So, now the tour has finally started. Lucky you americans. I hope they will come to europe too.

Well here we go. Rikki sends reports from the tour all the time. And for those that doesnt get it I will post it here:

May 28, 1999:

Hi All!, Yes, this is a mass e-mail and if you don't want these updates, just let me know. The Wednesday radio listening/soundcheck party was awesome. We (Poison) did 4 songs from the show and tested all of our pyro cues. There was a pyro mis-cue on the first songand it almost took Bret's head off, but he managed to pull away in time. He got a bunch of crap in his eyes, but no major problems. I get dusted with about a pound of ashes every night because 4 pyro gerbs and a atomic blast comes during the show right by me. It's actually a really cool feeling, but it's kinda scary at the same time. Thank God for washers and dryers! The first show in Rockford, IL. was really great. The people there rock thier asses off and we were told that rock was dead in Rockford. Bullshit! We made a few minor mistakes during the show, but generally I was suprised at how well we stayed with what we had rehearsed. We meeted and greeted over 250 people after the show and there wasn't a numbskull in the place, everyone was cool. That many meet and greets are tough and we can't do it every show, but it was worth it this time for sure. The highlight for me was dedicating my drum solo to Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick who was in the house as well as Rick Neilson. Bun E. is my all time favorite and I will post a pic of him and I together later on the www.poisonweb.com site. I wore a white shirt and tie like him as tribute for the first half of the set. Next stop is Cleveland , OH and we are ready to rock this mothership! Talk to ya all soon.

Rikki Rockett from the road!

May 29, 1999:

Poison played Cleaveland last night. Great frickin' show. The fans were actually rabid! Seems as though the scene got a very much needed dose of some real rock 'n' roll for God's sake. Once again, a great fuckin' crowd and as Mott The Hoople said, "Cleavelend Rocks!". Tonight we are filming the ending for VH1's Behind the Music here in Detroit. The show is sold out! 15,000 true rock 'n' roll fans who don't give a shit about the stupid assed trend in music. More reports later.

One thing... Poison is fuckin' back with an explosion !!!

Rikki!

June 1 1999:

Poison gives crowd nothin' but a good time: By Chuck Klosterman Beacon Journal Staff Writer

The most popular song in the Poison catalogue is the wonderful sex romp Talk Dirty to Me, and that was precisely what the band played for its encore at Saturday night's concert at Blossom Music Center. However, the true centerpiece of Poison's live set is the epircurean anthem Nothin' But a Good Time, a tune that used to seem pretty stupid. But it doesn't seem stupid anymore. In 1999, Nothin But a Good Time seems like a sonic glimpse into a culture that no longer exists: A pre-ironic era that did not equate musical integrity with post-modern cynicism. The song's chorus is the completely literal answer to an all-too-obvious question. Why do most people go to rock concerts? Because they want to have nothing but a good time. And it's unfortunate that most musicians refuse to realize that.
.......................

To my utter amazement, Poison's set was almost perfect. It sounded great, the band utilized all the stage ramps and flash pots from their old videos, and they didn't play any of the unpopular crap that no one wanted to hear. Though I'm not sure why singer Bret Michaels has taken to dressing like the Cat in the Hat (or why bassist Bobby Dall cut his hair and became such an average guy), I can't deny the hook of a good pop song or the shameless sparkle of high-gloss glitter rock theatrics. Quite simply, the world needs more bands like Poison.

Rikki!

June 1 1999:

Poison sells out Pine Knob, MI. (Detroit) !!! 18,000 fans say "Rock ain't dead! Joined onstage by Jason from Kid Rock and blow more pyro than a winterblast fireworks convention! The show in Detroit and the show In Pittsburg, PA. rocked big fuckin' time! It just goes to show, Poison fans are the best! C.C. DeVille's comments are banned from a local area newspaper in Pitt when C.C. exclaimed that "Poison looked like women, talked like men and fucked like beasts!" Oh , well. He was asked the age old question: "So what about the image?"

Thur, Jun., 3rd

Yep, It's me Rikki, back with ya for some more Poison info from the road. We are currently in Milwaukee,WI. on a day off. We will be playing The Marcus Ampitheatre tomarrow night. The Pittsburg, PA. show was awesome with many of our familes who still live back there in tow. Although Bret had strep throat, the show went on in spite of Doctors orders to cancel. The house was rocked on all levels and the following show in Columbus, OH. was just as kick ass.

Again, the amount of people showing up to the events is amazing! I have seen everything from Old Poison fans to new 14 year olds at the after show events. It's so inspiring to meet these people who are so moved by what rock 'n' roll and Poison has meant to them. It makes everything we have ever endured worth it.

Poison is being inducted into Dick Clark's Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame on Mon, Jun. 7th. This marks the first band of our Genre to be inducted. We will be doing a ceremony in Indianapolis, IN. where the Hall is located. We play the following night at Deer Creek Music Center. Poison is very gracious for this achievement.

Bret is doing much better now as we head into another 3 in a row. The Doc has him on medications and he isn't talking until the shows and stops after the shows so we can get through till he is 100%. So, if you are on of those folks backsatge after, remember, he shouldn't be talking. Please give the guy a break so we can rock every state on this tour.

As for me, the usual drumstick blisters are appearing, but no biggie. I've had 'em much worse before. I guess the two months of 4 hour drum practice sessions are paying off for me. Bobby is great and C.C. "Buzzsaw" DeVille is still running 4 miles a day not including the Poison show.

