Poison
Biography
In a decade fueled by party anthems and power ballads, Poison found a high amount of popularity, with only Bon Jovi and Def Leppard outselling them. While the group had a long string of pop-metal hits, they soon became just as renowned for their stage show, and continued to be a major attraction over the course of their first three albums. Although their commercial success was rather short-lived, one cannot deny the major effect that Poison had on the music industry during their heyday.
Formerly known as Paris, Poison were formed in 1984 by singer Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett. After traveling from Harrisburg, PA, to Los Angeles, CA, the band added guitarist C.C. Deville to its lineup. Poison were signed to Enigma Records in 1986, where they released their first album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. The record, spawning the Top Ten hits "I Want Action," "Talk Dirty to Me," and "I Won't Forget You," was a surprise success, selling two-million copies within a year following its release.
While the band was already quite popular by the end of 1987, 1988's Open Up & Say...Ahhh! was its commercial breakthrough, due to the massive hits "Fallen Angel," "Nothin' But a Good Time," and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn. " After a prosperous tour with David Lee Roth, the group returned to the studio to record Flesh and Blood in 1990. The album, which included the upbeat "Unskinny Bop" and the sentimental "Something to Believe In," was another major success. The dynamic tour supporting the record brought on the release of Swallow This Live, a double-disc set that included live versions of their biggest hits, along with four new studio tracks. The band was secretly falling apart, as an infamous appearance on MTV showed Deville perform nearly half of "Talk Dirty to Me" with his guitar unplugged. The band broke into a brawl backstage after the disastrous performance.
Shortly after the release of Swallow This Live, Poison fired Deville due to his increasing addiction to drugs and alcohol. His replacement, Richie Kotzen, made his commercial debut with the band on the 1993 Native Tongue album, which, despite some strong reviews and a hit single, "Stand," was a commercial disappointment. Kotzen was fired during the subsequent tour, and Blues Saraceno became Poison's third guitarist. The band recorded its fifth studio album, Crack a Smile, for release in 1996, but the record was shelved and replaced with the Greatest Hits: 1986-1996 disc. Toward the end of 1996, Saraceno left and Deville returned to the band, which eventually resulted in a successful reunion tour in the summer of 1999; the Crack a Smile sessions were finally released the following spring, soon followed by the mostly live Power to the People. Another tour was cut short by an accident that left Dall with serious back surgery and at least a six-month break from the band.
By the time he got back into shape, the band stepped into the studio and recorded Hollyweird, which was released in the summer of 2002. The following tour was promoted as a nostalgia experience and was funded by VH1, laying the brickwork for a lucrative relationship between the band and the television channel. Deville would later appear in the network's sixth season of The Surreal Life, while Michaels was awarded his own show, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. Hollyweird's reception was lukewarm at best, and Poison spent some time out of the spotlight while Michaels and Rockett released solo albums. They reconvened in 2006, celebrating their 20th anniversary with a nationwide tour and a greatest-hits album. The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock debuted in the Billboard Top 20, a feat the band hasn't accomplished since Native Tongue. The following year brought similar luck, with the band's seventh studio effort -- a covers album titled Poison'd! -- moving over 20,000 units during its first week. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
SEXXXXXXY!!! and smart and did i say probably very hot and sensual with the ladies and some of his music the way he sing;s them
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One of the lamest 80s bands ever. And the fact that they released an album in 2007 just makes them lamer. Besides, pop metal sucks, black metal will kill it every time.
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My dad introduced me to this band and i got hooked and im the only one at school who thinks this.
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if someone compared this bs band to ac/dc they should be smacked and never be allowed to give thier opinion again.
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I got drunk one night back in the 80's and raped this whole band. They looked like chicks so I'm not gay.
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Why is a great band like AC/DC being compared to this lame-a** glam metal band? Let's face it, Poison would get their asses handed to them by Slayer, or any of the hardcore bands of the 80's. If you're looking for good sex tracks, check out Lords of Acid. Way sexier, and they have a lady singing, not a wannabe woman. And why the hell are Poison trying to do the blues? Leave that to BB King and to black folks. F**k Poison, they are out-dated and over-rated.
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Over 20 years and still rocking!?!?
I think that says it all. If you're not a fan...change stations. |
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Okay so rock of love was a little cheesy but it really was entertaing ya have to admit,am I right?
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Poison is my favorite band. I have attended two of their concerts. Every rose has a thorn is my favorie song. Bret Michaels is a true rock star.
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Normally as a famous rock band people expect you to have certain physical relations with the roadies that follow the group while it is on the road. September 4 2007 will live in the record books as the first time one band was able to screw an entire audience. While in Blackfoot Idaho Poison performed one of the most disappointin g concerts I have ever attended. It was shocking how much of a cheap let down Poison was. The entire concert only lasted about 45 minutes this included 4 solo rifts that
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...I start with Nirvana. I add variety with Mudhoney, MC5, and The Velvet Underground. . . . I call it Heroin punk........ How does Poison EVER come up in a million years? ugh, at least I can skip it.
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POISON is my favorite all-time band and i can listen to every POISON song from beginning to end. My favortie songs are --"something to Belive in ---nothin but a good time and every rose
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TALK DIRTY is my fav song, i play it when i plow my girlfriend, thanks poison!
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Technically they are from Mechanicsbur g which is about 20 min. out of the city.
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My dad was friends with the whole band before they got famous. They used to go to some of his parties. He said they were all really cool except for CC who he said was a prick even before he got famous. But he said they went off and recorded there first album and came back one time after they released there first album and getting famous and then that was it. He said he never talked to them again.
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Jesus Christ, Richie Kotzen just kills the songs on "Seven Days Live", play them the way they were written you dildo. Nobody wants to hear YOUR interpretati o n of them.
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Europe is the only 80's metal band to rework their sound (without outside help) to blend then and now! Take a listen to "Start from the Dark" and "Secert Society"..I' v e seen both bands live, Poison wasn't bad but nowhere near as good as EUROPE..And they never wore makeup...
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Kings of corny tunes, and bad groupie date shows (Brett).
I appreciate the music of Poison, they have their moments. I do like Godsmack too, but that is not the limit to my taste, grow a little musically Uproot, try New Christy Minstrels, Alice Cooper, Pat Benatar, Simon and Garfunkel, I am probably the first to toss those 4 together. 8) |
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Wow Uprooted, what an original post, do you use that on EVERY band's bio page? Douche.bag
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Thank you Traci. nice job. I can live with Slayer, just not that wigger/rap sh*t. Rap is for real low lifes.
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Long life hair bands. That is what real feel good rock and roll is about. If you want to hear Slayer than make a station of it.
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RE: The bio photo
Bret, Buddy, we get it, you work out, no need to flex your guns for the camera. |
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I pride myself on having gotten through the hair band glam rock period relatively unscathed. So I make a station of regular rock, and Pandora throws this band at me. Real funny...Time to switch to the Slayer station...
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Poison Rocks! ....who is talkin sh*t about Poison? ....probably one of those little wigger type kids. Clowns.
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