Twenty-two years after the cat dragged ‘em in, Poison is heading back out. Led by our own Rock of Love wild man, the guys with the big hair and the hooky metal riffs are spending a big chunk of the fairest season cruising from city to city on a romp they’re calling the “Live, Raw & Uncut Summer Tour.” It’s sync’d up to a product, natch. A CD/DVD set with the same title hits the racks in June; this time ’round it’s all about the concert and the hits. Maybe Bret will be filming some of the action for the alleged big rock road show he’s been mentioning in interviews.

Make the jump to see if he’s stomping near you.

Read the rest of this entry »


Tags: Poison•Rock of Love 2•Music

How do you make money for a good cause? Sell stuff. How do you guarantee that people want what you’re selling? Frame it around American Idol. To help bolster the funds raised by this week’s “Idol Gives Back” show, zealots can now purchase U.S. Postage stamps. The images are of each year’s winner, and the Kelly Clarkson edition is out now. Stamps for Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, and Jordin Sparks are on their way. But they made a BIG mistake, right? If they wanted to help those in need, they should have put Sanj and his ponyhawk on that kickoff stamp. He’d definitely move more units than Hicks. And what about including little Kristi Lee?

If you really want to see which TV hero deserves immortality on a postage stamp, take the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »


Tags: Kelly Clarkson•Poison•Bret Michaels•Daughtry•Jordin Sparks•American Idol•Photos

And then there were three…Heather, Jes and Lacey. Still think you know what Bret Michaels wants and needs? Let us know which girl the Poison frontman will cut from the house next and which girls he’ll ask to stay. Sneak Peek Sunday’s show, then make your picks.

Which of the three remaining ladies has the best chemistry with Bret?

Brandi M. got the boot last week. Did you forecast her fall?

Which fallen girl would you like to see Bret invite back into the house?

Related Content
Sneak Peek Episode 10
Episode 9 Recap
Browse ‘Rock of Love’ Photos
‘Rock of Love’ Show Info



Tags: Rock of Love•Poison•Bret Michaels•Celebreality•Photos•Television

Think you know what Bret Michaels wants and needs? Let us know which girl the Poison frontman will cut from the house next and which girls he’ll ask to stay. Watch this week’s Sneak Peek, then make your picks. (Click thumbnails to view full size)

Which of the four remaining ladies has the best chemistry with Bret?

Sam rocked Bret’s world on her way out the door last week. Did you forecast her fall?

Which fallen girl would you like to see Bret invite back into the house?

Related Content
Episode 9 Sneak Peek
Episode 8 Recap
Celebreality Interview: Sam
Browse ‘Rock of Love’ Photos
‘Rock of Love’ Show Info



Tags: Rock of Love•Poison•Bret Michaels•Celebreality•Photos•Shows•Television

Think you know what Bret Michaels wants and needs? Let us know which girl the Poison frontman will cut from the house next and which girls he’ll ask to stay. Watch this week’s Sneak Peek, then make your picks. (Click thumbnails to view full size)

Which of the five remaining girls has the best chemistry with Bret?

Mia got the boot last week. Did you forecast her dismissal?

Which fallen girl would you like to see Bret invite back into the house?

Related Content
Episode 7 Recap
Mia: Celebreality Interview
Watch Episode 7 Extras and Highlights
Browse ‘Rock of Love’ Photos
‘Rock of Love’ Show Main


Tags: Rock of Love•Poison•Bret Michaels•Celebreality•Photos•Shows•Television

Think you know what Bret Michaels wants and needs? Let us know which girls the Poison frontman will cut from the house next and which girls he’ll ask to stay. (Click the pics to see them in full size.)

Still on fire:

Fallen, but not forgotten:

Related Content
Browse All Rock of Love Photos
Watch Rock of Love on VSPOT
The Celebreality Interview: Rodeo
Episode 4 Recap



Tags: Rock of Love•Poison•Bret Michaels•Celebreality•Photos•Television

As previously noted, on Saturday, July 28, two of the writers of the VH1.com blog attended the Poison concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J. It was, in a phrase, nothing but a good time. Here’s Jonathan Durbin on the live Poison’d experience.

