What you need to know
Bret Michaels has denied claims that potential plans for Poison’s 40th anniversary tour fell through because the frontman wanted more money.
In a recent interview with Blabbermouth.net’s 99.1 WPLR’s “Chaz & AJ in the Morning,” Michaels, 62, denied Ricky Lockett’s claims earlier this month that he demanded six times his bandmates’ pay for the Poison anniversary tour.
Asked if fans can expect Poison to tour in honor of their 1986 debut album Look What the Cat Drag In, he teased that the 2027 series of shows might be called “40 Plus One” because it takes time for shows to line up.
“This thing has gone further out…remember, when we book things, we’ve already booked things on our own for 2020. So this just backed up. And as a founding member, obviously we hope it’s a great day, and I’m confident we can make it happen in 2020,” Michaels told Blabbermouth.net.
Michaels was then asked if the tour would no longer take place because the lead singer allegedly demanded six times the amount of the band members.
“Well, I’ll be honest,” he said, according to Blabbermouth.net. “That never happened. We never got to that part of the negotiation.”
He said that once discussions about the tour began, “we were asked to put together solo numbers and averages, and that’s the first part we submit.”
According to the media outlet, Michaels said, “We had decided what the stage would look like and where we should start the tour, and all of a sudden the 2026 show was asking for a solo answer, so we moved it to 2027 last summer.”
“Not even other members have commented,” he said, according to Blabbermouth.net.
According to the outlet, Michaels said of the tour, “They say, ‘I thought this would be happening now in ’27.”
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Michaels said afterwards that the band was “all friends.”
“If you want to discuss anything, we’ve known each other’s phone numbers for the past 45 years,” he added, according to Blabbermouth.net. “Please give me a call.”
He continued, “No offense. I love Ricky. I love Bobby (Doll, Poison’s bassist). I love CC (Devil, Poison’s guitarist). Please don’t negotiate on the air (during the interview).”
Mr. Michaels reiterated that he simply wanted to discuss it privately.
“If you give us a call, we’ll solve something. We’ve been solving it for 40 years. Let’s solve what needs to be solved,” he said, according to Blabbermouth.net.
PEOPLE has reached out to Poison and Lockett for comment.
In a January 18 interview with the New York Post’s Page Six, Lockett claimed that Michaels asked for large sums of money while the band was in loose talks about a 40th anniversary tour.
“I thought I had a great offer, but I walked away from the table. It just didn’t work out,” he told the magazine at the time.
Lockett, 64, continued: “It ended up being CC and Bobby and I were all in, and I thought Brett was too, but he wanted a big cut of the money and we couldn’t have it.”
He went on to liken the difference in amounts claimed to “$6 for every $1 we have,” adding: “We can’t work that way.”
Michaels’ representatives did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment at the time.
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Three days later, Michaels shared a Facebook post responding to Rocket’s comments about a possible Poison tour.
“Congratulations to Green Day and Bad Bunny on your Super Bowl concert,” he wrote at the time. “I can’t wait to watch and I can’t wait to announce the fulfillment of my bucket list NFL dreams (stay tuned…).”
He then told Rocket, “Have fun tonight with your good buddy Eddie Trunk and enjoy the Metal Hall of Fame induction ceremony.”
“As always, I think of Poison as Bobby, CC, Ricky and myself. I also make no bones about loving BMB (Bret Michaels Band) and will always have both in my life,” Michaels said.
He also noted his hopes for Poison’s “possible future reunion.”
“In conclusion, I love music, I love my fans, and I am always and forever grateful. Let’s all focus on moving forward and upward, and on the positives of 2026 and the possibility of a future reunion,” Michaels concluded.
Rocket shared a statement with PEOPLE in response to Michaels’ post, saying, “I hope so!”
Poison formed in 1983 and released their debut album, Look What the Cat Drag In, in May 1986.
Michaels previously said in a September 2024 Facebook post that he expected the glam metal band to hit the ground running in time for the milestone anniversary in 2026.
