Poison drummer Rikki Rockett has revealed that the iconic glam-rock band is actively planning to hit the road in 2026 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their blockbuster debut album, 1986’s Look What The Cat Dragged In. However, during a May 12 appearance on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” Rockett stated that the final green light for the tour currently depends on frontman Bret Michaels.
“We are [still] planning [on going out next year]… We got a great offer, and to be honest with you, it’s in Bret‘s [Michaels] lap right now — honestly,” Rockett shared (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “So, we’re good to go, and hopefully we can make a deal and do it.” The offer is reportedly for a headlining tour.
Rockett expressed strong enthusiasm for the potential anniversary run, emphasizing the significance of the milestone and the band’s current capabilities. “I think it would be a shame not to do it, because this is our 40th anniversary — all original members,” he urged. “We’re not getting any younger. We can tear it up. We’ve still got it. Let’s do it. That’s how I feel about it.” He confirmed his own readiness, along with that of bassist Bobby Dall and guitarist C.C. DeVille, adding, “It is [up to Bret at this point]… I haven’t signed anything or anything like that. But it’s more than a year away… so we have time.”
A key point of pride for Rockett is Poison‘s commitment to delivering an authentic live performance. Reflecting on their successful stint on 2022’s “The Stadium Tour” alongside Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, and Joan Jett, where many fans considered Poison a highlight, Rockett asserted the band’s dedication to playing and singing live without relying on extensive backing tracks.
“Everybody was energetic. Everybody can play, everybody can sing. When we get to a point where we can’t do those things, then that would be the time to shut it down,” he stated. “We’re not gonna play to track… when bands like ours start to like not be able to do what they did before and then they start making up for it by having recorded tracks, that I don’t care for. For our band, I don’t want that to ever happen… I don’t think our audience would accept it or really respect it if we did it that way.”
Rockett did elaborate on how Poison achieves their full sound live, noting the on-stage presence of keyboard player and backing vocalist Will Doughty. He explained this transparency is crucial for authentically replicating their layered studio recordings. “When we did those [early Poison] records… we’re all standing in front of a mic, and then you can layer it… And you can’t really do that live,” he said. “And so with Will, it’s, like, hey, right there he is. We’ve got a guy helping us out. It’s f**king obvious.”
He contrasted this approach with bands using hidden tracks, referencing David Lee Roth‘s recent performance at the M3 Rock Festival with visible backing singers as an acceptable form of sound enhancement. “Did anyone mind that they were there? I didn’t mind,” Rockett commented. “What I would’ve minded — if I was hearing backgrounds come out of nowhere… I think that’s what the audience thinks, ‘Wow, what else are they doing that’s pulling the…? Is this whole thing an illusion?'”
