Poison Will Not Tour in 2026 After Bret Michaels’ Remarks
via AXS TV / youtube
Celebration plans for Poison’s 40th anniversary have reportedly been shelved, with internal disagreements over money bringing a potential 2026 tour to an abrupt end. While the band never formally announced a tour, members had openly discussed the idea of marking the milestone with a limited run of dates.
In 2024, frontman Bret Michaels suggested that a reunion tour would be a fitting way to honor four decades of the band’s legacy, describing it as “the perfect 40th anniversary tour.” Behind the scenes, however, negotiations failed to reach common ground.
A Breakdown Over Dollars and Sense
Drummer Rikki Rockett revealed that the band ultimately walked away from what he described as a strong offer. “We had a great offer, I thought. But we left the table,” he said, explaining that talks stalled when profit sharing became an issue.
According to Rockett, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall, and he were ready to move forward, but Michaels sought a significantly larger cut. “He wanted the lion’s share of the money,” Rockett said. “It’s like $6 to every one of our dollars. You just can’t work that way.”
Rockett emphasized that the decision was not driven solely by financial considerations. “I don’t do this just for the money,” he said. “But you don’t want to go out and work really hard just to make somebody else a bunch of money.”
No Bad Blood, Just No Agreement
Despite the disappointment, Rockett emphasized there was no animosity. “Every member of this band has given me so much privilege in life,” he said. “It’s like hating your parents.”
When asked about touring without Michaels, Rockett called it a last resort. “I don’t think there’s a better frontman for Poison,” he admitted, noting that replacing him would be comparable to “surgery.”
For now, Michaels is scheduled to perform solo dates in 2026, while Rockett will stay busy with his side project, Rockett Mafia. As for Poison, Rockett joked that another attempt isn’t impossible, quipping that a 41st anniversary tour in 2027 would be “a perfect Poison folly.”
