Poison’s big plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2026 have fallen apart before they even hit the road. The classic rock band, best known for hits like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” will no longer be reuniting for a full tour this year after a dispute over how much money each member would earn.
Drummer Rikki Rockett says he, guitarist C.C. DeVille and bassist Bobby Dall were all ready to go ahead with the tour after getting what he thought was a solid offer. Everything seemed set until frontman Bret Michaels weighed in with his own financial terms. According to Rockett, Michaels wanted a much larger share of the tour earnings than the rest of the band, making the deal unworkable. “It’s like six dollars for every one of our dollars,” Rockett told Page Six.
Fans first caught wind of a possible celebration when Michaels hinted on social media that 2026 would be the perfect time to mark four decades since Poison’s debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. Guitarist C.C. DeVille even teased fans with a tour announcement last year. But no official tour dates were ever confirmed, and behind the scenes the negotiations were apparently unraveling.
Rockett made it clear he doesn’t hold any animosity toward Michaels, stressing that their long history together means a lot. He compared the situation to family disagreements, saying there’s still respect among the band members even if they couldn’t agree on how to split the money.
With the anniversary tour shelved, Rockett says he plans to spend part of this year on the road with his side project, Rockett Mafia. He’s set to perform Poison’s first album live at each show, giving fans at least a taste of nostalgia even without the full band together.
Rockett also joked that maybe they’ll do a “41st anniversary tour” instead, showing he hasn’t entirely closed the door on future collaboration. When asked if they’d consider touring with someone else if Michaels won’t agree to terms, Rockett didn’t rule it out but said it wouldn’t be a first choice.
Michaels, meanwhile, has been promoting his own solo “Live & Amplified” shows for 2026, keeping busy outside the band. His reps haven’t commented on the latest dispute. For now, Poison’s milestone celebration remains a story of what might have been — a bittersweet twist for die‑hard fans who hoped 2026 would bring one last big tour from the original lineup.
