Founding Poison drummer Rikki Rockett has announced The Rockett Mafia shows to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Poison’s debut album ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’. This follows disagreements with frontman Bret Michaels about the band’s live return this year, as reported on Facebook.
Rockett expressed his enthusiasm about performing the classic album with his new project. He described it as a meaningful return to the band’s roots.
“Playing Poison’s first album with The Rockett Mafia is a full-circle moment for me,” Rockett said. “It’s raw, it’s fun, and it’s exactly how those songs were meant to be heard. Celebrating the 40th anniversary is really about giving the fans a chance to relive that moment with us.”
The drummer outlined the scope of the upcoming tour. It will feature the complete debut album plus additional fan favorites.
“It’s gonna be a celebration of ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’. We’re calling it ‘Look What The Mob Dragged In’, going across this country,” he continued. “We’re gonna perform everything, from the first chord to the last scream of that record, plus more, some fan favorites.”
Rockett also detailed special VIP packages that will be available for fans attending the shows.
“But we’re not gonna stop there. We’re gonna offer some really cool VIP packages where you can, of course, meet the band, take a picture, come to a soundcheck, signed merch, all kinds of really cool stuff,” he said. “Make sure to go to rockettmafia.com and get all that information on tickets and VIP packages, when and where we’re playing. We’re gonna upload some really cool content as well along the way.”
The announcement comes after Rockett and Poison frontman Bret Michaels were unable to reach an agreement on the band’s live return for 2026.
The celebration holds special significance as it marks four decades since the release of an album that defined an era in rock music. Wikipedia notes that ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’ was released on August 2, 1986. It became a commercial breakthrough for the Pennsylvania-based band, eventually reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The debut album launched several hit singles that became staples of 1980s rock radio, including “Talk Dirty to Me.” This track helped establish Poison as one of the leading acts in the glam metal movement. The record’s success laid the foundation for the band’s subsequent commercial achievements throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
For The Rockett Mafia shows, Rockett will be joined by guitarist Bobby Banda and bassist Dana Collins. This forms a trio dedicated to preserving the raw energy of Poison’s early material. This lineup represents Rockett’s vision of returning to the stripped-down, authentic sound that characterized the band’s debut effort.
The project emerges during a period of uncertainty for Poison’s original lineup. Tensions between founding members have prevented the band from mounting a full-scale reunion tour. Rockett’s decision to move forward with The Rockett Mafia demonstrates his commitment to keeping the music alive for fans, even as the original band remains inactive.
The 40th anniversary tour represents more than just a nostalgic celebration. It serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of an album that helped shape the sound of an entire generation of rock musicians and continues to influence artists today.
