Poison may be one step closer to a return to the live stage, according to drummer Rikki Rockett, who says the band has been offered a 2027 opportunity and is now weighing what comes next. In a new interview with Josh Klinger of Rock 95.5 Chicago, Rockett said the group is expected to speak with management and then discuss the matter as a band before deciding whether to move forward.
Rockett said he did not want to blame anyone for why a 2026 tour did not happen, but he confirmed that the band has already been approached about 2027. He explained that the conversation is happening “literally tomorrow,” and said he hopes everything lines up so Poison can get back on track. For now, he is staying optimistic while the decision-making process plays out.
The drummer also pointed out that a 2027 return could make perfect sense because it would mark the 41st anniversary of Poison’s debut album, 1986’s Look What the Cat Dragged In. He said it is a little strange that the band may end up celebrating a 41st anniversary rather than a 40th, but added that Poison has often had a way of turning unexpected turns into something memorable. Rockett said he is hoping this situation follows that same pattern.
While fans continue waiting for a full Poison reunion, Rockett is already planning a separate tribute to the band’s early era. He confirmed that his group The Rockett Mafia will perform Look What the Cat Dragged In in full, from the first note to the final scream, along with a few extra surprises. That set will include rare Poison B-sides and even a couple of Devil City Angels songs, since Rockett and vocalist Brandon Gibbs both played in that project.
Rockett said he wanted The Rockett Mafia show to offer something Poison would not normally do. He explained that Poison would probably never perform the entire album in its original form, so this new project gives him a way to celebrate the record in a different setting without repeating what the main band might already do. He also made clear that he did not want to copy anything Bret Michaels would do with his solo band.
The talk of a 2027 reunion follows months of mixed signals surrounding Poison’s live future. Earlier this year, frontman Bret Michaels said on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk that he believed 2027 could be a strong reunion year and suggested the band was hoping to get back out on the road then. Michaels said he thought it would be a “good reunion year” and emphasized that he still loves his bandmates.
Michaels also addressed the money talk that had surrounded the cancelled 2026 plans. He denied that the tour fell apart because he allegedly wanted six times more money than the other members, saying the process never got that far and that the conversation had not been completed. He explained that the early stages of touring involve a lot of planning, including solo numbers, stage design, routing, openers, and the overall production setup.
Back in January, Michaels had also said the band’s 2026 plans were simply delayed rather than abandoned. He said Poison had already moved the idea to 2027 because of other booking commitments and suggested that the schedule shift had more to do with timing than conflict. He added that all of the original members are still friends and said the group can work out differences by picking up the phone rather than arguing in public.
The 2026 tour collapse had first become public after Rockett told the New York Post’s Page Six that Michaels wanted the lion’s share of the money, making the tour impossible to move forward. Rockett said at the time that he, bassist Bobby Dall, and guitarist C.C. DeVille were ready to go, but that the numbers no longer worked. He stressed that he does not do this only for money, but also because he genuinely loves the music and the chance to play it live.
Poison last toured in 2022 as support for Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on a major stadium run. Since then, Michaels has mostly played occasional solo shows built around Poison songs, while the band’s future has remained a recurring topic for fans. Poison was formed in 1983, and Look What the Cat Dragged In arrived in May 1986, making the band’s next possible live chapter feel especially meaningful if the 2027 plans do come together.
For now, Rockett’s message is hopeful but still cautious. Poison has not confirmed a return, but the fact that an offer is on the table means the door is not closed. After years of headlines, negotiations, and anniversary talk, 2027 could finally be the year the band turns the rumors into a real reunion.
