DRUMMER Rikki Rockett says its Bret Michaels’ fault Poison won’t be touring next year – prompting the singer’s solo band guitarist to hit back at fan reactions to the statement.
All members of the famously dysfunctional eighties outfit – rounded out by bassist Bobby Dall and guitarist CC DeVille – had been in agreement that Poison would go out in North America in 2025 – until Rockett announced on social media in the last 24 hours it would not be happening,
“I keep getting asked multiple times a day ‘why isn’t Poison touring in 2025 now?'” he wrote. “Super simple answer, Bret doesn’t want to.”
Guitarist Pete Evick then made a long social media post saying that while Rockett’s comment was “true”, there were many issues at play as to why Michaels did not want to tour with Poison.
“He has consistently says 2026,” Evick wrote. “It’s (their) 40th anniversary and he, along with some of the management team ,are actively planning the 2026 tour right now.
“Second, he does have some serious health issues that must be addressed and taken care of. In fact I’ve urged him to cancel the rest of this year to do so!
“The rest of WHY he doesn’t want to is his story to tell but let me tell you something’s you are all very off base about.
“…the comment about Bret having to split the touring money equally with Poison verse taking a bigger cut with the solo band is not true.
“Unfortunately while we all have fantasies of brothers in bands splitting it equal, it’s just not reality. Bret makes a certain amount of money himself both in Poison and the solo band that is irrelevant to any (guarantees) or what any member of either band gets. It is not an equal split in Poison or the solo band.
“None of this is about money. That is a fact.
“Many people said ‘why doesn’t the band play with out him?’ Bret actually encourages this. He does it, why shouldn’t they? And … he loves Brandon Gibbs (who sang with the other members previously).
“There was a comment ‘if the fans don’t support the solo band Bret would have to come back to Poison’. Not true, Bret does not have to do anything ever, Bret’s children’s children will never have to do anything! The amount of money he has is astonishing,
“Imagine if he read these horrible things. Why would he want to come out and play? With fans like that who needs enemies?”
After his initial comments received sizeable global traction, Rockett wrote: People, I never said that Bret is cancelling the 2025 tour. It didn’t get booked.
“I said the reason Poison isn’t touring in 2025 is because Bret doesn’t want to. Doesn’t matter what the reason for him is as far as what I said.
“I’m simply telling you why so that CC, Bobby or myself doesn’t get blamed. It isn’t dirt. It isn’t a fight. Just the facts, “ma’am. Surmise what you want from it. You will anyway!”
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