Poison’s Rikki Rockett explained why he’d said Bret Michaels had demanded six times his colleagues’ payment for a reunion tour.

Early discussions had begun for a road trip marking the 40th anniversary of Look What The Cat Dragged In, but no deal was ever sealed, as Michaels recently expained.

In a new interview with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM, drummer Rockett said the band were planning to regroup in 2027, and that he’d been in touch with Michaels after saying the singer had requested $6 for ever $1 made by his bandmates.

“By the way, none of this just came from me,” Rockett said. “It’s just I happened to be doing the interview. … All the information I had was the truth, from my standpoint.”

He suggested he felt pressured to redirect attention from himself, guitarist C.C. DeVille and bassist Bobby Dall: “[A] lot of people start assuming things. I was seeing stuff on social media – ‘Oh, Rikki has cancer again,’ or ‘C.C.’s off the wagon again,’ or all these different things. ‘Those guys don’t really wanna work and Bret wants to work.’ And none of those things are true. We do wanna work; all of us do wanna work. C.C.’s sober. I don’t have cancer.”

Confirming that Michaels was right to say 2026 plans hadn’t reached the point of discussing fees, Rockett went on: “Bret’s right … It never did get that far. It got kiboshed at the very beginning. But I just wanted to put a sensible reason to it so that everybody understands that it wasn’t Bobby, C.C. or me, any of those rumors you heard – that’s not why we weren’t touring. And so I have to answer it with something.”

However, he emphasized: “I was told what Bret wanted, and when you did the math, that’s how the math worked out. And I’m not trying to quarrel with Bret.”

Rikki Rockett’s Positive Call With Bret Michaels

Rockett said he’d talked with Michaels that morning, and the conversation had been “absolutely positive.” He added: “We had a good laugh. Of course we talked a little bit. I told him why that information went out, as I just told you…there’s no second shoe to drop.”

He confirmed Poison were aiming to “do something in ’27,” explaining: “That’s one of the things, main things, that Bret and I talked about. … We wanna celebrate 40-plus years with the four of us with fans. … It’s not gonna happen in ’26… but it is gonna happen.

“And there’s no more of a headline to stick out there… I said what I said, Bret said what he said, but today we’re talking about doing something in ’27, and I know Bobby wants to do it; I talk to C.C. all the time. We’re all on board.”

Compact Discs

The 15 Greatest Hair Metal Frontmen

These performers epitomized the decade of decadence.

Gallery Credit: Corey Irwin

15. Don Dokken

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15. Don Dokken

One of the ‘80s most recognizable voices, Don Dokken remains a hair metal legend. The singer’s high-pitched vocals, coupled with an intense stage presence, made Dokken performances can’t-miss affairs. The frontman was known for generating electrifying concert atmospheres, regularly engaging audiences in the show. The band’s ‘80s hits included “Breaking the Chains,” “Alone Again” and “Dream Warriors.” Though they broke up (for the first time) by the end of the decade, the group’s influence continued to resonate.

14. Jack Blades

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14. Jack Blades

Jack Blades stands out on this list for several reasons. First and foremost, he’s not as brash and outrageous as most other hair metal greats. Instead, the Night Ranger frontman’s popularity stems from an effortless charm. The singer’s ability to engage fans helped Night Ranger build a passionate fanbase, culminating with such hit songs as “Sister Christian” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me.” Blades was also never just a singer – his prowess on the bass is equal to his talent behind the mic. Throw in the rocker’s songwriting chops and vocal dexterity and you’ve got the recipe for one of the genre’s most well-rounded frontman.

13. Jani Lane

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13. Jani Lane

Warrant frontman Jani Lane was blessed with one of hair metal’s most distinctive voices, one that naturally settled in a deep register, but could powerfully soar at various points in a tune. A naturally dynamic performer, Lane was able to ignite audiences at one moment and induce goosebumps at another. Due to Warrant’s comparatively shorter commercial height, Lane’s talents often get overlooked. He deserves to be mentioned among hair metal’s best.

12. Kevin DuBrow

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12. Kevin DuBrow

With wild exuberance and the ability to whip audiences into a frenzy, Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow was a force of nature. His infectious energy galvanized fans around the world, aiding in the band’s rise to stardom. Timeless hair metal tracks like “Cum on Feel the Noize” and “Bang Your Head (Metal Health)” stand as a testament to his unique talents. Dubrow died of a cocaine overdose in 2007, but his legacy remains.

11. Stephen Pearcy

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11. Stephen Pearcy

Ratt enjoyed multi-platinum success in the ‘80s, and leading the charge was the band’s frontman, Stephen Pearcy. With a distinctive voice and attitude to spare, Pearcy was the group’s cocksure focal point. His gravelly vocals powered such classic hits as “Round and Round” and “Lay it Down,” earning Ratt a place among hair metal’s most popular acts.

