POISON Drummer Is 'Hopeful' For New Music And Return To Europe In 2020

Rikki Rockett says that he is "hopeful" that POISON will return to Europe and that the band will record new music in 2020. The drummer made the comments while chatting to Eonmusic and the "Neil Jones Rock Show" at "Ultimate NAMM Night", which took place on January 26 in Anaheim, California.

POISON last toured in Europe in 1993 on the "Native Tongue" album, and has only made fleeting appearances since. When asked about the band's absence, Rikki said: "[It's been] fucking ridiculously, way, way too long" since the last European shows. He added: "What's going on is we need to get our asses back to Europe; that's what the hell's going on."

The "Native Tongue" era saw a change in the band's sound, look and lineup, with guitarist C.C. DeVille ousted from the band. Acknowledging the changes during that period, Rockett said; "It was quite a bit different. I mean, the essence was there, but yeah, Richie Kotzen was in the band."

Despite having not toured in Europe since, the drummer went on to reveal that it almost happened in 2018. "At one point, there was talk of DEF LEPPARD and POISON coming to Europe", Rikki said, adding: "I don't know what the hell happened, but I was really looking forward to it."

Clarifying when he and his bandmates might return to live performances, the drummer said: "It's not going to be 2019; it's possibly going to be 2020. We're not going to work this year".

Although he still enjoys playing POISON's catalog, Rikki enthused that 2020 might see new music from the glam rock icons. "I still love doing it, absolutely," he said. "[But] I'd like to do new stuff, because I like that challenge. I like trying to convert people. I like making new music and trying to get people to like it over again. I like that challenge. I don't like to just sit and relax — that's not me — so hopefully we'll do some new stuff, come over, play for some new audiences, older audiences too. That's my goal."

This past December, POISON singer Bret Michaels also said that the band "is looking forward to returning in 2020 with some new songs."

POISON's last album of new material was 2002's "Hollyweird". An album of covers, "Poison'd", followed in 2007.

Last year, POISON's last completed the "Nothin' But A Good Time 2018" tour with CHEAP TRICK and POP EVIL.

In a 2017 interview, Rockett acknowledged that part of the reason POISON hasn't been motivated to work on new music has been the fact that fans rarely show interest in hearing fresh material performed live when classic rock groups go on tour. "We could write the second coming of 'Talk Dirty To Me', and I don't know if people wanna hear it or not, and that's a frustrating thing; it really is," he said. "AEROSMITH was able to do it, but not everybody is. I mean, even THE ROLLING STONES have had problems with that in the last few years. So… I don't know. But I do think it's important to stay viable. For the 'über fans,' it's always a really, really good thing. And that's what you do it for — you do it for you, you do it for the real fans, the real true fans."

Rockett also admitted that he and other members of POISON harbor some resentment toward Michaels, whose frequent tours as a solo artist caused the band to take a five-year break from the road.

"I think we need to get away from each other and do other things, but at the same time, I think he spent a little too much time away," Rockett said. "There's definitely some resentment, but not resentment like I want him to fail. I want him to do good. I just want POISON to be important too, and I would like [him] to put a little more energy into POISON."