Richard Nicholas Emerson, also known as Richard 'Rocket' Emerson or Rocket, is an English musician and actor. He gained prominence as the frontman and principal songwriter for the indie band Pint Shot Riot in the years 2007 – 2013 and was nominated in 2014 for best actor at the Maverick Movie Awards for his acting debut in the independent feature film The Trailer.
Early life
Emerson was born in Coventry, on 25th March 1982. He started acting at the age of 12 in various local city and school productions. He was given the nickname 'Rocket' because he used to work in the Coventry pub of the same name (near the railway station). He taught himself guitar at the age of 21 and a few years later he formed the band Pint Shot Riot.
Music career
Pint Shot Riot began performing in January 2007, with Richard 'Rocket' Emerson as the frontman (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and as the main songwriter. In the summer of the same year, they appeared on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival and next year, in 2008, they signed a publishing deal with the EA Games / Nettwerk Music Group. Some of their songs featured in Electronic Arts games like FIFA 10, FIFA 12 or Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.
Discography
The Pint Shot Riot discography with Richard Nicholas Emerson as frontman and principal songwriter:
Albums Year Title Release Date2011Spell It Out7 March 2011
EPs Year Title Release Date2009Round One2 March 2009
Singles
Year Title Release Date Album2007"Punches, Kicks, Trenches & Swords"29 October 2007Round One2008"Start Digging"7 July 2008"Holes"27 October 20082009"Come Back to Me"5 October 2009Spell It Out"Not Thinking Straight"5 October 20092010"Nothing from You"24 May 2010"Viva England"7 June 2010non-album single"Hazy Days"25 September 2010Spell It Out2011"Somebody Save Me"21 March 20112011"Twisted Soul"26 September 20112012"Starting to Fly"26 March 2012Spell It Out2012"Viva England / Viva England (Extra Time Version)"28 May 2012
Acting career
Emerson studied acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City, in 2010. He debuted in the 2014 independent feature film The Trailer (nominated for best actor at Maverick Movie Awards). He shot a few short films and a US TV commercial, as well as starring in the Pint Shot Riot Starting To Fly music video, as a troubled soldier with PTSD.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Genre 2014 The Trailer Sgt. Hopper • Lee Emmett Short film 2025 I Was Honey Boo Boo Geno Doak Biography/Drama 2025 Sunday Lunch Father Richards Short film Post-Production Bravado Artie Thriller
Television Year Title Role Notes 2025 The Sandman VIP Funeral Guest S2.E10 In Production The Sunshine Murders Stavros Papadopoulos
Personal life
Emerson lived in New York City in 2010 and moved to Clifton in Bristol in 2015. Together with his wife Louise, he built a vintage clothing business called "Loot", with several stores, before scaling back to one store in Bristol at the end of 2022 to focus on his acting career. He has two sons called Jude and Sonny.
References