^[7]

Sex tape[link]

Lee and Anderson had videotaped their sexual activities while on vacation. The video was stolen in 1995 and released on the Internet, becoming a prime example of viral pornography. According to The Dirt, Tommy Lee says that he was having work done at his house, and a person (who, according to the book, was a former porn star) working at the house found the tape and sold it. Anderson sued the video distribution company, Internet Entertainment Group. Ultimately, the Lees entered into a confidential settlement agreement with IEG. Thereafter, the company began making the tape available to subscribers to its Web sites again, resulting in triple the normal traffic on the site.^[8]

Legal issues[link]

Lee served four months in prison after pleading no contest to kicking Pamela Anderson while she was holding their son Dylan.^[9]

Lee suffered a 1998 lawsuit when he exposed a swastika tattoo on his arm to public scrutiny (the tattoo was in fact a swastika facing backwards). In 1996, Lee had pled no contest to criminal charges of battery against a Jewish photographer after Lee attacked the man outside the famous Viper Room, in L.A. When the photographer sued Lee, the "swastika" tattoo (which has since been removed) was said to be visible and Lee’s lawyer argued it would inflame the jury and create unfair prejudice against Lee.^[10] Shortly after claiming that the introduction of the tattoo into the court record would produce prejudice, Lee denied its existence.^[11] Lee's attorney reported the swastika was a “stupid tattoo obtained several years ago”.^[12]

In October 1999, Tommy Lee was arrested in North Carolina after instigating a riot during the 1997 concert at Greensboro Coliseum. Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx allegedly made racist comments to a black security guard, suggesting that the crowd attack him. Sixx and Lee were said to have poured beer over the guard's head.^[13]

On June 16, 2001, four-year-old Daniel Karven-Veres drowned in Lee's swimming pool while attending a birthday party for Lee's 5-year-old son, Brandon. His parents, James Veres and Ursula Karven, sued Lee for negligence. Lee was cleared by a jury in April 2003.^[14]

In September 2007, Lee was kicked out of the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony after engaging in a fight with Kid Rock.^[15][16] Kid Rock was cited for assault on Lee and pled guilty.^[17]

Activism[link]

Tommy Lee is a supporter of animal rights and PETA.^[18] He made a donation to support PETA's campaign against Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Equipment[link]

Drums[link]

• Pearl
  • 18x26 bass drum
  • 6.5x14 snare
  • 11x14 rack tom
  • 11x14 floor tom
  • 14x16 floor tom

Tommy uses the Pearl Tru-Trac drum heads, a Electronic vibe/ triggers. On the 2011 and current (2012) Tour Tommy is using his Pearl Drums rollercoaster drum set. They all are mounted in place while doing his (360 Drum Solo) in which he plays drums upside down!.

Cymbals[link]

• Avedis Zildjian
  • 14" Z Custom Splash
  • 15" A Rock HiHats
  • 15" A New Beat HiHats
  • 18" Z Custom Projection Crash
  • 19" Z Custom Medium Crash
  • 20" A Custom Medium Crash
  • 20" Z Custom Ride
  • 9.5" Large Zil Bell
  • 22" Oriental China Trash

Hardware[link]

• Pearl Demon Double Bass Drum Pedals.
• 9500 Hi-Hat Stand
• 9300 Snare Drum Stand (x2)
• 9900 Double Tom Stand
• 9700 Cymbal Stand (x5)
• 9100 Drum Throne

Sticks[link]

• Vic Firth (1980's-1990's)
• AHEAD Tommy Lee signature drum sticks, Silver Sleves. (2000-present)

Album discography[link]

Solo[link]

Mötley Crüe[link]

• Too Fast for Love (1981) Platinum US US #40
• Shout at the Devil (1983) 4x Platinum US US #10
• Theatre of Pain (1985) 4x Platinum US US #6
• Girls, Girls, Girls (1987) 4x Platinum US US #2
• Dr. Feelgood (1989) 6x Platinum US US #1
• Decade of Decadence compilation (1991) 2x Platinum US US #2
• Mötley Crüe (1994) Gold US US #7
• Quaternary EP (1994)
• Generation Swine (1997) Gold US US #4
• Greatest Hits (1998) compilation Gold US US #20
• Supersonic and Demonic Relics compilation (1999)
• Live: Entertainment or Death live album (1999) US #133
• Millennium Collection (2003)
• Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 1 box set (2003)
• Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 2 box set (2004)
• Red, White & Crüe compilation (2005) Platinum US US #6
• Carnival of Sins Live, Vol. 1 live album (2006)
• Carnival of Sins Live, Vol. 2 live album (2006)
• Saints of Los Angeles (2008) Gold US US #4
• Mötley Crüe: Greatest Hits (2009)

