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Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great commercial success in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Poison has sold over 45 million records worldwide[1] and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone.[2] The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10 singles and the Hot 100 number-one, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".[3] The band's breakthrough debut album, the multi-platinum Look What the Cat Dragged In, was released in 1986 and they hit their peak with the second album, Open Up and Say... Ahh!, which became the band's most successful album, being certified 5x platinum in the US. The popularity continued into the new decade with their third consecutive multi-platinum selling album, Flesh & Blood.

In the 1990s following the release of the band's first live album, Swallow This Live, the band experienced some line up changes and the fall of pop metal with the grunge movement, but despite a drop in popularity the band's fourth studio album, Native Tongue, still achieved Gold status and the band's first compilation album, Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986–1996, went double platinum.

In the 2000s, with the original line up back together, the band found new popularity after a successful greatest hits reunion tour in 1999. The band began the new decade with the release of the long awaited Crack a Smile... and More!, followed by the Power to the People album. The band toured almost every year to sold out stadiums and arenas. They released a brand new album, Hollyweird, in 2002 and in 2006 the band celebrated their 20-year anniversary with The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock tour and album, which was certified Gold and marked Poison's return to the Billboard top 20 charts for the first time since 1993. Band members have released several solo albums and starred in successful reality TV shows. After 25 years, the band is still recording music and performing.

Since their debut in 1986, they have released eight studio albums, four live albums, five compilation albums, and have issued 28 singles to radio. In 2012 VH1 ranked them at #1 on their list of the best hair metal bands of all time.[4]


Content[]

[hide]*1 Band history

Band History[Edit][]

The beginning[Edit][]

Bret Michaels and Rikki Rockett of Poison put their first band, Spectres called, on legs in 1982, at the time both persons still went to school. Bret said it was the "ultimate garage band" was, there they started with a dozen members, "If you had an instrument, you could hear at the band. If you then no longer wanted to exercise, you were no longer a member. After all this is done, there are still four or five persons, and that is your band. "

Early years (1984-1986)[Edit][]

Poison was born in 1984 under the name "Paris" and consisted of singer Bret Michaels, guitarist Matt Smith, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett. After being in1985 moved to Los Angeles , started just really. The name Poison was picked up by the band after seeing the t-shirt that drummer Mick Shrimpton wore in the film This is Spinal Tap, because they knew they fit perfectly in the stereotypical image of rock stars in the film. When was asked them why they originally played under the name Paris, became by the members unanimously replied that "A French prostitute suggested the name" (a rough translation of the original "Une suggérait prostitute française le nom").

Matt Smith, who was about to become a father and was concerned about the future of the band, returned to Pennsylvania. The band started an extensive search for a replacement for his guitarist, and held three possible candidates about: Slash, which would later add in Guns N ' Roses , Steve Silva of The Joe Perry Project, and C.C. DeVille. After consultation, the band decided that Deville's inner "fire" him the best replacement made. [1.

The band started to enjoy fame on the Sunset Strip by their theatrical live shows and striking "glam" image. Without money for special effects, they are behielpen by the stage with old Harleys and automotive parts to fill and confetti to scatter about themselves from boxes to the ceiling. [2]

During this period, the manager of the band a deal that meant that The TroubadourWest Hollywood, a club from the shows would pay by the accounts of the band. The shows would eventually draw enough people to there advantage. [3]

Michaels, Dall, Rockett and DeVille in 1986 signed a contract with the independent record label Enigma Records for about $ 30,000. Their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In, was released on 2 August1986. It contained one single, "Cry Though", followed by three hits, "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action" and "I Won't Forget You". Producer Ric Browde unleashed a feud between the band and the recording production, by stating that "Poison" a victory of the appearance on the content "was and was the only Member that DeVille had any musical talent. [4]

Also In 1987 , the band recorded a cover of the song "Rock And Roll All Nite" by Kiss for the soundtrack to Less Than Zero. In the same year succeeded a publicist erin Michaels and Dall to sue after she had poured a bucket of ice cold water over her at a party. The stunt would have been a retaliatory action against Guns N ' Roses, because the band members themselves several times had negatively commented on Poison. [5]

Growth-success (1987-1992)[Edit][]

Poison's second album, Open Up and Say ...Ahh!, released on May 21, 1988, would end up 8 million times over the counter. The recording contained the band's biggest hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", along with other top 10 hits "Nothin' But A Good Time", "Fallen Angel" and the cover "Your Mama Don't Dance" by Loggins and Messina. The first original album cover, a picture of a female demonic figure with an obscenely long tongue. A censored version of the cover was quickly followed, which focused on the eyes of the figure.

