VH1 reality star Bret Michaels is better known as the lead singer of the '80s hair band Poison.  This year, Poison was back with a vengeance.  They released their first studio album in five years and hit the road on a 50-city tour.  The new CD, Poison'd, features the original members: Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Rikki Rockett, and Bobby Dall.  DeVille is no stranger to reality television.  Fans may remember him on last years's The Surreal Life on VH1.

On the new album, Poison covers their favorite rock songs including The Cars' "Just What I Needed," The Romantics' "What I Like About You," The Marshall Tucker Band's "Can't You See," KISS' "Rock and Roll All Nite."  The album is currently available on Amazon.

Poison hit the road on June 13 in Greenville, SC and will wrap up September 3 in Atlanta, GA.  Upcoming tour dates include:

• August 11: Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles
• August 17: The Pearl - Palms Concert Theater, Las Vegas
• August 19: Coors Amphitheater, Denver
• August 28: Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto
• August 31: Ford Amphitheater, Tampa
• September 3: HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, Atlanta

Poison has never split up despite various rifts over the last 20 years.  In 1991, the band got into a fistfight with DeVille at the MTV Video Music Awards.  This was due to DeVille's inability to perform well because of his drug and alcohol addiction.  He eventually checked into rehab to get clean.  Last year, the band was involved in an on-stage fight with Dall after he accidentally hit Michaels in the knee with his bass guitar.

On VH1's Rock of Love, women compete for Bret Michaels' attention by competing in various contests from talking dirty to showing off their motocross skills.  The women who do well in the competitions win dates, prizes, and trips.  Rock of Love airs Sunday nights on VH1.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: VH1, Poison, Monterey Herald
(Image courtesy of Poison)