POISON Drummer On DEF LEPPARD: 'The Fact Is, I Think There Is A Real Mutual Respect Between Us'

POISON will be heading out on the road again this summer, this time with DEF LEPPARD and CHEAP TRICK.

Some people might be surprised to find POISON and DEF LEPPARD on the same bill, after LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott was perceived as having made disparaging remarks about the glam metal band last year.

POISON drummer Rikki Rockett writes on his MySpace page: "Folks keep askin' me, 'Are you really touring with DEF LEPPARD this summer?' The answer is, Yes! Not only that, CHEAP TRICK is on the bill as well! Now, some of you are wondering things like, 'I thought POISON and Joe Elliott hated each other?' Well, not at all. Bret [Michaels, POISON singer], Joe and myself got a little carried away last summer takin' the piss outta each other. The fact is, I think there is a real mutual respect between us. After all, both of our bands have withstood the test of time. Life is short, let's get rocked!"

Rikki Rockett last August threatened Joe Elliott with a beatdown following Elliott's onstage outburst in which Joe reportedly called Rockett a "fucking idiot [who has] never seen a good band before."

In an August 1, 2008 posting in the blog section of his MySpace page, Rockett wrote, "For fuck's sake, Joe Elliott! Joe, king of the power mullet, at this point you need to shut the fuck up! No more talkin' shit. I'll give you a choice on how you go down. Arm bar, leg lock, shoulder lock, triangle, back choke or knock out. You pick! Let's get it on!"

Elliott hit back at Rockett and POISON singer Bret Michaels over their response to Elliott's comments at a June 6, 2008 press conference at the Sweden Rock Festival, in which Elliott said bands like POISON and MÖTLEY CRÜE had "no substance in their music" and therefore relied more on their image in the '80s. Rockett questioned Elliott's rock historian credentials in his posting, and wrote, "I'd be hurt if this were coming from John Lennon... So it takes about one minute and 45 seconds to put on eyeliner. I suppose during that same time you were writing the next 'Imagine'."

Michaels had already responded to Elliott's comments earlier, saying, "We have not sold out, and continuously, for 20 years every arena because we care about just our appearance. The music comes first." He then added, "(DEF LEPPARD) shouldn't be knocking anyone about their music since they just did a show called 'Dancing With The Stars' in the U.S. and they got crucified because they fucking lip-synched the entire show, so before they bust anyone's balls, I've never lip-synched a fucking thing in my life — ever! It's the pot calling the kettle black."

In a July 18, 2008 message posted at DEF LEPPARD's official web site, Elliott wrote, "I was simply making the following simple point when I said a lot of those Hollywood bands weren't 'real' (or whatever I said)... I was born Joseph Elliott, Sav was born Richard Savage, Rick was born Richard Allen, Phil was born Philip Collen, Viv was born Vivian Campbell, and oh, Steve was born Stephen Clark. I don't think anyone in POISON uses their real name, do they? And I could name hundreds of others who don't, but POISON came to mind because I was asked about them! It's nothing personal, it was just an answer to a question. . . Hey... Rikki implies we're miming on tour?! HA!!! Well, he's welcome to come see us anytime he wants... Obviously not used to hearing a good band very often then, is he??"

Video footage of Elliott's original comment and Bret's response can be viewed below.