Methods of Mayhem[link]

• Methods of Mayhem (1999) Gold US US #71
• A Public Disservice Announcement (2010) US #153

Rock Star Supernova[link]

• Rock Star Supernova (2006) US #101

Guest performances[link]

• Rush Street (1991) - Richard Marx
• The Urge (1991) - Stuart Hamm
• The Downward Spiral (1994) - Nine Inch Nails
• Whore (1996) - Dalbello (drums on "Revenge of Sleeping Beauty" track; remark by Sergey Lavrov)
• Hellbilly Deluxe (1998) - Rob Zombie
• The Sinister Urge (2001) - Rob Zombie
• Everything in Transit (2005) - Jack's Mannequin
• Angels & Devils (2007) - Fuel

Singles[link]

References[link]

1. ^ "Miss Greece in 1957". http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/NewFashion/MissGreece.html. Retrieved 2010-05-23. 
2. ^ "Biography for Tommy Lee (VI)". imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005136/bio. Retrieved 2010-05-27. 
3. ^ "Electric Love Hogs In The Studio With Tommy Lee". Youtube. 2008-03-12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K88GFEJCGc. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
4. ^ "Tommy Lee Goes to College soundtrack". http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=18859. 2011
5. ^ "Tommy Lee to Appear on Californication". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Tommy-Lee-Californication-1019722.aspx. 
6. ^ Michelle Green (1986-05-26). Dynasty's Heather Locklear Takes a Motley Mate, the Hard-Rocking Tommy Lee. People. Accessed 2010-12-15.
7. ^ Wells, Melody S. (2008-06-13). "Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee Back Together Again, but mostly for the chlidren". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20206681,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
8. ^ Pelline, Jeff (1997-12-01). "Pamela Lee drops video case". CNET News. CBS Interactive. http://news.cnet.com/Pamela-Lee-drops-video-case/2100-1023_3-205848.html?tag=mncol. Retrieved 2010-08-02. 
9. ^ The Sun-Herald (2002-06-24). "The trials of Tommy Lee". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/23/1023864527266.html. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
10. ^ "Swastika tattoo controversy". Mtv.com. 1998-04-02. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432392/19980402/lee_tommy.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
11. ^ "News - Lee denies tattoo of swastika". Mtv.com. 1998-04-06. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432391/19980406/lee_tommy.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
12. ^ "News Lite : Judge Backs Jury In Spelling Case". Thefreelibrary.com. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEWS+LITE+:+JUDGE+BACKS+JURY+IN+SPELLING+CASE-a083817255. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
13. ^ Sorelle Saidman (September 7, 1999). Tommy Lee Gets Naked, Nikki Sixx Gets Arrested... Again. mtv.com. Accessed 2011-04-04.
14. ^ "Tommy Lee cleared in boy's drowning death". Courttv.com. http://www.courttv.com/trials/tommylee/verdict_ctv.html. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
15. ^ "E! Online". E! Online. 2007-09-10. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b56122_Kid_Rock_Tommy_Lee_Rock_n_Brawl_at_VMAs.html. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
16. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (2007-09-10). "MTV News". Mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1569305/20070910/lee_tommy.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
17. ^ "Kid Rock Cited for Misdemeanor Assault". Moono.com (UGO Networks). 2007-09-11. http://www.moono.com/news/news05595.html. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
18. ^ "Tommy Lee: "Ink, Not Mink"". http://www.peta.org.uk/feat/inknotmink.asp. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Tommy Lee

• Official website
• Mötley Crüe Videos
• Tommy Lee: The luckiest man alive? Hustler Magazine
• Tommy Lee co-hosts Battleground Earth on Planet Green
• Hollywood A-List News: Tommy Lee
• Rock Star SuperNova official site
• Rock Star SuperNova official site on SonyBMG
• Tommy Lee at the Internet Movie Database
• Ink Not Mink Interview with PETA
• Tommy Lee Interview DJ Interview Clubplanet

Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels live with Poison on July 11, 2008 at the Moondance Jam
Background information
Birth name	Bret Michael Sychak
Born	(1963-03-15) March 15, 1963 (age 49)[1] Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Glam metal, hard rock, country rock, country
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Harmonica, Percussion
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Capitol Records Cyanide Music Inc. VH1 Classic Records
Associated acts	Poison, Jessica Andrews
Website	BretMichaels.com

Bret Michaels (born Bret Michael Sychak, March 15, 1963) is an American musician, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and reality television personality. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Poison who have sold over 30 million records worldwide^[2] and 15 million records in the United States alone.^[3] The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10 singles and the number-one single, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".^[4]

Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, including a Soundtrack album to the movie A Letter from Death Row in which Michaels starred in, wrote and directed in 1998 and a classic Poison style rock album Songs of Life in 2003. Michaels has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including as a judge on the talent show Nashville Star which lead to his country influenced rock album Freedom of Sound in 2005. He starred in the hit VH1 reality show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels and its sequels, which inspired his successful solo album Rock My World. He was the winning contestant on NBC's reality show Celebrity Apprentice 3 and also featured in his own reality Docu-series Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It, which inspired his highest charting album as a solo artist Custom Built, reaching #1 on Billboard's Hard Rock list.

Early life[link]

Michaels was born Bret Michael Sychak, to Wally and Marjorie Sychak, north of Pittsburgh in the city of Butler, Pennsylvania.^[1] He has two sisters, Michelle and Nicole.^[5] He claims that his parents had originally intended for him to have the middle name "Maverick", after the title character in the popular James Garner TV Western series Maverick.^[6] He is of Carpatho-Rusyn descent.^[7]

At the age of six he fell ill, and during a three-week stay in the hospital, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.^[8]

Music career[link]

Michaels began playing the guitar as a teenager. With drummer Rikki Rockett, bass player Bobby Dall and guitarist Matt Smith, he formed the band Paris, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 1983. After playing the Pennsylvania bar circuit, in early 1984 they moved to Los Angeles to seek fame on the Sunset Boulevard scene, eventually changing their name to Poison.^[8] That same year he met 16-year-old Tracy Lewis, who would become both his girlfriend, and the muse for one of his most memorable songs. Eventually Matt Smith tired of the band's struggle to find fame, and returned home. He was replaced with C.C. DeVille, who would become both Michaels' friend and a source of conflict.^[8]

1980s – 1990s[link]

Local publicity about the band eventually led to a record deal with Enigma Records, and their first album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. It did not see great success until 1987, when Michaels convinced the band to film a video for their song, "Talk Dirty to Me." The album went platinum, and the band became famous.^[9] In March of that year, however, Michaels collapsed onstage due to his diabetes. Responding to rumors that he was a drug addict, he announced publicly that he was a diabetic.^[8]

1987 also saw the dissolution of his relationship with Lewis, who felt that fame had changed him. Though Michaels contends that Lewis was unfaithful to him, Lewis (now Lewis Crosby) insists that it was Michaels who was unfaithful. Michaels was inspired by the breakup to write "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", explaining that the rose represented his fame and success, whereas the loss of his relationship represented the thorn. The song was released as a power ballad single in December 1988, and is regarded as "the ultimate 80s anthem about heartbreak."^[8]

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s Poison became one of the biggest glam metal bands in the world, recording their second album, the multi-platinum selling Open Up and Say... Ahh!, and their third album, the multi-platinum selling Flesh & Blood. However, their lives were characterized by the escalating tension between Michaels and DeVille that derived from their mutual drug use, which came to a head during their 1990/91 "Flesh and Blood" world tour. Also cited is the spectacle of DeVille's behavior during the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. After getting into a fistfight with Michaels, DeVille left the band, and descended further into addiction. Poison went on with new guitarist Richie Kotzen recording the Gold album Native Tongue and then with guitarist Blues Saraceno recording the album Crack a Smile... and More!. In the mid 1990s, after a night of partying, Michaels came close to dying when he crashed his Ferrari into a telephone pole. He incurred serious injury, including broken ribs, a disfigured nose and lost teeth.^[8] In 1999, reunited with original guitarist C.C. Deville, Poison went on a successful greatest hits reunion tour. In the next decade Bret Michaels would split his time between Poison and a successful solo career.

2000s[link]

Michaels recorded his first solo album in 1998 titled A Letter from Death Row which was the soundtrack to the same-titled movie he directed, wrote, and starred in. In 2000 Michaels released a country demos ep and also released the album "Show Me Your Hits" which featured re-recorded Poison classics, the album featured Michaels performing Poison hits in a new way and also featured other artists with Michaels on selected tracks. In 2001 Michaels released a very unique storytellers CD titled Ballads, Blues & Stories which featured Poison and Michaels solo tracks along with recorded stories about each song.

