Frontman addresses tour delay and money split rumors, insists band remains united despite scheduling complications
Poison fans hoping for a 2026 reunion tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Look What the Cat Dragged In” will have to wait a bit longer, but frontman Bret Michaels has confirmed the iconic glam metal band is planning what he’s calling a “40 Plus One” tour for 2027.
In a recent interview on “Chaz & AJ In The Morning” on 99.1 WPLR, Michaels addressed the delay and shot down rumors of internal financial disputes that had threatened to derail the reunion.
The Anniversary Shifts to 2027
Poison released “Look What the Cat Dragged In” in 1986, making it one of glam metal’s most iconic debut records. The album produced enduring hits including “Talk Dirty To Me,” “I Want Action,” “Cry Tough,” and the title track, cementing the band’s place in rock history.
When asked directly if a tour could happen in 2027, Michaels introduced the new concept.
“We’re just gonna call it hopefully ’40 Plus One,'” he said, confirming that the anniversary celebration is simply being postponed rather than canceled.
Logistics, Not Drama
Michaels explained that the delay stems from practical scheduling issues rather than band conflict. Major tours require years of advance planning, and solo commitments were already filling up the calendar.
“But I can tell you this, as this thing got further down the road… Remember, when you’re booking stuff, we’re already booking stuff solo into ’27. So this just got backed up,”
Michaels said.
He expressed confidence that 2027 would work: “And I’m hoping that, as a founding member, obviously that would be a great day, and I’m positive we can make that happen in ’27.”
Addressing the Money Split Rumors
The tour delay became entangled with reports of financial disagreement after drummer Rikki Rockett claimed Michaels had demanded six times his colleagues’ payment, requesting $6 for every $1 made by his bandmates.
Michaels strongly denied that negotiations had reached that stage.
“Well, I’m gonna answer that honestly. It never happened. We never got to that part of negotiations,” he stated. “What happens, when you start this, they ask me to put together solo numbers and an average, and that’s the first part we turn in.”
From Michaels’ perspective, early discussions focused on planning basics like where the tour would start, who would open, and what the production would look like, not final financial terms.
Rockett Clarifies His Comments
In a subsequent interview with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM, Rockett explained why he had made the cash claim public, saying he felt pressured to redirect attention from false rumors circulating on social media.
“A lot of people start assuming things. I was seeing stuff on social media, ‘Oh, Rikki has cancer again,’ or ‘C.C.’s off the wagon again,’ or all these different things. ‘Those guys don’t really wanna work and Bret wants to work.’ And none of those things are true. We do wanna work; all of us do wanna work. C.C.’s sober. I don’t have cancer,”
Rockett said.
He confirmed Michaels was correct that 2026 plans hadn’t reached the fee discussion stage: “Bret’s right… It never did get that far. It got kiboshed at the very beginning. But I just wanted to put a sensible reason to it so that everybody understands that it wasn’t Bobby, C.C. or me, any of those rumors you heard, that’s not why we weren’t touring.”
Rockett emphasized he wasn’t trying to create conflict: “I was told what Bret wanted, and when you did the math, that’s how the math worked out. And I’m not trying to quarrel with Bret.”
A Positive Resolution
Rockett revealed he’d spoken with Michaels that morning, and the conversation had been “absolutely positive.”
“We had a good laugh. Of course we talked a little bit. I told him why that information went out, as I just told you…there’s no second shoe to drop,”
He confirmed Poison is aiming to “do something in ’27,” adding: “That’s one of the things, main things, that Bret and I talked about… We wanna celebrate 40-plus years with the four of us with fans… It’s not gonna happen in ’26… but it is gonna happen.”
“I said what I said, Bret said what he said, but today we’re talking about doing something in ’27, and I know Bobby wants to do it; I talk to C.C. all the time. We’re all on board,”
A Brotherhood Built Over Decades
Despite the rumors and headlines, Michaels emphasized that Poison’s members remain close friends.
“We’re all friends. And if you wanna discuss something, we have each other’s phone number for the last 45 years. Just call me,” he said. “No offense. I love Rikki. I love Bobby (Dall, Poison bassist). I love C.C. (DeVille, Poison guitarist).”
Michaels also explained that touring with Poison requires collective decision-making that differs from his solo work.
“It never finished, the negotiations, on everything. Where’s the tour start? Who’s opening for us? What lights, what sound, what’s the stage look like?” he said. “And with me, when I’m solo. I could make this decision… If I’m out with Poison, we’re four founding members. It should be a four-way discussion. That’s what Poison’s meant to be.”
What Fans Can Expect
While the anniversary tour may not happen in 2026, the “40 Plus One” celebration in 2027 promises to deliver classic songs, full production, and all four original members for a proper tribute to the band’s debut era.
For longtime fans, the message is clear: the celebration isn’t canceled, just delayed. And with all four founding members now on the same page, 2027 could mark a triumphant return for one of glam metal’s most beloved bands.
