A fresh wave of tension has hit the POISON fan community after Rikki Rockett appeared to throw subtle shade at Pete Evick, the longtime music director and guitarist for Bret Michaels’s solo band. The comments surfaced shortly after Evick took part in a new conversation with Anthony Bryant of The Hair Metal Guru. During the interview, Evick suggested that Bret is currently “the one carrying the torch” for POISON, especially while the multi-platinum band remains inactive on the touring circuit.
Although POISON has not toured for more than three years, the band continues to attract interest due to long-standing internal dynamics — many of which Evick chose to address openly. His remarks prompted immediate reactions online, eventually drawing a response from Rockett, who has made it clear in the past that he cares deeply about keeping POISON alive as a unified unit.
During the interview, Evick was asked whether he maintains any contact with Rockett. He offered a layered and personal answer:
“I keep quiet about a lot of things, but most people know I do not. I don’t speak to Rikki. I have spoken to Rikki.”
He then expanded on their complicated history, emphasizing how their personalities often collided. According to Evick, their astrological similarities may explain some of it, since both share birthdays just two days apart. He described how their personalities sometimes mirrored each other in ways that made communication difficult. As he put it:
“Me and Rikki, our birthdays are only two days apart. If you believe in astrology and know anything about a Leo, we are poster children of Leos. There is incredible insecurity and incredible arrogance in the soul of a Leo.”
Evick also noted that being so close to Michaels for more than two decades had created tension at times. He acknowledged that Rockett has always been closely tied to POISON‘s identity:
“These days Rikki is the one out of the three of them that still cares the most about POISON, still carries the flag. It’s his pride and joy. He doesn’t want anything else.”
He then described a recent interaction in which he apologized to Rockett for potential friction between them, saying:
“I said, ‘Rikki, I know you don’t want me here, buddy. I’m sorry that I’m in your world.’ And he gave me a hug and he said, ‘Life’s too short.’”
Evick suggested their past problems may finally be behind them. However, he quickly shifted to a more pointed claim — one that immediately captured attention among POISON fans.
While discussing how Bret Michaels handles financial arrangements when POISON is active, Evick insisted that Bret receives the largest share. He justified this by saying Michaels has remained continuously visible, thanks to reality TV appearances, solo tours, and nonstop engagement with fans. Evick stated:
“He does get the lion’s share of that because he’s worked that out in his deal because he’s the one carrying the torch.”
He went further by challenging what he called the “BON JOVI theory,” which assumes classic bands split earnings evenly:
“A lot of people have this misconception… It’s just not f-cking true. And any job in any business, someone gets paid more than someone. There’s hierarchy.”
Evick stressed that Bret’s year-round touring schedule helps justify this financial structure. He argued that while Bret remains consistently active, other POISON members prefer a different lifestyle. He explained that C.C. DeVille, for example, does not want to perform Thursday through Saturday every week, whereas Michaels thrives on that pace.
Despite these comments, Evick maintained that no one inside the POISON camp is engaged in direct conflict. Instead, he described their situation as more political than dramatic:
“The POISON politics are intense and unique and would be a smash hit movie or a smash hit reality show in itself. However, it’s not punching each other out. It’s cordial. It’s business.”
Still, the remarks immediately stirred up speculation about Rockett’s reaction. According to multiple social-media posts, Rockett seemed disappointed that Evick positioned Bret as the sole torchbearer for the band. After all, Rockett has said many times that he wants POISON to remain active and united — and he has continually pushed for future tours.
Although Rockett did not attack Evick directly, his response hinted that he disagreed with the way Evick framed the situation. Given Rockett’s strong commitment to the band, fans quickly interpreted his reaction as a sign that internal tensions may not be as resolved as Evick suggested.
Meanwhile, Evick insisted he wasn’t attempting to cause division. From his perspective, he was simply explaining the practical and financial realities of working in the music industry. Nevertheless, many fans believe his comments only highlight the long-standing challenges in getting the four members of POISON — Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett — on the same page.
For now, the future of POISON remains uncertain. As Evick noted, there are no public plans for a full band reunion or tour, even though demand for one remains high. Despite the complicated dynamics, he believes the relationships among the members are respectful, even if occasionally strained.
Whether Rockett’s subtle response will spark further discussions within the POISON camp remains to be seen. Still, the interview has once again revealed how deeply fans care about the band — and how challenging it can be to manage decades-long partnerships in the rock world.
