This page will contain discussion groups about Poison (band), as they become available.Poison (band)Poison is an American hair metal band which achieved popular success
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With more than
15 million albums sold in the United States alone, the band is one of the most commercially successful rock acts in
history. MusicThe music of Poison reflects the band's heritage. Formed by a group of aspiring rock musicians from the Eastern United States who moved to Los Angeles, California in search of fame, Poison became the most prominent exponent of the colourful hair metal music scene, which gained popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. Hair metal's roots lay on America's East Coast, and in the sounds and images associated with New York's KISS and Boston's Aerosmith. These influences mutated following Van Halen's debut in 1978, which started a scene in their hometown of Los Angeles, on the Sunset Strip. Poison's music, (and that of hair metal in general,) was characterised by anthemic, loud guitar riffs, flamoyant special effects, costumes, hair and make-up, and a preoccupation with hedonism. Early yearsPoison began life in 1984 as Paris, a band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania comprising vocalist Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, guitarist Matt Smith and drummer Rikki Rockett. The band moved to Los Angeles, California in 1985 to begin playing in clubs there. Smith, who was about to father a child and was concerned about the band's future, returned to Pennsylvania shortly after. The band auditioned for a replacement guitarist, eventually narrowing the field down to three candidates: Slash, who would later join Guns 'N Roses, Steve Silva from the The Joe Perry Project, and Brooklyn expatriate C.C. DeVille. Although Michaels and Dall did not initially get along with DeVille, the band eventually agreed that DeVille's "fire" made him the most appropriate candidate [1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Poison_(band)). The band began to gain notoreity for its theatrical live shows striking "glam" image. Without money for effects, they would fill the stage with old Harley Davidson and car parts, blow up car fuses and pour confetti onto themselves from boxes in the ceiling. The band's efforts eventually paid off and Michaels, Dall, Rockett and DeVille signed to Enigma Records in 1986 (see 1986 in music). Their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In was released on August 2, 1986. It included three hits, "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action" and "I Won't Forget You". In 1987 the band also recorded a cover of the KISS song "Rock And Roll All Nite" for the Less Than Zero movie soundtrack. Popular successPoison's second album, Open Up And Say...Ahh!, which was released on May 21, 1988 (see 1988 in music) would ultimately go on to sell 8 million copies worldwide. The record included the band's biggest hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", along with other top 10 hits, "Nothin' But A Good Time" and the Loggins and Messina cover "Your Mama Don't Dance". By the time the band toured with David Lee Roth (in 1988 on the Skyscraper Tour,) it was apparent that they had become a major live act. Subsequent headlining shows in support of Open Up and Say... Ahh! would ultimately place the band alongside Metallica as one of the largest-grossing touring acts of the late 1980s. Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood (1990), was also highly successful. The record went multi-platinum, spawning three gold singles: "Unskinny Bop", "Ride the Wind" and the ballad "Something To Believe In". Flesh & Blood reached #2 on the American charts, providing the impetus for a further World Tour. Poison recorded a number of performances during its 1990/1991 "Flesh & Blood" tour which were released in November 1991 as their fourth album, Swallow This Live. Later yearsDespite Poison's success, DeVille's cocaine and alcohol addictions had begun to cause strife in the band. Conflict between Michaels and DeVille cluminated in a fistfight at the MTV Music Awards in 1991, provoked by Deville's inept live performance. Deville was fired and replaced by Pennsylvanian guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen. Poison's fifth album, Native Tongue was released on August 14, 1993. It was a fiery, bluesy rock record, strongly influenced by Kotzen's fresh songwriting contributions and guitar performances. The record received generally positive reviews, but sales were sluggish. Kotzen's future in the band was sealed when it was discovered that he was romantically involved with Rockett's fiance. Kotzen was promptly fired, and replaced by Blues Saraceno. Poison began recording its sixth album, Crack a Smile, in 1994. Recording was brought to an abrupt halt in May 1994, when Michaels was involved in an accident in which he lost control of his Ferrari. Michaels suffered a broken nose, ribs, jaw, and fingers and lost four teeth. After his recovery in 1995, the band continued recording. However, Capitol Records had by this time decided to put the album on the back burner and instead decided to release a Greatest Hits record. The record was released in 1996, and went platinum, despite Poison having been out of the spotlight for a number of years. The band's supporting tour was equally successful, with its show at Pine Knob Amphitheater in Detroit drawing a sell-out crowd of 18,000. Crack a Smile was finally released in on March 14, 2000. The album, a bright and raunchy series of party anthems, contained few traces of the seriousness of Native Tongue. Later in the same year Poison also released Power to the People marking the return of DeVille to the band. The record contained five new studio songs: "Power to the People", "Can't Bring Me Down", "Last Song", "Strange", and "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine". The remainder of the album featured live performances from tours in 1999 and 2000. Poison's most recent record, Hollyweird, was released on May 21 2002. Discography
References
