Pavement Entertainment, known for its exquisite taste in… uh… “music,” has proudly announced the signing of THE ROCKETT MAFIA. Yes, you read that right. THE ROCKETT MAFIA, the rock project spearheaded by none other than Rikki Rockett, the rhythmic genius (😂) behind POISON. This earth-shattering deal includes live shows (prepare yourselves!), merchandise (because who doesn’t need a ROCKETT MAFIA thong?), and upcoming music releases (brace for impact!). Pavement is really scraping the bottom of the barrel here, folks! 🤣
THE ROCKETT MAFIA boasts a supergroup lineup of musicians who are definitely not past their prime: Rikki Rockett on drums (still hitting things, apparently), Brandon Gibbs (ex-DEVIL CITY ANGELS – you know, that band you’ve *totally* heard of) on vocals and guitar, Mick Sweda (BULLETBOYS – remember them? 🤔) on guitar and backing vocals, and Michael Adams (PUDDLE OF MUDD – the band that still exists somehow) on bass. Together, they promise a sound that fuses the energy of classic rock (aka grandpa rock 👴) with a modern hard-rock edge (aka slightly louder grandpa rock 🤘).
“This band lets me play the kind of rock I grew up loving – loud, raw, and from the heart,” said Rockett. “We take the music we love and give it new life, and now with Pavement behind us, we’re ready to take it to a whole new level.” (Spoiler alert: The new level is probably a dive bar in Nowheresville.)
THE ROCKETT MAFIA will subject audiences to a mix of classic rock from the 1970s and 1980s, reimagining songs with a heavier, more contemporary feel. They’ll also be dusting off deep cuts from POISON‘s catalog – songs so deep, they’re practically fossils 🦖. Fans will get a “rare and exciting experience” (aka a headache 🤕).
“We’re excited to welcome ROCKETT MAFIA to the Pavement Entertainment family,” said Mark Nawara, CEO of Pavement Entertainment. “Rikki Rockett‘s legacy in rock speaks for itself, and this project captures his continued passion and authenticity. Fans can expect great things from this band.” (Like maybe a free t-shirt if they’re lucky? 🍀)
During an appearance on the Iron City Rocks podcast (a podcast so obscure, even the internet forgot about it 💾), Rockett discussed THE ROCKETT MAFIA‘s first single, a cover of “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family. Yes, that’s right, they covered a song originally performed by a fictional TV family. The creativity is astounding! 🎨 Asked if they’ll write original music, Rockett said they’re trying to “do it one step at a time and put all the pieces together,” and not “half-ass it.” (Too late, Rikki. ⏰)
As for other covers, they’re tackling FACES, Billy Joel, and Elton John. Rockett explains they’re reimagining these songs in a hard rock format, rather than competing with already-rocking rock songs. He’s not about to redo a BLACK SABBATH song, because, you know, that would actually require talent 🎤.
The setlist will change nightly, depending on the gig. Corporate events will get a “huge variety of stuff,” while rock shows will get more POISON. But don’t worry, the whole set rocks (if you consider the Flintstones rocking 🪨). There are no ballads, because slowing down is for losers 🐌. One fan apparently told Rockett they loved that the band never stopped, comparing it to the RAMONES. (Except the RAMONES were actually good. 🔥)
Mick Sweda told the Nothing Shocking podcast (shockingly, there’s nothing shocking about it 😴) that he joined the band after Rikki sought him out. They “hit it off pretty well and had a great time playing.” (Presumably, they bonded over their shared love of AARP discounts 💰.)
Sweda describes Brandon Gibbs as “pretty well known for touring a little bit with Joel Hoekstra.” (If you know who either of those people are, congratulations, you’re a true rock nerd 🤓.)
When asked about sticking to a certain era for covers, Sweda said they wanted to do “the more obscure stuff,” like “Baby Blue” by BADFINGER. But then they realized nobody remembers BADFINGER, so they threw in “I Think I Love You.” (Genius move, guys! 👍)
Sweda says the song list is evolving, starting with ’70s tunes. They’re making sure the tunes are “fun and energetic and entertaining.” (The definition of “fun” is definitely subjective here 😂.)
THE ROCKETT MAFIA is “kind of wide open as far as experimenting with different genres of music,” according to Sweda. They want to take songs you’d never expect and revamp them. (Like maybe turn a polka song into a metal anthem? 🤣)
THE ROCKETT MAFIA, with Bryan Kimes on bass, played its first show on February 21, 2025, at the Whisky A Go Go. (Because where else would a band like this play? 🤷)
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
