Where Is Poison Now & Why Was Their 40th Anniversary Tour Scrapped?
Poison helped define the glam-metal explosion of the ’80s with big hair and a big rock sound, making Bret Michaels, in particular, a huge star. The band formed in Pennsylvania in the early ’80s, moved to Los Angeles and broke through with their 1986 debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. That record gave fans the hit songs “Talk Dirty to Me,” “I Want Action,” and “I Won’t Forget You,” and it kicked off one of the most recognizable runs of the MTV era.
The classic lineup is still the one fans want to see: Bret Michaels on vocals, Rikki Rockett on drums, Bobby Dall on bass, and C.C. DeVille on guitar. They last toured together in 2022 as part of The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Since then, Poison has not announced a new full-band tour, even though there had been plenty of hope that the group would reunite in 2026 for the 40th anniversary of Look What the Cat Dragged In.
Where is Bret Michaels now?
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Michaels, 63, is still on the road, just not with Poison at the moment. He has been touring with the Bret Michaels Band on its Live & Amplified Tour, which has focused heavily on Poison favorites and his own party-rock style. He also performed during 2026 NFL Draft week in Pittsburgh, a homecoming moment for the Western Pennsylvania native and lifelong Steelers fan. Michaels has made it clear that Poison is not fully retired. In an April 2026 interview with USA Today, he said any future reunion would be with the original band and added, “I love them, they’re my brothers.” He also said he believes they will “make it work” in ’27 or ’28, which means fans may still get that anniversary celebration, just not in 2026.
Where is Rikki Rockett now?
Rockett, 64, has been one of the most vocal members regarding the canceled 2026 plans. He said he thought the Poison anniversary tour was close to happening and claimed that he, DeVille, and Dall were ready to move forward. According to Rockett, the deal fell apart because Michaels allegedly wanted a much larger share of the money than the rest of the band. Rockett has also been keeping the music alive in his own way. He has been working with Rockett Mafia, a band built around his love of old-school rock, and the group has performed Poison’s debut album in full as a tribute to the record’s 40th anniversary.
(L-R) C.C. DeVille, Bret Michaels, Rikki Rockett, and Bobby Dall. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM
Where are C.C. DeVille and Bobby Dall now?
DeVille, 64, and Dall, 62, have kept much lower public profiles than Michaels and Rockett. DeVille remains Poison’s lead guitarist, and Dall remains the band’s longtime bassist, but neither has really been in the public eye.
Why was Poison’s 40th anniversary tour scrapped?
Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Everett Collection
Rockett has claimed the tour became impossible because Michaels wanted what Rockett described as “the lion’s share” of the money. He said the difference was too big for the rest of the band to accept and that it made the business side of the tour unworkable. Michaels has denied that version of events and argued that the tour was pushed back because of logistics and scheduling. He said 2026 was already filling up with solo commitments, and that the Poison idea was moving toward 2027 instead.
Is Poison broken up?
Poison has not announced a breakup. There is also no official Poison tour on the calendar right now. The good news for longtime fans is that both sides have left the door open. Rockett has said he would still love a reunion, and Michaels has talked about a possible “40 Plus One” celebration in 2027.
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’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!
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