In 2003, Michaels released a brand new studio album Songs of Life which featured the singles "Raine" (dedicated to his daughter) and "Bittersweet". Michaels also released his first solo music video for the single "Raine" which was directed by award winning directer Shane Stanley. The album also featured a music video for "Menace to Society" and featured a 9/11 tribute "One More Day".

Michaels served as a judge during the 2005 season of the reality television singing competition Nashville Star and released a country rock album in the same year called Freedom of Sound which featured the singles "Right Now, Right Here", "Open Road" which Michaels performed live on the show and the hit single "All I Ever Needed" (featuring Jessica Andrews), which also included a music video.

Michaels released a best of album called Rock My World in June 2008 which featured music from his reality television series Rock of Love including the new singles "Go That Far" (Rock of Love theme), "Fallen" and "Start Again", the first two singles also featuring music videos with clips from the series. The album charted at #40 on the Billboard 200, #4 on the Top Independent Albums, #4 on the Top Hard Rock Albums and #16 on the Top Rock Albums chart.^[10] In December 2008, Michaels released a single version of "Driven" (rock mix) which also featured a music video with preview clips for the third season of Rock of Love, titled Rock of Love Bus, Michaels also re released the "Fallen" single with acoustic, piano and demo versions included.^[11]

Michaels released a 30-minute DVD from Time Life in 2008 called Hard & Heavy Confidential featuring Bret Michaels which included acoustic versions of "All I Ever Needed", "Driven", "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Something to Believe In", it also included in depth interviews.^[12] The DVD was included in the Hard & Heavy CD/DVD collection from (Time Life) advertised on TV by Bret Michaels. The same 4 acoustic performances were also released on CD which was titled "Bret Michaels Acoustic Sessions."^[13]

In March 2010, Michaels released a new single called "Nothing to Lose" from his upcoming new studio album, Custom Built. The song featured the guest vocals of Miley Cyrus. In April 2010, he released the second single "Lie to Me" and in May 2010 released the third single, "Wasted Time".

Michaels performed on the American Idol season 9 finale on May 26 against his doctor's recommendation. Michaels also performed a duet of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" with Miley Cyrus on the June 18, 2010 episode Good Morning America.^[14]

On July 6, 2010, Michaels released his new album Custom Built. The album became Michaels highest charting solo album to date peaking at #1 on both the Top Independent Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums chart and also charting at #4 on the Top Rock Albums and #14 on the Billboard 200.^[15]

On August 4, 2010, Michaels appeared in the fifth season of America's Got Talent and performed "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", accompanying himself on acoustic folk guitar.

Despite not being released as a single, a music video was produced for "Riding Against the Wind" a song from Michaels' latest album "Custom Built" that also doubles as the theme song for his new VH1 reality show Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It. The music video was released on October 7, 2010, exclusively at Billboard's and contains footage from the series, which officially premieres on VH1 on October 18, 2010.^[16] Michaels also released a music video for the cover of Sublime's song "What I Got", which is the fourth single from "Custom Built". The music video is a special tribute to his fans and was released on Thanksgiving.^[17]

On December 31, 2011, Michaels celebrated the new year with a New Year’s Eve concert from the 'Get Your Rock On' Solo tour. The concert took place in Springfield, IL at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. To make the night complete, this New Year's Eve bash will be featured and well documented in the music video for the new single "Get Your Rock On" from Bret's upcoming album release of the same name^[18]. The single "Get Your Rock On (featuring Sal Costa)" was released January 9, 2012.

In conjunction with his new single Michaels also released another single titled "Get Your Ride On (featuring Phil Collen)" on January 10, 2012. The song will also Serve as Monster Energy AMA Supercross Opener all season on Speed with an exclusive video that premiered on SPEED TV January 7, 2012. The video will be customized for each race throughout the season^[19].

[edit] Rock of Love

Michaels starred in the reality television dating competition series Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, the first season of which premiered in July 2007.^[20][21] Jes Rickleff was the winner of Season One. However, she announced during the October 2007 reunion show that she and Michaels were not right for each other and told runner-up Heather he was all hers and that he should have chosen Heather. The first season was released on DVD in early 2008.

