“Poison tried it without Bret, No one cared. However Bret as a solo artist is playing and packing the same exact venues that Poison plays as a headliner.”
— Pete Evick / Bret Michaels Band
MANASSAS, Virginia — In the on-going drama in and out of the Poison camp, there has been more fuel added to the feud!
This time, it’s Bret Michaels Band guitarist Pete Evick who has thrown a gallon of gasoline onto the proverbial fire.
Evick unloaded his thoughts on a variety of related subjects and has shared those views on his social media for all to see in recent days.
Evick took to his official Facebook earlier today and ended his 587 word rant with: “I’d also like to say that perhaps there are several things that have gone on behind the scenes that make Bret just not want to play in Poison. Is there any chance that any of those guys have done unforgivable things to Bret? I mean, seriously, why would Bret want to play with a guy who on multiple occasions has publicly tried to make him the enemy.”
The million dollar question is, who is Evick speaking about?
Of course it can only be 1 of 3 people… and their names are C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall or Rikki Rockett, but as for who Evick is referencing that is anyone’s guess.
However, if we were betting on this, odds are it is Rockett as he is the most active on social media and has been outspoken when it comes to this very subject, while Dall and DeVille are for the most part radio silent and have been that way for years.
Evick adds: “Here is the part that’s going to get me in trouble, the part that will become the clickbate headline. Many people are saying CC wrote all the hits. Let me be clear, CC is great, he is amazing, he is a legend and one of my personal hero’s, he wrote many hits, he is undeniably the driving musical force behind Poison, but… If you know anything about how the industry really works you would know that the one hit that made the real difference, the song that truly put them into pop stardom, that made them a household name was “Every Rose”… guess what, Bret wrote that. Not only did Bret write it, the rest of them didn’t like it.”
Now as the world is spinning and in-between all of this ‘he said – he said‘ jibber-jabber… who exactly is caught in the middle?
In some ways, the fans are.
Of course it’s social media so there are all kinds of sides, including those who side with Bret, and those that are taking the side of the others (Rikki, C.C. and Bobby).
Such is the case with Evick‘s recent posts, which at a glance are an array of opinions across the board.
Metal Sludge have grabbed several comments from Evick‘s most recent post and added them here to give our readers an idea of what is being said, from who, and where they stand…. and for the most part it’s a toss up.
Metal Sludge would like to comment, and say, Wil Forbis above and his idea makes the most sense! Lol
Now as Poison is sitting idle in the 11th hour as the 2026 tour season is ramping up, it appears that this story is everywhere and not just on the rock or metal websites… nope, it’s touching all sorts of outlets from Page Six, to Fox News, People, Us Weekly, The Riff Report in the U.K., Stereo Gum, Blunt Magazine, Wide Open Country and Filmogaz in addition to countless social media feeds.
Is this the end of the Glam, Slam, Kings of Noise?
Or is it just another in a series of hiccups that have plagued the band for decades.
Only time will tell, and Metal Sludge will be sure to report on any developments going forward.
Below are other Poison related articles as found on Metal Sludge from recent years.
January 19th 2026 > WHAT WOULD POISON FANS SAY IF? Rikki Rockett on if it’s been considered to replace Bret Michaels: “It’s not out of the question. But doing that is like surgery: it’s the last resort.”
January 18th 2026 > CRY TOUGH … Rikki Rockett explains to Page Six that Bret Michaels was looking to earn 6x what the others will make: “It’s like $6 to every one of our dollars. You just can’t work that way.”
November 13th 2025 > EVERY BAND HAS ITS THORN ….. Rikki Rockett says 3/4 of Poison have agreed to a Live Nation offer/contract for 2026 adding: “Bret Wants More Than The Lion’s Share!”
November 11th 2025 > TALK SLUDGY TO ME … Rikki Rockett: “If Pete Evick thinks that the BMB is carrying the Poison torch then Pete must be a Bic lighter”
June 9th 2025 > I THINK I LOVE YOU ….. Rikki Rockett of Poison unloads on fellow drummer Troy Patrick Farrell over ICE RAIDS and current Unrest in Los Angeles
May 13th 2025 > POISON TOUR 2026 … Rikki Rockett says: “We got a great offer, and to be honest with you, it’s all in Bret’s (Michaels) lap right now honestly.”
August 27th 2024 > FOR SALE … Rikki Rockett is holding an Estate Sale selling off Drums and R&R Memorabilia this weekend in Castaic California
August 7th 2024 > TROUBLE BREWING – Rikki Rockett: “If Poison didn’t tour in 2025, what do you think the reason would be?”
June 7th 2024 > POISON … Read Rikki Rockett’s Letter to Pearl Drums from 1986 with Resume Included; “I Know In My Heart We Are Going To Be Huge”
July 18th 2023 > BRET’S SIDE-MAN … Pete Evick releases ‘MTV Famous’ a Book about his 30 Year Journey from High School Talent Shows to playing with Poison frontman Bret Michaels
February 10th 2023 > WE’RE NOT GLAM … Michael Sweet of Stryper: “Poison, Faster Pussycat and Tuff” were Glam and notes, “Stryper were NOT a Glam Band”
November 29th 2022 > PARTY ALL THE TIME … Bret Michaels announces ‘Parti-Gras’, his Summer Festival Solo Tour with Night Ranger and Jefferson Starship for 2023
June 26th 2022 > DIFFICULT DEVILLE … Tom Werman says C.C. DeVille was ‘Very Difficult’ when producing the Poison release “Open Up and Say… Ahh!”
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for more Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.
