Poison (band)

History

The band was initially named Paris and formed in 1983 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with Bret Michaels on lead vocals, Bobby Dall on bass, Rikki Rockett on drums, and Matt Smith on lead guitar. Michaels had earlier performed in a basement band called Laser and, in 1979, joined childhood friend Rockett in a group called the Spectres. In 1980, Michaels and Rockett teamed with Smith and Dall to form Paris, which played mostly rock cover songs in local bars.

The band's first manager, Vicky Hamilton, noted that Smith was the best musician in the group and handled the music, while Rockett and Michaels focused on the stage show and image. Paris built a strong local following in Pennsylvania but saw limited opportunity there, so in March 1983 they changed their name to Poison and moved to Los Angeles. On the Sunset Strip, their stage show attracted attention, and they lived together in a small Hollywood apartment, where female fans sometimes brought groceries and cleaned in exchange for time with the band.

Hamilton negotiated a regular gig at The Troubadour, allowing the band to develop further. They recorded demos for Atlantic Records, but the label passed on them. By 1985, Smith became disillusioned, doubting the band's chances and facing impending fatherhood, so he left and returned to Pennsylvania, leaving Poison's future uncertain.

Musical style and fashion

Poison's music is classified as glam metal, with lyrics often centered on partying, though they also wrote sentimental ballads. The band was not noted for technical proficiency; bassist Bobby Dall stated he never aspired to be a musician but wanted to be a rock and roll star. Their androgynous appearance featured heavy use of cosmetics and backcombed hair, described by AllMusic as a highly visual approach to rock and roll.