‘Flesh and Blood’, Poison’s 3rd studio album, was released in 1990. This record generated many hit songs, 2 of which were top 10 singles with “Unskinny Bop” & “Something to Believe In”. 3 other songs were hit singles as well. “Ride the Wind”, Flesh and Blood (Sacrifice) and “Life Goes On”. This album went Triple Platinum in 1991.
    
In the 90’s, after the bands release of their 1st live album, “Swallow This Live”, the band went through some line-up changes. C.C. DeVille's addiction caused a lot of problems in the band, and he was replaced with Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs).
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Despite the grunge movement that settled in and took over the rock scene in the early 90’s, Poison’s 4th studio album, “Native Tongue” was still able to hit gold status and their first compilation album, ‘Poison’s Greatest Hits, 1986-1996’ went Double Platinum. ​

In 1993 Kotzen was replaced by Blues Saraceno who toured with Poison until the inevitable reunion with C.C. and the classic lineup. 

​ In March of 2000, the band put our their 5th studio album, ‘Crack a Smile...and More’.  This record actually started in 1994 but came to a precipitous halt when frontman, Bret Michaels lost control of his Ferrari. As a result of this accident, Michael’s suffered a broken nose, ribs, jaw and fingers along with 4 teeth. Shortly after recovery, they went back in the studio but management put the album “on hold” and opted to release the greatests hits album instead.

 ‘Hollyweird’ was their next album that came out in May of 2002. 
This record sold 11,000 copies in the first week. Their sound was much different from albums from their past. It had a more pop/punk rock feel. The coolest part of this album is the song “Home (C.C.’s story)” which Deville also lends his vocals.

In 2007, Poison put out their final studio album, ‘Poison’d’. The band asked on their official MySpace page for fans to pick their favorite songs. This record features 14 of the band’s & fan’s favorite rock classics. The first single dropped was The Romantics song, ‘What I Like About You’. Some of the other tracks they did were interesting to hear them sing like The Cars,“Just What I Needed”, The Who’s “Squeeze Box” & Alice Cooper’s “I Never Cry”. There is also an exclusive Walmart track featured and that’s Justin Timberlake’s, “Sexy Back” (which by the way is AWESOME!).
    
Poison has toured extensively all over the world. Their fans stretch from the US to Japan to Russia. They are one of those rare bands who have remained relevant for the span of their career. Not only do they have loyal fans who have been with them every step of the way, the are impacting the younger fans as well. That is a testament to all the hard, diligent work they’ve done through the years. Despite personal issues the band had suffered periodically, especially the medical issues with Michael’s, they still persevered and continue to tour to this day.
    
​This band will always be one of my favorites and I hope they’ll be around for a long time.
​~Misti-Dawn 

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How did a band from Pennsylvania become one of the longest lasting and most well known 80s hair bands out there? In a story that is pure rags to riches and filled with a lot of ups and downs Poison somehow became the “last band standing” as it is 2018 and the guys are still touring together!!!!

In the beginning Poison was called Paris, and the guitarist was Matt Smith. The boys left Pennsylvania in 1983 to find their way in Los Angeles. The hair metal scene was hot on the sunset strip and they knew if they wanted to find success they had to go to the center of that flame.

Success looked good from the outside. Fans swarmed to shows, watched their videos and bought albums left and right. From the inside things were beginning to fall apart.
We'll have more POISON throughout the week! 
~Suz

Read Part 1 Here

Our vintage spotlight artist this week is RATT. As one of the sleaziest of hair metal bands back in the day these guys had quite a reputation for debauchery. When the band began coming apart at the seams it was hard to watch and was terrible for fans of the band. The early 90s were not good for RATT.

At the end of 1991, just months after their album “Detonator” came out, American rock band Ratt, released the final single of their career, with all 5 members of the band. “Nobody Rides for Free” which was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Point Break.
Each of the 5 band members fought demons such as alcoholism, drug addictions, unprotected sex, just a plethora of bad habits. It’s quite understandable why, after some time, they fell apart.

• In 1992, Stephen Pearcy left the band and went on to form another band, Arcade, with former Cinderella drummer, Fred Coury. After Arcade, Pearcy went on to other bands such as Vicious Delites in 1995 & then onto Vertex in 1996.     
• Warren DeMartini left the band right after Pearcy’s departure and went on to play with Whitesnake in 1994. In 1995, he released a solo project,  the single “Surfs Up” then in 1996, put out a full length album, ‘Crazy Enough to Sing to You”.
• Robbin Crosby went off to form a band with bassist, Krys Barrato in 1993. He also lent his talents to Rumbledog’s self titled album.Shortly thereafter  Robbin  was diagnosed as HIV positive which later turned into full-blown AIDS.
• Juan Croucier continued producing underground music from his studio, “The Cellar”. In 1994, he was given a lifetime achievement award in L.A. 
• Bobby Blotzer went on to work for a carpet cleaning company. Before eventually launching a legal battle to use the name RATT. 

When I think of Ratt, I think sex, drugs, rock and roll and the Sunset Strip. If you’ve seen them live or on Mtv, you can clearly tell what they are all about.
 
The beginning of the Ratt saga dates back to the early 70’s. Stephen Pearcy founded a band, Firedome. They disbanded in 1974 and Pearcy formed a new band, Crystal Pystal. This band changed names a couple of times to Buster Cherry which then went onto become Mickey Ratt in 1976. Mickey Ratt went thru various line-ups. In 1981, they shortened the band name to just Ratt. In late 1981, guitar player, Robbin Crosby joined the band. In 1982, 18 year old guitarist, Warren DeMartini, joined Crosby & Pearcy, followed by drummer, Bobby Blotzer & bassist, Juan Croucier. This line-up is what I call, the “dream team”.