At the time that the band began to tour with David Lee Roth (the Skyscraper Tour in 1988), it became clear that Poison could no longer be jostled in a corner. By the end of 1989 stood Poison fourth in the list of best selling hard rock bands of the 80 's, behind Def LeppardBon Jovi and Guns N ' Roses.

Third album poison, Flesh & Blood, released on 21 June 1990, coasted also high peaks. Also here an alternative cover used, there the original featured what looked like ink or blood that flowed from a tattoo. On these covers was the "extra ink" removed. The album was good for three times platinum, and left after three gold singles: "Unskinny Bop", "Ride the Wind" and the ballad "Something to Believe In".

During the Flesh & Bloodtour in 1990-91 were included a number of performances, which would later appear on their fourth album, Swallow This Live. This double album contained recordings of the live performance and four new studio tracks-the last before guitarist C.C. DeVille in that same year the band left.

Turbulent times (1993-1999)[Edit][]

Despite the success that the band members turn to fell, the cocaineand alcohol addiction by DeVille for discord within the group. This culminated in a backstage fight between Michaels and DeVille at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1991, provoked by the lousy showing of DeVille, who played the wrong song, after he had started with his guitar unplugged. DeVille was fired and replaced by Richie Kotzen.

Also in 1991, the chorus of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" a prominent place in the film Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. Get the song to the characters to answer God's question "what is the meaning of life?", that would provide them the access to heaven.

The fifth album, Native Tongue was issued on 8 February 1993 . The recording was heavily influenced by Kotzen, who are more focused on more serious topics, making it a turning point was in the band history. The album, which included the single "Stand" contained, received worldwide critical acclaim, but the sale not confirmed these criticisms: there were ' only ' 1 million copies sold. During the subsequent promotional tour there were tensions between Kotzen and the rest of the band. His future as band member was dashed at the time became known that he had begun a romance with Rockett's fiance. Kotzen was fired, and replaced byBlues Saraceno.

The shooting of the sixth album, Crack a Smile ... and More!, started in 1994, but were abruptly ended when Michaels in May 1994 became involved in an accident in which he lost control of his Ferrari . He suffered a broken noseribsjaw , and fingers and lost four teeth. After his rehabilitation in 1995 continued the band their recording on. Because the demand for a strong expiration hairmetal knew and by the staff change at the label, Capitol Records still offered little support for this recording. Instead, the label opted for a Greatest Hitscompilation that contained a number of new tracks (with Blues Saraceno on the guitar). This album was released on 26 november 1996 and got platinum, despite the lack of an immediate promotion tour.

Bret Michaels released his first solo album, A Letter From Death Row, in 1998, and after seven years have occurred separately, Michaels and DeVille to settle the disputes in 1998. The Greatest Hitsreunion tour finally took place in the summer of 1999. The Association of the original band members was a bull's eye, and the tour was very successful, with an average of 12,000 visitors to the performances.

Career comes back on tracks (2000-2005)[Edit][]

On 14 March 2000 eventually became the album Crack a Smile ... and More! released, with several additional tracks to the pirated copies. Followed this seventh album Greatest Hits: 1986-1996 on, also known as "The Lost Album". Crack a Smile ... and More! was a collection of cheerful and lustful songs, that contained traces of the more serious yet little that strongly in Native Tongue was present.

Later that same year DeVille released his solo album Samantha 7 , and was also the first studio album in eight years on the market of Poison with DeVille: Power to the People. This edition contained five new studio songs: "Power to the People", "Can't Bring Me Down", "Last Song", "Strange" and "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine", the latter with DeVille as main singer. The rest of the album consisted of live performances from tours between 1999 and 2000.

