Poison Promise a 2026 Comeback is ‘Definitely’ in the Works
Veteran glam-metal outfit Poison are set to take to the stage once again in the near future, drummer Rikki Rockett has confirmed.
The group, who formed in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 1983, have been largely sporadic in their existence over the past 15 years, with their most recent run of shows occurring in 2022 alongside Def Leppard and M?tley Crüe.
More from Billboard
However, speaking to Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, Rockett—who has played with the group since their inception—has said a 2026 comeback is in the works.
Trunk approached the topic when he told the drummer that frontman Bret Michaels had been in contact and urged him to ask about the band’s future.
“When I announced on socials about a week ago when I knew you were going to come on today,” Trunk explained. “Bret sent me a text – Bret Michaels – a day or two ago, and he said, ‘Hey, I hear you’re gonna have Rockett on. Send him my love and tell him Poison 2026.’”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. ’26 is for sure gonna happen,” Rockett confirmed. “I mean, unless some unforeseen thing happens, but all band members have stuck their hand in and said, ‘Yeah, we’re definitely doing it – without a doubt.’”
Poison released their first album, Look What the Cat Dragged In, in 1986, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 that same year. Their follow-up, 1988’s Open Up and Say… Ahh!, would chart one spot higher, with 1990’s Flesh & Blood repeating that feat.
Despite singles such as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” topping the Hot 100, and other hits like “Talk Dirty to Me”, “Nothin’ But a Good Time”, and “Unskinny Bop” all reaching the top ten, Poison didn’t score another charting hit past 1993, with their final album—a covers record titled Poison’d!—arriving in 2007.
Since then, Michaels has embarked upon a solo career in addition to becoming a reality TV star thanks to the likes of Rock of Love with Bret Michaels and The Celebrity Apprentice.
Earlier this year, Michaels confirmed he would be taking “most, if not all, of 2025 off” due to “physical adversity” he explained to be “diabetes, a brain hemorrhage, skin cancer and [his] self-titled ‘headbanger’s neck’.”
Michaels, who had previously experienced a raft of health issues, told fans earlier this year that he would be “taking most, if not all, of 2025 off” due to some encounters with “physical adversity”, which he clarified to be “diabetes, a brain hemorrhage, skin cancer and Bret’s self-titled ‘headbanger’s neck’.”
Best of Billboard
Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