• “Look what New Jersey dragged in!” shouted Bret Michaels during the opening salvo of Poison’s headlining show in Holmdel, New Jersey. He shouted it to the tune of “Look What the Cat Dragged In.” Which they were playing. Loudly. The band was backed by explosions of green flame and showers of fireworks. Michaels wore True Religion jeans and generally looked like he’d been shopping on Melrose Avenue in L.A. West Coast rock stars are so into showing everybody the stitching on their clothes. What’s up with that?
• The video projections behind the band included graphics from the band’s new album sleeve, Poison’d (featuring a female mouth with green lipstick, suggestively tonguing the band’s logo). At other times, the video featured abstract computer-generated art that was somehow reminiscent of a trip through a very long ear canal. Also: Flames. Flames were very popular.
• Three members of Poison wore Poison T-shirts. The other, bassist Bobby Dall, wore a Venture Bros. T-shirt, a promotional item for a show on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.
• Bobby’s affinity for cartoons didn’t stop the blonde behind me from digging her elbows into my back in a whole-hearted attempt to climb over me, past security and onto the stage where she could worship him properly.
• Bret changed headgear frequently. He started with the bandanna look, graduated to the woven straw cowboy hat and moved from there to a black leather number. Interesting to note: The hat was the element of his style most frequently appropriated by female fans. The guys seemed more into singing along with the songs. Particular favorites were “I Want Action” and “Nothin’ But a Good Time.” He dedicated the latter to New Jersey. Literally. He said, “New Jersey, this is your song!” New Jersey seemed to agree.
• New Jersey also agreed with “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” During the power-ballad-to-end-all power ballads, audience members held aloft lighters and cell phones, casting the entire arena in an oddly soothing blue-orange light.
• Backstage, meanwhile, cascades of sparks spewed from the rafters for a waterfall effect. That was one of the pyrotechnic effects that Bret’s manager had warned us about. She had asked us not to wander around backstage because we might burn our faces off. We didn’t burn our faces off, but there were times where it came close.
• There were other duck-and-cover moments backstage. Mainly they involved keeping fingers in our ears. The explosions were loud. At other times, I saw stage hands running away from guitarist C.C. DeVille, who had a full-length mirror back there to primp his hair. Run and hide, stage hands! C.C.’s loose!
• Poison played from 9:30 until 11 p.m. They kept the energy unflaggingly high all evening, which was more than Ratt (who opened). Ratt were loud, but not high-energy. Also, Ratt sound like they’re Irish. Who knew?

• Post-show at Bret’s bus, a line of people maybe 25 deep had gathered to meet the man. There were a smattering of busty ladies, a few kids and some of Bret’s friends (like Tony, Bret’s tattoo artist — a wonderful guy). Only a few people were allowed on at a time. When we got onto the bus, we noted that the soundtrack Bret was using to entertain the crowd included songs by the Black Crowes and the Foo Fighters. It begged the question: What do rock stars listen to, exactly? Roadhouse rock, apparently.
• Bret himself turned out to be a very generous and kind individual. He’s also Internet savvy. He’d been watching to see how many of his VSPOT clips from Rock of Love were in the top 10. How’s that for dedicated?

Click the shots taken during the show for larger versions:

And, after the jump there’s one more tidbit…

Read the rest of this entry »


Tags: Rock of Love•Poison•concerts•Music

If you’re going to see Poison, New Jersey is the place to do it. That’s what a few of us VH1.com staff members decided, at least, when we hit Jersey’s own PNC Bank Arts Center on Saturday (July 28) to catch Bret Michaels & Co. The spectacle didn’t end on the stage, though (look for a review of the concert in this space later) — the attendees were more than equipped to rock your world right along with the band. Check out a gallery of our favorite looks from the crowd after the jump. Here’s a teaser:

Oh yeah. It’s like that.

Read the rest of this entry »


Tags: Rock of Love•Poison