Poison exploded out of the LA club scene and onto the national stage in 1986. After years of paying their dues, the controversial glam metal punks, whose stage show was hailed by one critic "as the Sex Pistols meets Kiss on acid", could not be ignored. Combining streetwise, catchy songs which lead vocalist Bret Michaels called "the soundtrack to our lives" and a strong video image, helped to make their 1986 independent debut album, "Look What The Cat Dragged In". A multi-platinum Top Ten smash.
Although their success was rather short-lived, one cannot deny the major effect that Poison had on the music industry during their career. Over the course of their first three albums Poison found a high amount of popularity, with only Bon Jovi and Def Leppard outselling them.
It all started in 1983. Singer Bret Michaels and drummer Rikki Rockett were still playing barrooms and pool-hall nightclubs with a cover band known as Paris, throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland when they met bassist Bobby Dall early that year. Wanting to be "everything they wanted to see" in a rock group, the three set out to create the ultimate high energy rock band. Chosen for his punk attitude and Aerosmith-like licks, Matt Smith became the first guitarist in Poison. He completed the line-up in 1984.
Poison wanted to play shows, not just gigs. Dragging everything from home-made lighting, piece-meal flash-pots, stolen drum risers and a concert PA system into the clubs earn.....
