Riki Rachtman
Encyclopedia
Riki Rachtman is an American television
and radio personality
.
, and the next year he was in a band called the Fairlanes. In the late 1980s, Rachtman was lead vocalist of the L.A. Metal Act "Virgin". In the 1990s, he spent over a year in a band called Battery Club, which toured with The Offspring
.
's heavy metal show Headbangers Ball
(replacing Adam Curry
). His friend at the time, Axl Rose
of Guns N' Roses
, reportedly was instrumental in him getting the job at MTV. Rachtman had a brief appearance as a wedding guest in Guns N' Roses' music video "November Rain".
From August 1993 - April 1996, he was the co-host of the radio advice program Loveline
.
In 1999 and 2000, Rachtman worked for World Championship Wrestling
as a backstage interviewer. During one episode, he was almost powerbomb
ed by wrestler Kevin Nash
. He also hosted Nitro
, WCW's flagship program, parties across the country. Seven years prior to his stint with WCW, Rachtman hosted another wrestling-themed show.
On the Los Angeles
radio station KLSX
, Rachtman hosted a show called 'Riki Rachtman Radio.' The show came to an abrupt end when he assaulted fellow KLSX show host Doug Steckler after Steckler insulted Rachtman's girlfriend at the time, adult-film actress Janine Lindemulder
.
In 2003, Rachtman hosted 22 Greatest Bands for MTV2
.
In 2003, he became the host of a syndicated rock music and NASCAR
-themed radio show called Racing Rocks, which is heard on over 120 stations across America. He currently hosts Nascar 24/7 Live. He was a former co-host of the show NASCAR RaceDay
, but as of 2008 is no longer part of the program.
documentary, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. During their heyday, they were also featured in Rolling Stone
and Newsweek
magazines.
Rachtman also owns a skateboard company called Pool School.
frontman Bret Michaels
. Rachtman was also a dean
on Rock of Love: Charm School, which featured Sharon Osbourne
as headmistress and contestants from Rock of Love seasons 1
and 2
, and he also hosted its reunion special, as well. In 2008, he hosted the reunion special for Rock of Love 2
. In 2009, he again hosted the reunion special for Rock of Love Bus
. He was last seen on Daisy of Love
, a Rock of Love spin-off starring Daisy De La Hoya, Rachtman's friend and Rock of Love 2
runner-up
.
. In 1999, he lived in Orange County, California
.
Riki also told Chris Cornell on a Soundgarden episode of The Headbanger's Ball in 1994, that he used to live in New Zealand.
He has previously dated adult-film actress Janine Lindemulder
.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
.
Rock scene
At the age of 16, Rachtman auditioned to sing in the band the Angry SamoansAngry Samoans
The Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band in the first wave of American punk. Formed in August 1978 in Los Angeles, California by early 1970s rock writer "Metal" Mike Saunders and his sibling lead guitarist bonze blayk, along with co-conspirator Gregg Turner and original recruits bassist...
, and the next year he was in a band called the Fairlanes. In the late 1980s, Rachtman was lead vocalist of the L.A. Metal Act "Virgin". In the 1990s, he spent over a year in a band called Battery Club, which toured with The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
.
Hosting
From 1990-1995, Rachtman hosted MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's heavy metal show Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball is a music television program consisting of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV2, MTV Australia, MTV Two , MTV Adria , MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV...
(replacing Adam Curry
Adam Curry
Adam Clark Curry is a broadcasting and Internet personality well known for his stint from 1987 to 1994 as a video jockey on the music video channel MTV. In the mid-1990s, Curry was a World Wide Web entrepreneur and one of the first celebrities to personally create and administer a Web site...
). His friend at the time, Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
of Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, reportedly was instrumental in him getting the job at MTV. Rachtman had a brief appearance as a wedding guest in Guns N' Roses' music video "November Rain".
From August 1993 - April 1996, he was the co-host of the radio advice program Loveline
Loveline
Loveline is a syndicated radio call-in program in North America, offering medical and relationship advice to listeners, often with the assistance of guests, typically actors and musicians. Its flagship station is KROQ-FM in Los Angeles....
.
In 1999 and 2000, Rachtman worked for World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
as a backstage interviewer. During one episode, he was almost powerbomb
Powerbomb
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
ed by wrestler Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
. He also hosted Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
, WCW's flagship program, parties across the country. Seven years prior to his stint with WCW, Rachtman hosted another wrestling-themed show.
