Vie’s Verses – Why Has Poison Been Relegated To An Opening Act?
I was at a summer barbecue this past weekend, listening to good music and enjoying cold beer. Like most conversations that happen around me, the talk turned to music. A group of us started discussing concerts that we’ve been to, or plan to attend this summer. One of the guys mentioned that he just saw Def Leppard with Lita Ford and Poison. He told me what a great time he had and how he was surprised that Poison was still around. That got me to thinking. When did Poison get stuck as an opening act?
In the early 00s, Poison was headlining a glam festival every year. They would hit the road with Warrant, Cinderella, Sebastian Bach…the list was endless. They even put out an album of brand new material in 2002, Hollyweird. And while it wasn’t their best record, it was cool that Poison was recording new music for the fans that wanted it. Then, something strange happened. In 2004, Poison (apparently) couldn’t afford to go out on a headline tour, so they decided to open for Kiss. And while that was a cool concept for one tour, it never should have become the status quo.
In 2006 Poison went on a co-headlining tour with Cinderella. In 2007, they hit the road with Ratt in support of their terrible covers album, Poison’D. After a 2008 headlining tour with Dokken and Sebastian Bach, the band spent 2009 opening for Def Leppard. In 2010, Poison did not tour at all. The next year they opened for Motley Crue, and this year, they are out opening for Def Leppard once again. This is a band that ten years ago was headlining sold out concerts. Sure, they were in sheds across America, but they were still headlining to 12,000 people. That’s quite a feat! And now, they have been pushed to an opening act, exactly what they were at the start of their career. How can the band be all right with this?
I am sure that the money they earn makes it easier to swallow their pride and open, but what the band should be doing is working on new material and preparing themselves to be headliners once again. Even without new music, if Poison would decide to perform some different songs live, they could be headliners once again. The biggest issue that I have with Poison is that they play the same set list year after year after year. Why not try and mix it up by performing a few tracks from Crack A Smile, or HollyWeird. Why not play something from Native Tongue other than “Stand?” Why not perform a few of the studio tracks from the live albums? Of course Poison is always going to play “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Talk Dirty To Me,” and “Nothing But A Good Time.” I understand that. But why not shake it up with “Cover Of A Rolling Stone” instead of “We’re An American Band?” Pull out “No Ring No Gets” and lose “Ride The Wind.” Yes, I love “Ride The Wind” too, but I’d much rather hear a song that I’ve never heard the band perform live.
And if Poison is worried about not being able to carry the load themselves, then gather up another band or two and have them come out with you for support. Warrant (with Robert Mason) would be a great choice. Night Ranger has been incredible on the road, and they would make a great pairing with Poison. If Kix could be talked into doing a summer tour, a Kix/Poison concert would sell like hotcakes. And there is always Cinderella, a very popular draw.
As for opening acts, there are a ton of classic bands out there that would fit this bill. Great White, Lynch Mob, Mike Tramp, Enuff Z’Nuff, and Bang Tango are all available. They would all be a great addition to the tour. It could even be one of the best tours of the summer if done correctly. It’s just a shame to see the once mighty Poison, one of the best live acts of the 80s circuit, to be used as an opening band, when they could clearly be out on their own. I can only hope that the band will hear my plea. Also, a new album of original material would be nice. Please don’t leave us with Poison’D as your final studio album. That would be a disgrace.
Follow RyoVie on Twitter at Twitter.com/RyoVie
Leave A Comment ↓
Hard Rock Hideout 
Come on bro really!!!!! Haven’t you heard of all theses festivals every summer and if Bret Michales didn’t ruin the Poison name by dropping the rest of the band at the curb to do his solo tour then MAYBE!!!!!! They could do something once in awhile but really!!!! Motley Crue open for Poison?? I could maybe see Def Lepard openining but if you read the bill correctly they do CO-headlining shows with these guys!!!!! They each play for the dsame amount of time thr 80 scerne is over I love and always will lovr 80s music but the real good acts HAVE to group together to sell tickets its just the way music tours are done these days bro!!! There are barley a handful of acts that can pull off a 2-3 band show anymore it has to be ALL BIG NAMES hence THE TOUR feat. Motley Crue and Kiss I’m sure Kiss is kicking thselves in the ass cuz Motley is blowing them off the fucking stage, Poison just doesn’t have a SHOW they just have music and Bret doesn’t need the rest of the band has he shows that year after year doing solo shows at casinos and state fairs remember the key words in thses shows that Poison is doing CO-Headlining there just isant enough people out there to support a one band show Poison and Kix COULD NOT sell out 12000 seat arenas night after night on a tour Motley does it cuz they take acts from today out ewith them but Motley and Poison are Night and Day Motley is forever cuz they ad theatrics to the show they give ya some WOW factor!!! What does Poison bring? Some swinging dick for the ladies what about the guys? Just saying bro they’re not a timeless band they have 3 albums they can play from and these other bands your naming off have a 30 min to an hour setlist that they can play! That’s why all these bands your naming off play ONLY in the summertime at festivals you have to clump 20-30 bands to make up 12 hours worth of music I eant to thank you for support ~JP~
Based on their “new” material and back catalog, Night Ranger should never open for Poison. I hear your plea Ryo and you’ve made your point(s) solidly! I just cannot understand why the fans needed “another” Poison “greatest hits” album?
