In a recent interview with Ethan Dometrius of Tampa Bay’s 107.3 The Eagle, POISON frontman Bret Michaels opened up about a little-known chapter in rock history — the time Slash auditioned to be POISON’s guitarist before joining GUNS N’ ROSES in 1985.
Michaels shared the story of those early, scrappy days in Los Angeles when the band was still struggling to make ends meet and living out of a makeshift space behind a dry cleaner just to rehearse.
“We were living behind a dry cleaner so we could rehearse in downtown Los Angeles,” Michaels recalled, as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net. “Our first guitar player, Matt [Smith], was out there with us. We had no money. We were living on sleeping bags on the floor. I can’t make any of this up. I won’t embellish anything.”
Michaels went on to explain that Smith eventually left the band to return home and take care of his pregnant girlfriend — a decision Bret described as “the right thing to do.” That’s when the rest of the band — Rikki Rockett, Bobby Dall, and Michaels himself — began auditioning guitarists to fill the spot.
“We started auditioning — Rikki, Bobby, and myself — and the three guitar players that came down… There was a ton of ’em, ’cause POISON was a popular band on the club scene,” Michaels said. “It came down to Slash, a guy named Steve Silva from THE JOE PERRY PROJECT, and C.C. [DeVille].”
Each guitarist learned a few of the band’s songs, and the members took a vote to decide who would join POISON.
“I was on the fence between Slash and C.C.,” Michaels admitted. “I’m, like, ‘But Slash has this style, and C.C. has this style.’ But in the end, it worked out incredibly great for both GUNS N’ ROSES and POISON.”
Ultimately, C.C. DeVille was chosen — a decision that would go on to define POISON’s signature sound and stage presence. Meanwhile, Slash found his path shortly after, helping form GUNS N’ ROSES and launching one of the most iconic careers in rock history.
Nearly four decades later, Bret Michaels looks back on that pivotal moment with appreciation for how things turned out for both bands.
