Michaels allegedly asked to get paid six times more than his bandmates
Plans for Poison’s long-anticipated 40th anniversary tour — a celebration of four decades since their breakthrough with Look What the Cat Dragged In — have been officially shelved amid a very public financial dispute among the band’s members, particularly involving frontman Bret Michaels and drummer Rikki Rockett. According to Rockett, negotiations to mount the tour broke down primarily because of Michaels’ demands regarding how tour earnings would be split, leading the band to walk away from what Rockett described as a “great offer.”
Although the 40th anniversary tour was never formally announced, fans and industry insiders expected a big 2026 trek after Michaels publicly floated the idea in 2024 as a fitting way to mark four decades of Poison’s music. By late 2025, however, those plans had stalled. Rockett, speaking in interviews and to media outlets via Page Six, said that Poison had been presented with a solid touring offer — one that he, guitarist C.C. DeVille and bassist Bobby Dall were ready to accept — but that the negotiations hit an impasse when the proposal reached Michaels.
Rockett has been candid about what went wrong in the negotiations, emphasizing that the issue was financial fairness rather than personal acrimony. In his words:
- “We had a great offer, I thought. But we left the table. It didn’t work.” — Rockett describing the collapse of the deal.
- “Really what it came to was [C.C. DeVille], [Bobby Dall] and I were all in, and I thought Bret was, but he wanted the lion’s share of the money, to the point where it makes it not possible to even do it. It’s like $6 to every one of our dollars. You just can’t work that way.” — highlighting the core issue: an earnings split Rockett views as untenable.
- “I don’t do this just for the money. I do have a love for this, absolutely. 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.” — underscoring his commitment to the band and the work it takes to tour.
- “Every member of this band has given me so much privilege in life. It’s like hating your parents.” — Rockett on the emotional complexity of the situation, stressing no personal hatred.
- On the idea of continuing with a different singer: “It’s not out of the question. But doing that is like surgery: it’s the last resort… I don’t think there’s a better frontman for Poison.” — acknowledging fan speculation but viewing it as a last option.
The ongoing planning for the band’s 40th Anniversary Tour dates back to September of 2024:
- September 2024: Bret Michaels publicly expresses interest in a 2026 Poison 40th anniversary tour, calling it “the perfect 40th anniversary tour” with a nod to potentially 40 dates, though nothing is confirmed at that stage.
- Throughout 2025: Rumors and discussions about touring continue, but no official tour announcement materializes. Rockett hints publicly that a tour may be falling apart without direct confirmation of dates.
- Late 2025: According to Rockett, Poison receives a compelling offer for a 2026 tour that he, DeVille and Dall agree is strong. Once that offer reaches Michaels, however, the negotiations stagnate.
- January 2026: Rockett confirms publicly — via Page Six and other outlets — that the 40th anniversary tour plans are effectively scrapped due to the financial dispute and that no contract has been signed. He characterizes the earnings demands as the central factor.
Rockett has been careful to frame the issue as an impasse rather than a feud. He stresses that Poison’s members remain cordial and that any lingering frustration stems from differing priorities, not anger or ill will. While Michaels continues to have solo shows scheduled for 2026, Rockett will spend the year touring with his own band, Rockett Mafia. Later this year, he will be celebrating Poison’s Look What the Cat Dragged In. This year marks the album’s 40th anniversary, which features the hits “Talk Dirty to Me,” “I Want Action,” “Cry Tough,” and the album’s namesake “Look What the Cat Dragged in.”
“Playing Poison’s first album with the Rockett Mafia is a full-circle moment for me,” says Rikki Rockett. “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.”
This is a historic moment for all Poison fans, as this is the first time that Look What the Cat Dragged In is going to be played in its entirety. Rockett’s involvement with the performance creates a unique and authentic experience that will electrify the rock scene with the Rockett Mafia while honoring Poison’s legacy.
Concert dates are still being finalized. To stay up to date, follow the Rocket Maffia on social media and visit their official website
He has even joked that if Poison can resolve the financial dispute, a “41st anniversary tour” in 2027 might be just the twist the band needs — a quintessential Poison outcome, he quipped, turning disappointment into a future possibility.