Cheap Trick is opening for Aerosmith, yet Cheap Trick has released two SOLID studio albums within the last 7 years; having new and credible studio albums out doesn’t always equate to headlining. Packaging bands together (even these legendary bands) helps to sell tickets in a terrible U.S. economy. Another good example: Rod Stewart touring with Stevie Nicks.
Cinderella needs to release a new album too. The good old fashioned EP release never hurt anyone either… any new/original material would be a giant leap in the right direction for Poison… and Cinderella too!
Rock Steady Ryo \m/\m/
I saw Poison open for Motley last year (after the New York Dolls but that’s a whole ‘nother story) and I was — still am — literally offended they bothered to even come out and play. I’m not the biggest Poison fan but I enjoy some tunes. The few strong selections they played were so devoid of passion, they may as well have said “meh” over an A chord and gone home. Any energy they happened to build up was dashed with two covers in the middle of a short opener set, American Band and Your Mama Don’t Dance. WHY?!?! I suppose I could give some space to Brett, that was after all his health problems…but man, why even bother putting that product out? You’re a party band not really known for being much of a musical powerhouse and now you’re dialing back the party? No wonder they’re an opener for bands that people want to pay to see.
Bob and Kev – you both make excellent points. And perhaps my love of Poison (they are in my top 10) blinds me to how they have fallen over the years. I’ve seen them in concert 8 times now, and each show has been a rocking one, but the 1999 and 2000 concerts stand out as the best in my memory. Maybe they can’t bring it anymore (ala Maiden), but I refuse to believe that. I think they’ve gotten lazy, b/c I think they don’t get along too well, hence no new material.
And I agree that Enuff Z’Nuff is much better at writing and crafting a song. Unfortunately, they ALWAYS get overlooked. What a shame.
Kevmoore hit the nail exactly on the head. IMHO, Poison is one of the most overrated bands of all time. Even back in the good ol’ 80s I didn’t much care for them. “Nothin’ but a Good Time” is a true party classic, and “Look At What The Cat dragged In” is a decent song, but that’s really about it. I saw them back in the day as a double bill with Tesla, and Tesla blew them off the stage. Michaels has like a six-note vocal range, and the other musicians in the band are mediocre at best. Ryo, if you want to know why they’ve been relegated to opening act status, it’s because they’ve always been mostly sizzle, and almost no steak, and you can only get away with that for so long.
Agreed with KevMoore. Who want to pay top dollar to see Poison go through the motions for 90 minutes? I just saw Drivin N Cryin a week ago. They played to 100 people in a small club, which is typical when they venture too far from Atlanta. However, they played for 2:15, and as always, came up with some new twist for the classics like Straight To Hell that they have to play. Plus they played every song on the newly released EP. (They are trying something different and releasing an EP every 90 days this year) In short, they still care. With Poison, I get the sense it’s just a paycheck at this point for them.
If it’s on musical merit, I would never want to see Enuff Z Nuff playing second fiddle to Poison! They could write an album in their sleep that would trounce anything Poison could come up with….and therein lies the rub, methinks…Scratch beneath the glitzy surface, and there really isn’t a lot of substance to Poison, a couple of half-decent rockers and one multi-compilation album -worthy ballad, and that’s about yer lot. You kind of answered it in your first paragraph, no new material since 2002, then an awful covers album, and a back catalogue that’s a little shakey. But if youre’ suggesting the likes of Night Ranger, Lynch mob and Enuff Z Nuff, I’d be prepared to see Poison opening for some time to come…