The show's second season premiered on January 13, 2008. On April 13, 2008, Michaels selected Ambre Lake as his "Rock of Love". After the show the two maintained a relationship, but parted ways after just a few months due to personal commitments, but they remain good friends.^[22]

A third season, Rock of Love Bus, premiered on January 4, 2009. which was a series high for VH1,^[23] Michaels chose Penthouse Pet Taya Parker as the winner. When asked about a fourth season of Rock of Love, Michaels said "Now they want me to come back for a fourth 'Rock of Love.' I feel that it should be something that changes up, but I still want that fun element. What you see is what you get with me."^[24]

Other television and film appearances[link]

Michaels and actor Charlie Sheen established a film production company, Sheen/Michaels Entertainment, which produced the movie A Letter from Death Row (1998), which Michaels wrote, directed and starred in, and for which he released a soundtrack album. They also produced No Code of Conduct that same year, which Michaels also directed and acted in. Their company also produced the feature film Free Money, starring Marlon Brando and Mira Sorvino, and the surfer movie In God's Hands in which Michaels also had a small acting role.

Michaels appeared in the CBS sitcom Yes, Dear, Season 1, Episode 6, titled Greg's Big Day, first aired 6 November 2000. He also appeared as himself in three episodes of The Chris Isaak Show from 2001 to 2004.

On May 1, 2008, Michaels appeared on a special celebrity edition of Don't Forget the Lyrics!, on which he raised $200,000 to donate to charity.^[25]

Michaels appeared on the 2009 Tony Awards, during which a he was struck in the head by a set piece. He subsequently sued the event's organizers, claiming that the collision led to his 2010 brain hemorrhage. The suit is currently^[update] pending.^[26]

In 2010, Michaels was the winning contestant on the NBC reality television series Celebrity Apprentice 3 on NBC.^[27]

Michaels stars in a series named Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It, which depicts his life at home with his daughters and their mother.^[28] Filming of the series began before Michaels' health troubles, and filming was suspended after his hospitalization.^[28] VH1 aired a preview of the series on May 31, 2010, and the series aired in fall 2010.^[29]

Michaels hosted the Miss Universe 2010 pageant along with Natalie Morales on August 23, 2010.^[30]

Michaels appeared on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's Gibb's Family Episode that aired on January 6, 2012.

In other media[link]

Michaels was portrayed as a guest singer in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, which features him singing "Go That Far" from his solo career, and Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me".

Charity work[link]

Michaels and his band visited troops at Al Asad Air Base on October 6, 2007, while on a tour of U.S. bases in Iraq in support of Armed Forces Entertainment.^[31]

He earned $640,000 for the American Diabetes Association for competing in and ultimately winning the Celebrity Apprentice 3.

Personal life[link]

Michaels has two daughters with Kristi Lynn Gibson. Raine Elizabeth Sychak was born in May 2000,^[8] and Jorja Bleu Sychak was born in May 2005. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.^[32] Michaels' fear that Raine was "borderline diabetic" was a recurring element during Michaels' tenure on The Celebrity Apprentice 3, on which he appeared to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. Raine herself appeared on the season finale of that program on May 23, 2010, when her father won that season.^[33]

While filming the finale of his reality show, Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It, Michaels proposed to Kristi Gibson, the mother of his two children and his on-again, off-again companion of 16 years.^[34] The finale aired December 20, 2010.^[35]

Bret Michaels was involved with Pamela Anderson. An abridged version of an explicit sex tape the couple made appeared on the Internet in 1998^[8][36] and was released on DVD on September 7, 2005, by Metro Studios.

Michaels is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.^[37] He has a personalized guitar bearing the Steelers' logo, and played the national anthem at Three Rivers Stadium.^[38] His favorite player was Jack Lambert, and Michaels has been a member of fan club "Lambert's Lunatics."^[39] He also likes the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League and performs after home games.

Health[link]

On April 12, 2010, Michaels was rushed to the hospital after suffering intense stomach pains, and an emergency appendectomy was performed.^[40] On April 21^[41] or April 22, 2010,^[42][43] (sources differ), Michaels was again rushed to the hospital, this time with an "excruciating" headache. Doctors discovered that he had suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was in critical condition,^[44][45] and while some reports suggested that his condition had stabilized,^[46] others later stated that this was premature.^[47] On April 28, Michael's representatives reported that he was conscious and speaking, albeit slowly, for the first time since he was hospitalized.^[48]