Hollyweird, Poison-the ninth album, was released on 21 may 2002. It was the first full album of new material since C.C. DeVille back in the band. The album was heavily criticized by both critics and fans, that the album but of abominable quality found. The new style was particularly evident in the songs "Emperor's New Clothes", "Livin' In the Now" and "Home (C.C. 's Story)", which was again the main singer DeVille.

Bobby Dall on The Whocover "Squeeze Box"

[1]

...Actually, it was Rikki's idea. When we rehearsed ... to break the ice for the new recording ... before we started fighting and arguing, we took a list of covers and remakes by ... It was the song which involved for us, and I think it fits perfectly with our band. It has a good melody and vocals, but it also kinda sparse and undefined ... it was a kind of open palette for us. [6

[2]

In 2003 brought Poison their second compilation album Best of Ballads & Blues , with an acoustic version of "Something to Believe In" and "Stand". Bret Michaels also released his second solo album, Songs or Liveon the market and after almost 20 years with Poison to have occurred also tried Rikki Rockett solo, with his album Glitter 4 Your Soul, that on 7 January 2003 was distributed online. This album was a tribute to the 70 's glam rock of the.

During the summer of 2004 could Poison company is that their recovery was complete at last. They were invited to act as the opening band during the "Rock The Nation"-tour by Kiss. This band, who have been active in the glam rock, through this invitation helped Poison to more fame with the older audience. Bret Michaels third solo album not counting, the band would remain inactive in 2005, with the reassuring idea that has been stable for the band upon their return.

Recent events: Rocking On (2006–present)[Edit][]

After a years rest, Poison returned back in the summer of 2006 with their "20 Years Of Rock"-to celebrate their 20th anniversary tour, a tour that was opened by the groups of Cinderella and Endeverafter. The tour was quickly one of the most successful of 2006 in the US, with an average of 20,000 people per performance. Also in april 2006 the band released an album of highlights from for this anniversary: The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock. This was also a new song, a cover of "we're an American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad, produced by Don Was. This caused a return in the top 20, that was since 1993 (with their album Native Tongue). The compilation debuted with a 17th place thanks to a sale of 39 721 copies in its first week. [7"Your Mama Don't Dance" was featured in the movie "RV", which was released in 2006 .

On 1 August of the same year Capitol Records released modified versions of the first three Poison albums, on the occasion of their 20th anniversary. They all contain three bonus tracks: "Don't Mess With Jim" onLook What the Cat Dragged In, the song "Livin' For The Minute" and an interview with the band on Open Up and Say ...Ahh! (with original cover) and an alternate version of "Something to Believe In" and an instrumental cover of "God Save The Queen" (of the Sex Pistols) on Flesh & Blood .

On 3 January 2007 launched Poison on their official MySpace-page a call to their fans to their favorite classic rock songs to choose from, which then would be used on their new studio album. The fans replied with suggestions like Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird", "Ballroom Blitz" by The Sweet, "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC and the inevitable "Poison" by Alice Cooper. On January 28 of that year Rikki Rockett explained:

[3]

"The album will be ready for the summer tour. That is still the plan. P.S.: the numbers are not what you expect. "

[4]

The summer tour of 2007 took place in cooperation with Ratt, following the covers-album Poison'd!, which was released June 5, 2007 .

Band Members[Edit][]

Current members[Edit][]

  • Bret Michaels – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (since 1983)
  • C.C. DeVille -guitar, backing vocals (19851991, 1996present)
  • Bobby Dall -bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1984-present)
  • Rikki Rockett -drums, percussion, backing vocals (1984-present)

Former members[Edit][]

  • Blues Saraceno – lead guitar, backing vocals (1994-1998)
  • Richie Kotzen -guitar, mandolin, dobro, keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1991-1994)
  • Matt Smith -guitar, backing vocals (1984-1985)

Discography[Edit][]

Albums[Edit][]

  1. Poison joins Def Leppard for summer 2009 tour!. Signatures Network Inc (February 25, 2009). Retrieved on September 15, 2010.
  2. Top Selling Artists. RIAA.
  3. Poison: Billboard. AllMusic.
  4. Top 5 Hair Bands Of The ’80s. VH1 Music News.
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