Poison (band)

Poison is an American band originally known as Paris. Formed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1984 by Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, Matt Smith & Rikki Rockett, they moved to Los Angeles in 1985 to begin touring the clubs there. Matt Smith gave up and went back home, to be replaced by C.C DeVille, a guitarist who'd been in several bands previously, including Roxx Regime (Stryper) and Icon.

Vocalist Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, drummer Rikki Rockett and guitarist C.C. Deville signed to Enigma Records in 1986 (see 1986 in music). Their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In was released on August 2, 1986. It included three hits, "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action" and "I Won't Forget You".

In 1987 they also recorded a cover of the KISS song "Rock And Roll All Nite" for the Less Than Zero movie soundtrack.

As successful as Look What the Cat Dragged In, was their 2nd album Open Up And Say...Ahh!. It was released on May 21, 1988 (see 1988 in music) and, after an album cover edit, was a major success. That included their biggest hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", along with other top 10 hits, "Nothin' But A Good Time" and the Loggins & Messina cover "Your Mama Don't Dance".

Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood (1990), was just as successful, launching two big hits, "Unskinny Bop" and "Something to Believe In".

During the 1990/1991 "Flesh & Blood" tour, a couple of shows in Florida were recorded. They'd be released in November 1991 as their 4th album, Swallow This Live.

Drug and personality problems were tearing the band apart, and Deville was soon fired and replaced by Richie Kotzen. Native Tongue (1993) got generally positive reviews, but sales were sluggish. Blues Saraceno soon replaced Kotzen, and he was then replaced by Deville's return for a 1996 (see 1996 in music) reunion. currently Poison was on tour with KISS on there Rock the nation tour.