Poison

Originally called Paris, Poison was formed by Bret Michaels, Rikki Rockett, Bobby Dall and guitarist Matt Smith, changing their name after moving to LA in 1984. CC DeVille replaced Smith on lead guitar prior to recording their debut album Look What The Cat Dragged In (1986) which included three hit singles Talk Dirty To Me, I Want Action and I Won't Forget You. But it was dwarfed by second album Open Up And Say...Aah! (1988) which sold over 8 million copies and featured the Number 1 hit single Every Rose Has Its Thorn. Third album Flesh & Blood (1990) was equally successful, producing three more major hit singles Unskinny Bop, Ride The Wind and the ballad Something To Believe In. After a violent argument with Michaels, DeVille was replaced by Richie Kotzen, marking a move away from glam metal to a more serious blues-rock style; but sales were disappointing and the band went into hiatus when Michaels was seriously injured in a road crash in 1994 and was also involved in a high profile relationship with actress Pamela Anderson. The band reunited in 1999 with CC DeVille back in the fold and reverted to their old party anthem style with albums like Power To The People (2000), Hollyweird (2002) and Poison'd (2007).

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