Poison's 40th Anniversary Tour Canceled Over Bret Michaels' Alleged 600% Pay Demand

The planned 40th-anniversary tour for the legendary rock band Poison is officially off the table, with drummer Rikki Rockett citing a massive financial disagreement spearheaded by lead singer Bret Michaels.

Rockett revealed to Page Six that Michaels allegedly demanded a 600% pay raise compared to his bandmates, a request that proved to be a deal-breaker.

"We had a great offer, I thought. But we left the table. It didn't work," Rockett told the publication. He elaborated, "Really what it came to was C.C. [DeVille], Bobby [Dall], and I were all in, and I thought Bret was, but he wanted the lion's share of the money, to the point where it makes it not possible to even do it," he claimed.

According to Rockett, the rest of the band – guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall, and himself – had agreed on the tour's financial split. However, Michaels' alleged demand for six times more than his bandmates made the venture impossible.

"It's like $6 for every one of our dollars. You just can't work that way," Rockett alleged.

Despite the apparent conflict, Rockett insists he harbors no animosity towards Michaels. "Every member of this band has given me so much privilege in life. It's like hating your parents," he said, emphasizing the long-standing relationships within the group.

Rockett expressed hope that the financial issues could be resolved before next year, potentially in time for a 41st-anniversary tour, which he jokingly called "a perfect Poison folly."

While replacing Michaels is "not out of the question," Rockett views it as a "last resort." He reiterated that he isn't in conflict with Michaels and doesn't believe there's a better frontman for Poison.

Poison, formed in 1983, rose to fame with hits like "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." The band's core members include Michaels, Dall, Rockett, and DeVille.