Bret Michaels appeared on Chaz and AJ in the Morning on 99.1 PLR and responded directly to recent claims surrounding Poison’s shelved 40th anniversary tour. Over the past week, multiple outlets reported that Poison’s planned 2026 tour was called off following a disagreement over financial terms, including statements by drummer Rikki Rockett that Michaels sought to be paid roughly six times more than his bandmates — a claim Michaels firmly refuted on the air.

Michaels described the dynamics surrounding the anniversary celebration and denied that a disproportionate pay demand was ever formally on the table.

“It never happened. We never got to that part of negotiations,” Michaels said, addressing comments attributed to Rockett. “We were working through logistics — solo averages, stage design, start dates — and then it moved to 2027.”

He explained that early tour talks focused on basics like revenue averages from solo shows and production elements, but negotiations never progressed to a point where headline pay splits were finalized.

“That wasn’t on the table,” Michaels reiterated. “We never finished the negotiations on everything.”

While some press coverage framed the dispute as a financial impasse that killed the anniversary tour — including quotes reporting Rockett’s view that Michaels’ demands made the finances “not possible to even do it” and references to a 600% pay gap — Michaels’ interview emphasized a lack of final discussion rather than a deliberate demand.

Michaels also underscored the longstanding personal bonds within Poison and urged communication off the air rather than through public commentary.

“If you want to discuss something, we’ve had each other’s phone numbers for 25 years. Just call me,” he said. “Don’t negotiate on the air.”

He added praise for his bandmates — Rikki Rockett, Bobby Dall, and C.C. DeVille — calling them friends and family, and reaffirmed that Poison has always operated as a collaborative group.

While the milestone 40th anniversary dates have been set aside for now, Michaels suggested optimism for future celebrations:

“I’m hopeful we can make it happen in ’27,” he said, calling the project “40 plus one” and expressing enthusiasm about revisiting the possibility.

This statement follows broad reporting that Poison’s highly anticipated tour plans were shelved amid financial disagreements, even after guitarist C.C. DeVille had publicly teased a 2026 tour.

The full audio interview is available on the Chaz and AJ podcast at: https://audioboom.com/posts/8853108-pod-pick-bret-michaels-the-canceled-poison-tour-and-a-big-saturday-at-mohegan