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Poison's most recent record, Hollyweird, was released on May 21 2002. In addition to her musical legacy, Minnie Riperton is survived by her daughter, Maya Rudolph, a current cast member of Saturday Night Live. The remainder of the album featured live performances from tours in 1999 and 2000. She died in 1979 at the age of only 31 and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. The record contained five new studio songs: "Power to the People", "Can't Bring Me Down", "Last Song", "Strange", and "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine". She became an active spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society and was awarded the Society Courage Award from President Jimmy Carter. Later in the same year Poison also released Power to the People marking the return of DeVille to the band. Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy in 1976. The album, a bright and raunchy series of party anthems, contained few traces of the seriousness of Native Tongue. Stevie Wonder agreed to produce her 1974 album, Perfect Angel, featuring Lovin' You, a ballad to her two-year old daughter Maya. Crack a Smile was finally released in on March 14, 2000. Minnie sang lead vocals for several small, unsucessful bands before teaming up with her husband, composer Richard Rudolph, to start her solo career. The band's supporting tour was equally successful, with its show at Pine Knob Amphitheater in Detroit drawing a sell-out crowd of 18,000. However, her affiliation with the famous Chess Records record label soon allowed her to sing backup for Etta James, Fontella Bass, and Stevie Wonder. The record was released in 1996, and went platinum, despite Poison having been out of the spotlight for a number of years. As a child, Minnie studied music, drama, and dance, and seriously considered a career in opera. However, Capitol Records had by this time decided to put the album on the back burner and instead decided to release a Greatest Hits record. She scored her greatest commercial success with the memorable one-hit wonder Lovin' You, a soulful pop ballad that showcased her amazing five-octave vocal range, as well as her ability to hit an F6 note in the whistle register. After his recovery in 1995, the band continued recording. The only soul singer to rival her range is Mariah Carey. Michaels suffered a broken nose, ribs, jaw, and fingers and lost four teeth. Her highest recorded note is F#7 in You Take My Breath Away, but not only did she sing many songs going into the seventh octave, it is well rumored that she could hit a C8 (two full octaves above soprano C or C6). Recording was brought to an abrupt halt in May 1994, when Michaels was involved in an accident in which he lost control of his Ferrari. About fifteen percent of soprano have the ability to access the lower reaches of the whistle register, but Minnie was capable of not only accessing the seventh octave, she had the ability (sheer muscular control) to execute trills, runs, and other vocal acrobatics in the seventh octave. Poison began recording its sixth album, Crack a Smile, in 1994. Minnie Riperton (November 8, 1947 - July 12, 1979) is a soul singer from Chicago, Illinois. Kotzen's future in the band was sealed when it was discovered that he was romantically involved with Rockett's fiance. Kotzen was promptly fired, and replaced by Blues Saraceno. The record received generally positive reviews, but sales were sluggish. It was a fiery, bluesy rock record, strongly influenced by Kotzen's fresh songwriting contributions and guitar performances. Poison's fifth album, Native Tongue was released on August 14, 1993. Conflict between Michaels and DeVille cluminated in a fistfight at the MTV Music Awards in 1991, provoked by Deville's inept live performance. Deville was fired and replaced by Pennsylvanian guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen. Despite Poison's success, DeVille's cocaine and alcohol addictions had begun to cause strife in the band. Poison recorded a number of performances during its 1990/1991 "Flesh & Blood" tour which were released in November 1991 as their fourth album, Swallow This Live. Flesh & Blood reached #2 on the American charts, providing the impetus for a further World Tour. The record went multi-platinum, spawning three gold singles: "Unskinny Bop", "Ride the Wind" and the ballad "Something To Believe In". Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood (1990), was also highly successful. Ahh! would ultimately place the band alongside Metallica as one of the largest-grossing touring acts of the late 1980s. Subsequent headlining shows in support of Open Up and Say.. By the time the band toured with David Lee Roth (in 1988 on the Skyscraper Tour,) it was apparent that they had become a major live act. The record included the band's biggest hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", along with other top 10 hits, "Nothin' But A Good Time" and the Loggins and Messina cover "Your Mama Don't Dance". Poison's second album, Open Up And Say...Ahh!, which was released on May 21, 1988 (see 1988 in music) would ultimately go on to sell 8 million copies worldwide. In 1987 the band also recorded a cover of the KISS song "Rock And Roll All Nite" for the Less Than Zero movie soundtrack. It included three hits, "Talk Dirty to Me", "I Want Action" and "I Won't Forget You". Their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In was released on August 2, 1986. The band's efforts eventually paid off and Michaels, Dall, Rockett and DeVille signed to Enigma Records in 1986 (see 1986 in music). The band began to gain notoreity for its theatrical live shows striking "glam" image. Without money for effects, they would fill the stage with old Harley Davidson and car parts, blow up car fuses and pour confetti onto themselves from boxes in the ceiling. DeVille. Although Michaels and Dall did not initially get along with DeVille, the band eventually agreed that DeVille's "fire" made him the most appropriate candidate [1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Poison_(band)). The band auditioned for a replacement guitarist, eventually narrowing the field down to three candidates: Slash, who would later join Guns 'N Roses, Steve Silva from the The Joe Perry Project, and Brooklyn expatriate C.C. Smith, who was about to father a child and was concerned about the band's future, returned to Pennsylvania shortly after. The band moved to Los Angeles, California in 1985 to begin playing in clubs there. Poison began life in 1984 as Paris, a band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania comprising vocalist Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, guitarist Matt Smith and drummer Rikki Rockett. Poison's music, (and that of hair metal in general,) was characterised by anthemic, loud guitar riffs, flamoyant special effects, costumes, hair and make-up, and a preoccupation with hedonism. These influences mutated following Van Halen's debut in 1978, which started a scene in their hometown of Los Angeles, on the Sunset Strip. Hair metal's roots lay on America's East Coast, and in the
sounds and images associated with New York's KISS and Boston's Aerosmith. Formed by a group of aspiring rock musicians from the Eastern United States
who moved to Los Angeles, California in search of
fame, Poison became the most prominent exponent of the colourful hair metal
music scene, which gained popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. The music of Poison reflects the band's heritage. With more than
15 million albums sold in the United States alone, the band is one of the most commercially successful rock acts in
history. 2000: Power to the People. 2000: Crack a Smile. 1996: Poison's Greatest Hits. 1993: Native Tongue. 1991: Swallow This Live. 1990: Flesh & Blood. 1988: Open Up And Say...Ahh!. 1986: Look What the Cat Dragged In. |