College Times

Media Credit: William Hames

Perhaps VH1 should see about getting into the “aging rock star career insurance” business.

After all, through “reality programming” (see: deliciously classless trash-fests), the network has revived the careers of some of popular music’s most forgotten – and in many cases, burnt out – performers. “Tommy Lee Goes to College” and “The Surreal Life” introduced Tommy Lee, Vince Neil and the now-reunited Motley Crüe to a whole new audience.

Thanks to “Flavor of Love,” Public Enemy’s once-overshadowed hype man Flavor Flav is a star again (albeit, a “reality star,” but still).

And “Rock of Love,” a show in which Poison lead man Brett Michaels whittles down a group of women (see: strippers) in order to find his “true love” (see: skanky groupie), has re-ignited the public’s thirst for the naughty ’80s hair metal group that spit out such hits as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Something to Believe In.”

Poison Bassist Bobby Dall recently spoke with College Times about 40-somethings touring, Poison’s popularity spike and the Brett Michaels circus.
               
College Times: What are the differences between touring now and touring back in the ’80s the first few times around?
Bobby Dall: We put the band together, moved to Los Angeles when I was 19; we were so young. Now we’re in our 40s: major differences. Life has changed and evolved for a long time since we first began. I think in the very beginning, you go out there with a certain star in your eye; that the world is unexpected and unknown, and I think that as you progress through life, that we now know what to expect. The difference between the first time we put a club tour together and went on tour as a band and rented our first Winnebago and had 30 people living in one vehicle, to the wonderful life that we live today.

Any plans to get back in the studio and record new stuff any time soon?

No. I’m gonna be honest with you: no. I think it’s obvious to everyone that Brett’s very busy right now. Poison’s tour – this tour, July 3rd to September 7th are the only plans that I’ll speak about.

Speaking of Brett, do you think the reality show appearances and other outside projects have helped to boost your popularity?

[Lead guitarist C.C. Deville] was in one two years ago, so three tours ago, Brett did “Rock of Love I,” and last year, “Rock of Love II,” and it definitely brings in an element of some new exposure to people that probably would not have been exposed to Brett, by way of example. And by association, once they see the television show, they may go back and look up the songs. Often times, I think they already know the material from their parents growing up on the material. My kid has been force-fed Black Sabbath and AC/DC, so I’m sure that most fans of Poison that are in their mid-30s are force-feeding their kids Poison. So the exposure to the band comes from many avenues.

Is there a negative side to all of the outside hoopla?

It is, in my opinion: there’s a positive, and there’s a negative. There’s both, I would say. But I would say that the positive outweighs a negative. Except to the fact that, with the success of Brett with Rock of Love, Brett’s interested in doing Brett Michaels solo shows. That’s not positive to Poison, you follow me? I’m not putting him down for doing it, but we could be doing more Poison shows.

Are there any older songs that you just hate playing?

Honestly, and I know this is going to sound like bullshit, but there is no song that we play live that I don’t enjoy playing. And after all these years, I know that that sounds like it can’t be the truth, but I guess the best example I can give you, the best compliment in the world is when your buddy that works at Guitar Center calls you and says, “Dude, if I have to hear ‘Talk Dirty To Me’ one more time, I’m gonna fuckin’ come over to your house and rip your head off.”

What’s the secret for hanging around so long?

If I could tell you what the secret is, I could definitely make a lot more money.

Poison w/Dokken, Sebastian Bach, Dodge Theatre, August 24, 7 p.m., $28-$48

Article Tools