History Music / Poison

* ContemptibleCover: Their first album, ''Look What the Cat Dragged In'', featured the band in make up so heavy they ended up looking like somewhat masculine women. ''Open Up and Say... Ahh!'' was better, but it's picture of a creepy-looking demon girl was eventually censored (in this version, only her eyes are shown) to avoid provoking too much hostility.

** They also covered {{Music/Kiss}}' "Rock N Roll All Nite" on the ''Film/LessThanZero'' soundtrack album.

* CreativeDifferences: Cited as a reason for C.C. [=DeVille=]'s departure back in 1990; he was kicked out because the others thought his substance abuse issues were going a bit out of control (which is saying something), culminating in a highly publicised bust-up between him and Michaels at the MTV Music Video Awards in 1991.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: A number of guitarists were auditioned before C. C. [=DeVille=] joined the group. One of them was none other than Slash, who had yet to join Music/GunsNRoses; he was almost successful, but eventually decided to turn them down because he didn't like their glam image. The more mature and substantial songwriting on ''Native Tongue'', for that matter, also makes one wonder where they would have gone in terms of sound if Richie Kotzen hadn't been thrown out for boning Rikki Rockett's fiance.

Their greatest success was the album ''Open Up and Say... Ahh!'', which included the number one hit "[[PowerBallad Every Rose Has Its Thorn]]" and peaked at number two on the Billboard charts, held off the top spot by either ''[[Music/GunsNRoses Appetite For Destruction]]'', ''[[BonJovi New Jersey]]'' and ''[[DefLeppard Hysteria]]''. While their next album (''Flesh and Blood'') did pretty well, they were eventually undermined by the rise of {{Grunge}}, intra-band tensions and unsuccessful attempts to adjust their style to changing trends within rock music.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: A number of guitarists were auditioned before C. C. [=DeVille=] joined the group. One of them was none other than Slash, who had yet to join Music/GunsNRoses; he was almost successful, but eventually decided to turn them down because he didn't like their glam image.

Bret Michaels has since become a VH1 reality star, and has his own series of dating shows, ''RockOfLove''. He also won the third edition of ''[[Series/TheApprentice The Celebrity Apprentice]]''.

* RealityTV: They enjoyed a revival when they were featured on VH1's ''BehindTheMusic'', and Bret Michaels' has been involved in reality TV shows like ''RockOfLove'' and ''Celebrity Apprentice'' (which he won).

* PowerBallad: "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is a particularly famous one.

* PrettyBoy: The whole band, back in the 1980s.

Still a popular live draw, they've enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years.

* RealityTV: They enjoyed a revival when they were featured on VH1's ''BehindTheMusic'', and Bret Michaels' has been involved in reality TV shows like ''RockOfLove'' and ''Celebrity Apprentice''.

* BreakupSong: "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"

** They also covered Music/Kiss' "Rock N Roll All Nite" on the ''Film/LessThanZero'' soundtrack album.

* ChorusOnlySong: "Unskinny Bop", "Nothin' But A Good Time" and many more.

!!Tropes

Bret Michaels has since become a VH1 reality star, and has his own series of dating shows, ''RockOfLove''.

* DudeLooksLikeALady: On the cover of their first album.

Their greatest success was the album ''Open Up and Say... Ahh!'', which included the number one hit "[[PowerBallad Every Rose Has It's Thorn]]" and peaked at number two on the Billboard charts, held off the top spot by either ''[[Music/GunsNRoses Appetite For Destruction]]'', ''[[BonJovi New Jersey]]'' and ''[[DefLeppard Hysteria]]''. While their next album (''Flesh and Blood'') did pretty well, they were eventually undermined by the rise of {{Grunge}}, intra-band tensions and unsuccessful attempts to adjust their style to changing trends within rock music.

* PowerBallad: "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" is a particularly famous one.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: A number of guitarists were auditioned before C. C. [=DeVille=] joined the group. One of them was none other than Slash, who had yet to join GunsNRoses; he was almost successful, but eventually decided to turn them down because he didn't like their glam image.

* ContemptibleCover: Their first album featured the band in make up so heavy they ended up looking like somewhat masculine women. The second one was better, but it's picture of a creepy-looking demon girl was eventually censored to avoid provoking too much hostility.

Still a popular live draw, they've enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years. Especially after Bret Michaels toured with TheBeatles.

Still a popular live draw, they've enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years.