Rikki Rockett says doctors originally gave him a 10 percent chance of surviving cancer

POISON drummer Rikkii Rockett says doctors gave him just a 10 per cent chance of surviving tongue cancer before “novel” treatment saved his life.

Speaking on Sirius XM, the 63-year-old implored listeners to be inoculated against the HPV virus that causes the cancer, which has also impacted Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson and Dead Daisies guitarist Doug Aldrich.

“My doctor was friggin’ phenomenal, Dr (Ezra) Cohen,” said Rockett, who also announced the launch of a new project, Rockett’s Mafia.

“He’s saved so many people. He was so brave and pushed the limits and that’s why I survived, because he did a novel type of treatment. Because we were out of options. I had a 10 per cent chance of living.”

Discussing the vaccine, Rockett said: “There’s a lot of HPV out there and HPV is two of the strains … the main ones that are causing cancer … in girls, uterine cancer and a lot of oral cancer is coming down the pike. It’s not something we thought about years ago. We never thought you’d get cancer from having oral sex with some girl.

“That’s how a lot of this is getting spread but we’re going to beat it with the next generation as long as people don’t hold back on these vaccines. The HPV vaccine, I don’t want to get into politics at all but I’m telling you the HPV vaccine is the thing that will keep people from getting HPV in the first place.

“My son had it, my daughter just got her first dose. When they go out into the cruel world … I don’t want to think about it … they’re not going to get HPV and get cancer from HPV. We should be able to wipe it out.

“Go in once a year and get a check-up.”

Rockett was first diagnosed with the disease nine years ago.

“Everyone in my family got a sore throat the month I was diagnosed,” he recalled. “Everyone else’s sore throat went away and mine didn’t.

“I’m going on eight and half years now I’ve been in remission.

“I’m doing great, no red flags,

“Of course I had side effects. The radiation treatment I had, I can’t sing for a long period of time. I was never a lead singer obviously.

“It takes me longer to eat than most people. I don’t have 100 per cent saliva production. I have to drink a lot and because I drink a lot I gotta pee a lot. There’s little things. I’m alive and there’s so many people I’ve watched perish over the last couple of years. I just have to thank God … modern medicine … everything worked out for me, my wife was such a support.”

On the the much-discussed future of Poison, Rockett said: “Twenty-six for sure is going to happen, unless something unforeseen happens. All band members have stuck their hand in and said ‘yeah, we’re definitely doing it, without a doub’t. This year coming up will be some Rockett Mafia stuff. I’ve a got a bunch of stuff cooking right now. I’ve got a book coming out in the spring. I was working on it all year last year.

“It’s not figured out yet. We have agreed to do a minimum of 40 dates and maybe more. Whatever it works out to be but it’s for sure going to be that many at least. I don’t know. If there’s someone we can package with then great. If there isn’t, we’ll headline. Whatever makes sense.”

Rockett Mafia comprises the drummer, singer Brandon Gibbs, guitarist Mick Sweda and Bryan Kimes (bass).

“Taylor Hawkins is the one who sort of talked me into doing something again,” he said. “I saw his band Chevy Metal play, he had me come out and do a couple of songs … he said ‘you gotta do this, it’s a lot of fun’.

“I said ‘I did Devil City (Angels)’ and he said ‘no, I know about that – this is different, do some cover songs, have fun and when you’re comfortable then write stuff if you feel like it with the guys but don’t put any pressure on yourself’.”

Rockett is also planning a biography called Ghost Notes.

Discussing Aldrich, he said: “I texted with Doug and he was getting ready to go in for surgery the next day when I texted him. I love Doug.

“I hope the best for him. I don’t know a lot about his case, quite honestly. I just know that he had it and it’s similar to what I had.”

Hear an entire unedited and never before aired 1989 Rikki Rockett interview

HEAR OUR INTERVIEWS WITH DOZENS OF ARTISTS VIA OUR PATREON PAGE. EAVESDROP AS WE TALK TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN ROCK AND METAL – FROM 1987 TO THE PRESENT!

Features:

Cinderella: Fred Coury

Cinderella: Jeff LaBar