Rikki Rockett recently addressed touring disputes within the legendary rock band Poison. He shared his perspective on The Hair Metal Guru.
The drummer responded to comments made by Pete Evick regarding contract negotiations for a planned 2026 Poison tour. Rockett explained the core issue preventing the tour from moving forward.
“The reason that this contract [for a Poison 2026 tour] has not gone through is because Bret wants more than the lion’s share,” Rockett said. “The amount of money he wants would make it where it’s pretty much impossible to run the production of the band.”
Rockett suggested that frontman Bret Michaels may be prioritizing other commitments over the band’s tour plans.
“And he knows that, and I think the reason he’s saying that is because he just simply doesn’t wanna tour with us this year. He must have some ideas about what he wants to do with Bret Michaels [solo] band this year. I’m assuming — I don’t know, because we don’t talk. I would love to talk about it, but at this point in time, it’s just not a deal.”
The drummer emphasized his position on financial fairness and the importance of supporting the band’s legacy.
“So we’re not gonna do that. I’m not gonna go out there and play for peanuts or wind up upside down, so he can make all this money because he’s out playing Poison songs with another band. I mean, really, if you think about it, does any of that make sense? I’m gonna ask for more money because I play Poison songs with other people. That’s not carrying the torch [for Poison].”
The dispute centers on a significant milestone for the band. Live Nation presented Poison with a contract offer for a 40th anniversary headlining tour in 2026, as reported by Metal Anarchy. This tour would have commemorated their debut album Look What the Cat Dragged In. The opportunity represented a major touring commitment that would have celebrated the band’s enduring legacy in rock music.
Rockett, guitarist C.C. DeVille, and bassist Bobby Dall all agreed to the terms and were enthusiastic about the opportunity, according to Metal Addicts. However, Bret Michaels declined to sign the contract. This effectively halted the entire tour plans and left the three other band members unable to move forward without their frontman’s participation.
The financial disagreement appears to stem from different touring philosophies. Rockett explained that Michaels tours as a solo artist on a “weekend-warrior” schedule with smaller shows, as noted by Metal Anarchy. Poison, by contrast, operates at a different level where they can draw crowds on weeknight performances in mid-sized cities like Omaha, Nebraska. At Poison’s scale, the band needs to carefully manage tour logistics to remain profitable. Michaels’ financial demands would make this impossible.
Rockett made clear the band’s current position on the matter. He stressed that “there is nothing on the books for a 2026 40th-anniversary tour,” as reported by Metal Anarchy. He clarified: “I’m good to go, [and so are bassist Bobby Dall and guitarist C.C. DeVille]. It is [up to Bret at this point].” The disconnect suggests Michaels may be unwilling to commit to a full-scale tour at this time. This leaves the commemoration of the album’s milestone anniversary uncertain.