On the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
radio station KLSX
KLSX
KAMP-FM 97.1 FM, known on-air as 97.1 AMP Radio, is a Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. The station is owned by CBS Radio.The station had long been known as KLSX before the call sign changed on June 30, 2009....
, Rachtman hosted a show called 'Riki Rachtman Radio.' The show came to an abrupt end when he assaulted fellow KLSX show host Doug Steckler after Steckler insulted Rachtman's girlfriend at the time, adult-film actress Janine Lindemulder
Janine Lindemulder
Janine Marie Lindemulder , also known as Janine Marie James, is an American exotic dancer and adult film actress, best known for her work in American pornographic films during the mid-1990s and a 2004–2005 comeback...
.
In 2003, Rachtman hosted 22 Greatest Bands for MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
.
In 2003, he became the host of a syndicated rock music and NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
-themed radio show called Racing Rocks, which is heard on over 120 stations across America. He currently hosts Nascar 24/7 Live. He was a former co-host of the show NASCAR RaceDay
NASCAR RaceDay
NASCAR RaceDay is a pre-race show on Speed Channel. Hosted by John M. Roberts, the show features driver–analysts Kenny Wallace and Kyle Petty, as well as pit reporter Wendy Venturini, who provide news from the track right before each weekend's race. Hermie Sadler came on board in 2008...
, but as of 2008 is no longer part of the program.
Entrepreneurship
Rachtman is owner of the Cathouse nightclub, for many years a showcase for many of the heavy metal bands that were featured on Headbangers Ball. During this time, he also ran another nightclub called the Bordello. Rachtman and the Cathouse club are featured in the Penelope SpheerisPenelope Spheeris
Penelope Spheeris is an American director, producer and screenwriter. She is best known as a documentary film director whose works include the trilogy titled The Decline of Western Civilization...
documentary, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. During their heyday, they were also featured in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazines.
Rachtman also owns a skateboard company called Pool School.
VH1
Rachtman hosted the 2007 reunion show for Rock of Love, which starred his friend, PoisonPoison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
frontman Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels 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. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single...
. Rachtman was also a dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
on Rock of Love: Charm School, which featured Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
as headmistress and contestants from Rock of Love seasons 1
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (season 1)
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels is a competition-driven reality television series starring Bret Michaels, the lead singer of the band Poison. The 12-episode series, which premiered July 15, 2007 on VH1 , was created by Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin .-Overview:Filmed at locations in and around...
and 2
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (season 2)
The second season of Rock of Love with Bret Michaels was confirmed by VH1 in October 2007. On December 8, 2007, VH1 started playing advertisements for Rock of Love 2 with Bret Michaels...
, and he also hosted its reunion special, as well. In 2008, he hosted the reunion special for Rock of Love 2
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (season 2)
The second season of Rock of Love with Bret Michaels was confirmed by VH1 in October 2007. On December 8, 2007, VH1 started playing advertisements for Rock of Love 2 with Bret Michaels...
. In 2009, he again hosted the reunion special for Rock of Love Bus
Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels
Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels is the third season of Rock of Love with Bret Michaels and was confirmed by VH1's website in a blog on July 16, 2008. In the show, eligible women live on tour buses and travel with Bret Michaels, competing for his attention and affection. The show premiered on...
. He was last seen on Daisy of Love
Daisy of Love
thumb|right|Daisy de la Hoya attending the premiere of VH1's "Daisy of Love" at My House, Hollywood, CA on April 26, 2009Daisy of Love is a reality television dating show which stars Daisy de la Hoya, the runner-up of the VH1 reality dating show Rock of Love 2...
, a Rock of Love spin-off starring Daisy De La Hoya, Rachtman's friend and Rock of Love 2
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (season 2)
The second season of Rock of Love with Bret Michaels was confirmed by VH1 in October 2007. On December 8, 2007, VH1 started playing advertisements for Rock of Love 2 with Bret Michaels...
runner-up
Runner-up
Runner-up is a term used to denote a participant which finishes in second place in any of a variety of competitive endeavors, most notably sporting events and beauty pageants; in the latter instance, the term is applied to more than one of the highest-ranked non-winning contestants, the...
.
Personal life
Rachtman was born in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, CaliforniaVan Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the...
. In 1999, he lived in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.
Riki also told Chris Cornell on a Soundgarden episode of The Headbanger's Ball in 1994, that he used to live in New Zealand.
He has previously dated adult-film actress Janine Lindemulder
Janine Lindemulder
Janine Marie Lindemulder , also known as Janine Marie James, is an American exotic dancer and adult film actress, best known for her work in American pornographic films during the mid-1990s and a 2004–2005 comeback...
.