That's it for now. If I promised you passes for a show, e-mail Lori at" CLUBRKT@aol.com (Pres. of ClubRockett) and she'll foward the info to me on the show day as I have some problems with e-mail from time to time.

Love you all and remember, compassion begins on your plate...

Cheers! Rikki!

Tuesday 15th of June:

Hello all!
Sorry, it has been a pain getting to a decent line to do my e-mail as of late. I have so many pics to add to the Poison site (www.poisonweb.com) and simply haven't had a chance yet. But, I will soon!

The shows have been awesome! Today we play Pheonix, AZ. and then off to the LA shows. Since 3 of us live in LA, the shows will be a mess for backstage and the guest list is really full. So bear with us, we can only do what we can do. I think it would be easier to dodge a bullet as it will be to make all of our friends happy at that show as for backstage!

What are ya gonna do? We will be recording the show for a possible Live Record and KNAC will be doing a simulcast on the internet as well. (www.knaclive.com)

As always, e-mail my fan club pres. Lori with any questions at: CLUBRKT@aol.com Lori has been a godsend with all her help, so go easy on her. I drive her nuts!

Remember, we try and meet as many people as we can out here on the road, but there are only so many hours in a day and only so much energy we can expend. The show is the most important.

This tour has proved four things so far:
(1.) Rock is far from dead!
(2.) Poison fans are the very best in the fuckin' world!!!
(3.) Poison has the coolest guys at our shows.
(4.) Poison has the most beautiful girls in the world at our shows!

Till next time or till we meet, take care of yourself, treat the earth like your lover and remember, the animals have only one voice... you!

Peace out,
Rikki! (The post punk, post glitter, glammin' vegan drummer)

Monday June 21, 1999

Hello All!
Writing all of you from my hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Really nice people here! Anyway, the shows in LA area were fantastik and the LA times gave us a rave review for the first time I think in history!

Vegas was a different experience for us. It's a small stage but sounded good. No pyro, just us kickin' ass and the people there at the show kicked double ass!

Tonight Salt Lake! Tomarrow... well, I hope we can help revive the sorrow from the Denver crowd. They need a kick ass concert after all they've been through.

Poison site of the week is: http://www.oocities.org/Paris/Cathedral/5540/" very touching page. Go see it.

I've changed the Poison website and am now using Macromedia's Dreamweaver to build it. In fact, I'm now using just about all Macromedia stuff for my websites. Feel free to put in a good word for me at thier site. (www.macromedia.com) One of these days I'll get some really great Flash goin' on. The Poisonweb is simpler and no frames this time around. It's just easier for everyone right now. Enjoy the new pics. Feel free to send me pics of the band and you if you have been at an after show party with us. e-Mail them only. I don't have a scanner on the road

with me. I'm going to make a section for fans only very soon. That's it for now... See ya soon! Cheers from the road,

Rikki! (The Glam Rock Drummin' Vegan)

Friday July 10:

Hello all,

It's Rikki from the road again. Been too crazy to get out a mass "Rockett Road Report" as of late. We (Poison) have been doing several shows back to back and then some long hauls in between.

I have gotten several complaints about the Chicago After Show. Understandably so. Many, people at the After Show got screwed and I apoligize immensily. We had over 500 guests and a long run ahead of us. It was simply impossible to meet everyone. It should have been handled differently, it wasn't and I am sorry. I will do anything I can to try and make it up to everyone. How? I'm not sure. I am open to suggestions.

Onward... Remember, Sunday, July 11th is the VH-1 Behind The Music Special about Poison. Check your local listings for air times.

Poison is recording tonight in Charlotte, NC. We recorded live in Nashville as well and so far so good. What we are going to do with these recordings has not yet been determined. The main thing is that we get this reunion on tape. Who knows what we'll do with the recordings, but we have considered a few options one being a record called "Live Plus Five" with five new tracks.

Who knows right now. We are just happy as all hell to be on tour!

We have added a show on 7/18/99 called "PigStock" in Wisconsin. See:www.poisonweb.com and I'll have the info up there for all the details on this date in a day or two.

Many people have asked stuff like; "Why the hell ain't cha playin' in such and such a place?" There are several reasons we aren't doing everywhere in the U.S. First, not all markets have outdoor venues and this tour is primarily (not solely), but primarily, all out-door shows. Also, it depends on where we are when the venue is available. You can't go from LA to Baltimore the next night and some of these gigs would have had it that way. We have trucks and road crews that need to travel and it's an impossibilty at times at those distances when the venues are available. For example: (This is just an example) Say we are in MN and play Minneapolis. The next night it would be great to play Duluth, but, maybe a basketball game is there and we couldn't back track the following week because we'd be on the East Coast by then. This gives ya some idea about how these things come togther.

Every single show has been magic for me. The people at our shows are hell raisin' fools, just the way I love it!!! Just please take care when you leave. We want you all safe. We honestly give a shit.

Anyway, as always, on behalf of Bret, Bobby, C.C. and myself, thank you everyone for supporting Poison and rock in general. This tour is about our fans and us. Poison has the best fuckin' fans in the world and we love you for it. You are truly the stars at our shows. We are just the entertainment.

Slaps, hugs, kisses and whatever from all of us,

Rikki Rockett ( On the road somewhere )

Remember: If ya love animals, don't eat 'em!