Bret Michaels Pushes Back on Poison Tour Claims — and Fans Are Weighing In

Bret Michaels has responded to recent speculation about Poison’s proposed 40th-anniversary tour, rejecting claims that his financial demands stalled negotiations. The singer maintains that scheduling conflicts — not money — are responsible for the delay, and insists that a reunion tour is still expected to happen.

Appearing on 99.1 WPLR’s Chaz & AJ in the Morning, Michaels acknowledged that the milestone celebration may arrive later than planned. With 2026 marking 40 years since the release of Poison’s debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In, he suggested the tour could instead take place the following year.

“We’re just gonna call it hopefully ‘40 Plus One,’” Michaels said.

Scheduling, Not Money, Delays Reunion Plans

Michaels explained that as discussions progressed, packed calendars became the main obstacle. Solo commitments were already being booked well into 2027, making it difficult to align schedules for a full-scale band tour.

“But I can tell you this — as this thing got further down the road … Remember, when you’re booking stuff, we’re already booking stuff solo into ’27,” he said. “So this just got backed up.”

Rather than rushing the process, Michaels said the band opted to revisit the idea later. As a founding member, he remains optimistic that the anniversary will eventually be honored properly.

“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,” he added.

Michaels Denies Pay Dispute Claims and Looks Ahead

The issue gained traction after drummer Rikki Rockett suggested publicly that Michaels had demanded six dollars for every dollar earned by his bandmates. Michaels flatly denied the claim, stating that talks never reached that stage.

“Well, I’m gonna answer that honestly. It never happened,” he said. “We never got to that part of negotiations.”

According to Michaels, early discussions focused on standard logistics, including performance estimates, stage production, and potential tour dates. He said the decision to shift plans to 2027 was made last summer, which may have confused people when the topic resurfaced.

Despite the public nature of the disagreement, Michaels emphasized that there is no rift within the band. He reiterated his respect for Rockett, bassist Bobby Dall, and guitarist C.C. DeVille, while encouraging private communication.

“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.”

Michaels framed the situation as a challenge of longevity rather than conflict. For a band whose music helped define the glam metal era, the delay reflects timing issues — not fractured relationships.

“We’ve worked it out for 40 other years,” he said. “Let’s work out what we need to work out.”

Whether the celebration arrives in 2026 or 2027, Michaels made it clear that Poison’s legacy — and the bond behind it — remains firmly intact.