Poison Cancels 2026 Reunion Tour Plans Amid Dispute Over Pay

Poison has canceled plans for a 2026 reunion tour after frontman Bret Michaels reportedly demanded a significantly larger share of the band's profits, according to drummer Rikki Rockett.

Although the band never officially announced a tour, Poison members had discussed plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary with a series of live dates. In September 2024, Michaels told reporters that a reunion in 2026 "would make perfect sense" and described the proposed run as "the perfect 40th anniversary tour, with 40 awesome limited dates to go out, play real live hit songs and rock the world."

Rockett said the tour fell through due to disagreements over compensation. "We had a great offer, I thought. But we left the table," Rockett told Page Six. "It didn't work."

Rockett said he, guitarist C.C. DeVille and bassist Bobby Dall had agreed to the tour, but that Michaels requested the "lion's share" of the money-reportedly asking for a 6-to-1 split. "You just can't work that way," Rockett said. "I don't do this just for the money. I do have a love for this, absolutely. But at the same time, you don't want to go out and work really hard just to make somebody else a bunch of money."

Rockett said he did not harbor resentment over the situation. "Every member of this band has given me so much privilege in life," he said. "It's like hating your parents."

When asked if Poison might tour with a different singer, Rockett said it was unlikely. "It's not out of the question. But doing that is like surgery: it's the last resort," he said. "I don't want to do that. I'm not quarreling with Bret. We just didn't come to agreement. I don't like it, and I'll say that, but it's not like, 'Let's put up our dukes.' I don't think there's a better frontman for Poison."

Michaels has solo tour dates scheduled in 2026. Rockett will tour next year with his side project, Rockett Mafia. He also joked that Poison could attempt a reunion in 2027, calling it "a perfect Poison folly to do a 41st anniversary tour."