Music
Poison’s Anniversary Tour Crumbles Amid Bret Michaels Wanting 600 Percent More Than Bandmates, Claims Drummer
It seems the dynamic between heavy metal rockers Poison is toxic.
After the band — which consists of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Bret Michaels, drummer Rikki Rockett, bassist Bobby Dall and lead guitarist C.C. DeVille — planned to reunite for their 40th anniversary, their 2026 tour has been put on hold.
“It didn’t work,” Rockett, 64, told Page Six in an interview published Sunday, January 18, adding that they had a “great offer” but decided not to move forward.
Rockett claimed that he, Dall, 62, and DeVille, 63, were “all in,” but Michaels, 62, threw a wrench in the plans.
“He wanted the lion’s share of the money, to the point where it makes it not possible to even do it,” Rockett claimed. “It’s like $6 to every one of our dollars. You just can’t work that way.”
“I don’t do this just for the money,” Rockett explained. “I do have a love for this, absolutely. But at the same time, you don’t want to go out and work really hard just to make somebody else a bunch of money.”
Still, the “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” musician insisted to that outlet that he’s not mad at any of his fellow band members because the 40th anniversary tour isn’t happening. He explained that he’s “not quarreling” with Michaels, adding: “We just didn’t come to [an] agreement.”
“Every member of this band has given me so much privilege in life,” he said, noting that he hopes they can make something work in the future. “It’s like hating your parents.”
When asked if he’d consider replacing the Celebrity Apprentice 3 winner and moving ahead without him, Rockett said, “It’s not out of the question. But doing that is like surgery: it’s the last resort.”
“I don’t think there’s a better frontman for Poison,” he added.
Poison formed in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983 and have had hit songs including including “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Talk Dirty to Me,” “Fallen Angel,” “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” “Something to Believe In” and “Life Goes On,” among many others.
