Poisoning Poison

Never let it be said that big time rock and roll isn’t about money.

Classic bands are as much releasing anniversary box sets of their older albums as they often try to reinvent themselves by replacing old members with new and hitting the road for yet another ‘final’ tour. In the case of iconic 80’s ‘hair metal’ band Poison, it seemed the original members—drummer Rikki Rockett, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall and singer Bret Michaels—were poised for an unprecedented OG run at a 49^th reunion tour.

But old Bret stopped the roll out.

Dare we say…every rose surely does have its thorn.

Rockett claimed that although there was “a good offer on the table” negotiations splintered over Michaels’ money demands. It seems Michaels, who has enjoyed various success with his own solo projects/outings since Poison (winning one season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” heading his VH1 dating show, “Rock of Love”) wanted $6.00 to every one buck each band member made.

Initially named Paris, the band we’d all come to know as Poison was formed in 1983, in Mechanicsburg PA, on the east coast of the U.S. Consisting of three members who would go onto glam-rock infamy, lead vocalist Michaels, bassist Dall and drummer Rockett, played their home area with original guitarist Matt Smith. But Mechanicsburg, not being a hot bed of rock and roll business, the band moved to Los Angeles in March 1983. Although surely fish-out-of-water coming from their smaller PA town, the band earned a reputation, secured a regular gig at the famous LA club, The Troubadour, recorded some demos and lost Smith two years later. With guitarist C.C. DeVille replacing Smith (Slash, from Guns & Roses was the other guitar player considered) Poison eventually signed to the small label Enigma Records. Partially funding their first release themselves, Poison’s Look What The Cat Dragged In, released in 1986, surprisingly spawned three singles “Talk Dirty to Me,” I Want Action,” and “I Won’t Forget You, becoming the biggest-selling-album in Enigma’s history.

Heavy rotation on MTV, the band was on their way.

Poison fans shouldn’t worry though, Rockett plans to tour with his band, Rockett Mafia, promising to perform the entire Look What The Cat Dragged In album at their shows.