The legendary glam metal band Poison have scrapped plans for a major comeback tour in 2026, with a bitter financial dispute between the members blamed for the collapse.
The Deal That Fell Apart
Drummer Rikki Rockett, a founding member since 1983, has revealed that the band walked away from a lucrative touring offer. The issue centred on lead singer Bret Michaels, who Rockett claims wanted the vast majority of the earnings. The proposed split was so skewed that it reportedly would have seen Michaels earn six dollars to every one dollar for his bandmates. "You just can't work that way," Rockett told the New York Post's PageSix column.
Rockett explained that while he, guitarist C.C. DeVille, and bassist Bobby Dall were all committed to the tour, negotiations broke down over Michaels' financial demands. "We had a great offer, I thought. But we left the table. It didn't work," said the 64-year-old drummer. He emphasised that while passion for performance remains, the terms became unacceptable: "I don't do this just for the money... But at the same time, you don't want to go out and work really hard just to make somebody else a bunch of money."
A Stark Contrast to Earlier Optimism
This cancellation marks a dramatic U-turn from the band's position just months ago. In a previous interview on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation, Rockett had confidently declared that a 2026 tour was absolutely going to happen. He stated that all band members had given their firm commitment, saying, "'Yeah, we're definitely doing it – without a doubt.'"
The news also creates a conflicting narrative with Michaels' own recent social media activity. Only this past Sunday, Michaels posted an upbeat video on Instagram, captioning it: "Enjoying the beach and getting fired up for the first shows of 2026." The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Bret Michaels for comment but has not yet received a response.
Michaels' Health and the Band's Future
The planned tour was intended to follow a scheduled break for the frontman in 2025. Earlier this year, Michaels announced he would be taking "most, if not all, of 2025 off" due to "physical adversity" and recent medical setbacks. He stated his intention to use the time to recharge and get a "much-needed physical tune-up," aiming to return in 2026 with full energy.
Poison, best known for hits like Every Rose Has Its Thorn and Talk Dirty to Me, last toured in 2022 as part of a stadium run with Def Leppard. The shelving of the 2026 headline dates leaves fans wondering if the original lineup will ever perform together again. For now, the dream of a major Poison reunion appears to have been poisoned by a dispute over the purse strings.