10. Dee Snider

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10. Dee Snider

With equal parts aggression and bravado, Dee Snider served as Twisted Sister’s commanding leader. The frontman mixed a punk rock work ethic with glam theatricality, carving his own larger-than-life persona in the process. Snider’s Stay Hungry look – as seen in the picture above – is one of the most enduring images of ‘80s hair metal. With songs like “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”, Snider became one of music’s loudest and most defiant voices. Meanwhile, the rocker’s natural charisma endeared him to generations of fans around the world.

9. David Coverdale

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9. David Coverdale

David Coverdale certainly didn’t start out as a hair metal frontman. The singer earned his stripes performing in a series of small bands before landing with Deep Purple. For three years he fronted the heavy metal legends, but when the group disbanded in 1976, it opened the door to Coverdale’s next stage. As the leader of Whitesnake, Coverdale scored a bevy of hits through the ‘80s, including “Here I Go Again,” “Is This Love” and “The Deeper the Love.” Meanwhile, he embodied the era’s hair metal aesthetic, complete with wild curly hair and a boundless supply of leather outfits.

8. Vince Neil

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8. Vince Neil

Every member of Motley Crue’s classic lineup had a distinctive persona: Nikki Sixx was the leader, Tommy Lee was the wild man, Mick Mars was the mysterious one and singer Vince Neil was the pretty boy. With flowing blonde locks and an affable personality, Neil played his part with aplomb, sufficiently rocking stages across the globe while also becoming a hair metal heartthrob for the Crue’s legions of female fans.

7. Bret Michaels

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7. Bret Michaels

One of Poison’s biggest hits was “Nothin’ but a Good Time”, a joyous celebration of carefree fun. That attitude was personified by the group’s frontman, Bret Michaels, who developed a well-earned reputation for bringing infectious enthusiasm to every one of the band’s shows. Even as Poison was packing arenas and scoring multi-platinum album sales, Michaels maintained an air of accessibility. He was the rock star you wanted to have beers with, hair metal’s good-time guy.

6. Jon Bon Jovi

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6. Jon Bon Jovi

Sure, Jon Bon Jovi’s poster-boy good looks garnered most of the headlines, but such tabloid fodder overshadowed the singer’s remarkable talents. Blessed with an emotive voice and effortless charm, the frontman became one his era’s biggest stars. Whether he was delivering a poignant ballad or a stadium-shaking rocker, Bon Jovi maintained constant command of every stage he stepped onto. Mock the feathered hair all you want, but don’t ever discount the singer’s impact on the ‘80s musical landscape.

5. Sebastian Bach

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5. Sebastian Bach

While some hair metal frontmen aspired to get fans moving, Sebastian Bach looked to beat them into submission. The Skid Row singer was an unbridled powerhouse on stage, screeching, thrashing and headbanging his way through tunes like “18 and Life” and “Youth Gone Wild”. Blessed with a dramatic vocal range, Bach could hit operatic heights at one point, before delivering a relentless onslaught of aggression at the next. Personality clashes eventually ended his Skid Row run, but during their heyday he was the band’s unquestioned engine.

4. Joe Elliott

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4. Joe Elliott

It’s possible that Joe Elliott may bristle with being included on this list. After all, Def Leppard is more commonly associated with the new wave of British heavy metal than hair metal. We see that as splitting hairs – pun intended. When it comes down to it, Def Leppard’s poppy hooks, anthemic hits and bombastic style all perfectly align with the hair metal sound. As Def Leppard’s singer and one of their primary songwriters, Elliott was integral in the band’s world-beating success. With his distinctive voice rising above hits such as “Hysteria”, “Love Bites” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, Def Leppard became one of the bestselling bands of the ’80s.

3. Sammy Hagar

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3. Sammy Hagar

Whether they like it or not, Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth will always be two sides to the same coin. Hagar was already a successful solo artist before joining Van Halen in 1985. He brought with him one of rock’s most powerful voices, adding a new weapon to the group’s musical arsenal. His tenure with the band featured four consecutive No. 1 albums, along with continued worldwide fame. Hagar radiated chemistry, both with his bandmates and with audiences, yet we still opted to have him ranked just below his predecessor.

2. David Lee Roth

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2. David Lee Roth

For decades. Van Halen fans have fallen into one of two camps: Team Roth or Team Hagar. We firmly toe the line and refuse to budge, noting that both frontmen offered something truly unique during their time in the group. Diamond Dave gets the higher ranking here simply because of his unrivaled showmanship. Whether peacocking around the stage or launching into acrobatic splits, Roth was always a sight to behold.

1. Axl Rose

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1. Axl Rose

There’s simply no way anyone else could have topped our list. As the lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose personified everything you look for in a frontman: distinctive style, magnetic charisma, oversized personality and prolific musical talent. Part of GNR’s unique formula was the elements of darkness and danger they wrapped within their radio-friendly hooks. These characteristics were mirrored in Rose, a staunch perfectionist known for his wild outbursts and unpredictable behavior. With Rose at the wheel, Guns N’ Roses became the biggest act on the planet, and each of their shows became must-see events.