A popular ‘80s rock singer is refusing to be blamed for his band’s canceled reunion tour.
In fact, Poison frontman Bret Michaels says he’s still optimistic that the original lineup will reunite in 2027 to celebrate the 41st anniversary of their debut album, 1986’s “Look What the Cat Dragged In.”
“We’re just gonna call it hopefully ’40 Plus One,’” Michaels told Connecticut radio station 99.1 PLR (WPLR-FM) in a new interview. “…This just got backed up. And I’m hoping that, as a founding member, obviously that would be a great day, and I’m positive we can make that happen in ’27.”
Poison drummer Rikki Rockett recently said he, guitarist C.C. DeVille and bassist Bobby Dall were all in for a 40th anniversary tour in 2026, but accused Michaels of demanding more money.
“He wanted the lion’s share of the money, to the point where it makes it not possible to even do it. It’s like $6 to every one of our dollars. You just can’t work that way,” Rockett told Page Six.
Michaels denied demanding 600% more than his bandmates, blaming the issue on scheduling and other logistics.
“It never happened,” the singer told WPLR. “We never got to that part of negotiations. What happens — when you start this, they ask me to put together solo numbers and an average, and that’s the first part we turn in. We ask what the stage is gonna look like, where do we start the tour? I even got into where we’re starting the dates, and then all of a sudden, ’26, the shows in ’26 wanted solo answers, so we moved this to ’27 back last summer. The reason it’s come up for the third time — no one, even the other members haven’t commented. They’re, like, ‘I thought this is going in ’27 now.’”
Michaels, Rockett, DeVille and Dall last reunited in 2022, touring as part of The Stadium Tour with Motley Crue and Def Leppard. They had frequently been teasing a new Poison tour for 2026 in interviews and on social media.
Michaels insisted there’s no bad blood between the band.
“We’re all friends,” he said. “And if you wanna discuss something, we have each other’s phone number for the last 45 years. Just call me. No offense. I love Rikki. I love Bobby. I love C.C. Don’t negotiate on the air [during an interview]. Just call me on the phone, and we’ll work out what[ever needs to be worked out]. We’ve worked it out for 40 other years. Let’s work out what we need to work out.”
Poison is a hard rock / glam metal band best known for MTV and radio hits like “Talk Dirty to Me,” “Nothin’ But a Good Time,” and the No. 1 smash “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” Michaels, Rockett, DeVille and Dall have frequently reunited for tours, and last released a new Poison album in 2007.
Michaels is best known as the lead singer of Poison, but he’s also carved a separate career for himself as a solo performer and on reality TV shows like “Rock of Love with Bret Michaels,” “Bret Michaels Rock My RV” and “Celebrity Apprentice.” He performs in Central New York often, including a 2023 gig at the New York State Fair and a 2024 appearance at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Michaels has more than a dozen solo concerts booked in 2026, including a Feb. 6 show in Niagara Falls, Ontario. In July, he said he would adjust his future touring schedule due to a health scare caused by diabetes and low blood sugar.
Rockett, meanwhile, said he plans to tour with his own band, Rockett Mafia, and perform Poison’s debut album in its entirety at each show this year. He also told Page Six he hopes Poison can work things out for a “41st anniversary tour” next year.