Poison

The first time I've ever heard the name of Bret Michaels must have been around 2007 when I was in my early twenties. I am talking about the legendary MTV reality show Rock of Love. I used to watch it thinking "Who is that guy? What is he wearing? And why on earth are all those girls so obsessed with him?!" Rock of Love featured Bret Michaels in his mid-forties (!) "looking for his one true love" among 25 contestants who have apparently all been fans of him "their whole lives" which could not have been that long as they were all considerably younger than Bret himself. It was frequently dropped in the show that Bret was/is a famous rock star and lead singer of the band Poison. Their biggest hit single Every Rose Has Its Thorn was played repeatedly on the show. And still - I did not get it why Bret Michaels would be desirable to anyone. 

Needless to say that this show was on no level appropiate or acceptable. It was utterly misogynistic. Nevertheless, jointly feeling ashamed together with my friend Julia, Rock of Love and Bret Michaels became somewhat of a meme or running gag for us and the song Every Rose Has Its Thorn has been going back and forth between us for about 14 years now. So, when starting research on the glam metal era, of course looking into Poison was a must. Finally I got to experience Bret Michaels for what he really was: Legendary singer of Poison.

I reaaaaaally hoped this would help improving my image of Bret. Spoiler alert - it did not.

Poison was formed in 1983 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania by Bret Michaels (vocals), Matt Smith (guitar), Bobby Dall (bass) and Rikki Rockett (drums). As the Sunset Strip was the place to be for all aspiring rock bands, Poison decided to move to LA. Guitarist Matt Smith left the band in its early days and was replaced by C.C. DeVille. Apart von 1991 - 1996 when DeVille had left the band due to personal differences, Poison has been playing with the same line-up. Poison has released 7 studio albums, 4 live albums, 7 compilations and 30 singles. They are one of the most prototype glam metal bands. If you think glam metal - think no further than Poison. They had the flashy clothes, the great hair, the radio-friendly lyrics, the pop-influenced rock music and also the "work hard, play hard" lifestyle.

I've been listening to their first three and most successful albums and also their fourth album Native Tongue which featured guitarist Richie Kotzen instead of C.C. DeVille and was said to be "more mature" and different than the band's usual "anthemic party tunes" due to Kotzens influences.

The only album I kind of liked was Poison's breakthrough album Look What The Cat Dragged In from 1986. I've put Talk Dirty To Me and Look What The Cat Dragged In on my playlist as it's such good fun! I mean look at those guys, they even got a little choreography going on stage!
(And if you really turn up the volume there are some little traces of metal audible...)

Poison's best-selling album to this day is Open Up and Say... Ahh! from 1988, closely followed by Flesh & Blood in 1990. Open Up and Say... Ahh! featured Poison's hit single of all times Every Rose Has Its Thorn which made it to Number 1 of US Billboard Charts and is the band's only number one single. I am usually a big fan of power ballads but this song is not doing it for me. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning as it was crucial to Poison's career.

Between 1993 and 2000 Poison did not record any new studio albums but released a Greatest Hits compilation which was very successful. In 1999 Poison went on a reunion tour with C.C. DeVille and from then on they toured nearly every year in sold-out stadiums and arenas. All band members are also working on their solo projects on the side.

Poison has been touring with other glam metal bands like Warrant in 2001, KISS in 2004, Cinderella in 2006, Ratt in 2007, Sebastian Bach and Dokken in 2008, Mötley Crüe in 2011, Lita Ford and Def Leppard in 2012 and currently their next stadium tour with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard is planned for 2022/2023.

During their career all band members had their personal tragedies to deal with. Bret Michaels suffered from a brain haemorrhage and a minor stroke in 2010. Oh and side note - he also had a sex tape with Pamela Anderson that was apparently stolen and distributed online without his authorization...
Rikki Rockett had to deal with throat cancer in 2015 and made a full recovery in 2016. C.C. DeVille and Bob Dall both had serious problems with their alcohol and drug addiction. The band members had many internal fights (physically) and the band has been sued several times. So... to summon up - Poison definitely lived the glam metal lifestyle and they are still doing what they do best today. The did not reinvent themselves and they never really tried. Their music seems to work and people have been listening to it for over 30 years. For me personally, it is a bit too generic.