“ I don’t think there’s a better frontman for Poison.”
— Rikki Rockett on Bret Michaels
LOS ANGELES, California — Poison drummer Rikki Rockett has gone on the record to state he will perform the entire “Look What The Cat Dragged In” record with his side-project to celebrate the band’s debut and its 40th anniversary (1986/2026).
Out of all Poison members, Rockett has been the most vocal on the subject of the band’s inability to agree to terms, and to tour as a unit with all 4 original members.
According to Rockett, he has stated that C.C. DeVille (guitars) and Bobby Dall (bass) were on board with the band’s offer to tour in 2026, but it was Bret Michaels (vocals) who held up the group’s plans over money.
In a recent Page Six article, the drummer was asked if it was ever considered to replace Bret Michaels with a new singer in Poison, to which Rockett replied: “It’s not out of the question. But doing that is like surgery: it’s the last resort.”
Rockett then added: “I don’t want to do that. I’m not quarreling with Bret… We just didn’t come to agreement. I don’t like it, and I’ll say that, but it’s not like, ‘Let’s put up our dukes.’ I don’t think there’s a better frontman for Poison.”
Metal Sludge first reported on this subject back in the spring of 2025 with our story: “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.”
Metal Sludge then did a follow up in November 2025 with our article: “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!”
In that same Page Six piece, Rockett said: “Really what it came to was C.C., [bass player] 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.”
“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.” added Rockett.
Now it’s January 2026 and it seems the drama is still continuing in the Poison camp.
Michaels and Rockett have been friends since their youth back in Pennsylvania, and the singer even posted a Happy Birthday greeting to the drummer back on August 8th 2024 while sharing an image of the two from their youth. (shared above)
It appears that nothing has been resolved as far as Poison going forward with the originally planned 40th Anniversary tour.
So now, Rockett is saying he will go out with his side-project – The Rockett Mafia – and he has plans to play the band’s debut “Look What The Cat Dragged In” in its entirety to celebrate the mile-stone.
No official tour has been announced yet for The Rockett Mafia and no word from Michaels regarding the recent statements from Rockett.
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for more Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.
