Pete Evick Apologises to Poison’s Rikki Rockett
Pete Evick, the longtime touring guitarist in Poison’s live lineup and a key member of Bret Michaels’ solo band, has issued an apology to Poison drummer Rikki Rockett while also defending Michaels against claims the solo operation is run on the cheap.
Evick said he “crossed that line” after mixing comments about Poison’s business with Michaels’ solo-business discussions, adding that he respects Rockett and apologised for speaking out of turn.
In the statement, Evick said Rockett has been “wonderful” to him in person and framed the dispute as two outspoken personalities clashing at times. He also pushed back on fan criticism that Michaels keeps the solo band going because it allows him to underpay musicians, saying he got defensive and that he personally can take any heat directed at him.
The latest flare-up lands amid ongoing questions about Poison’s future as a full-scale touring unit, and it echoes other recent reporting on the band’s business friction, including claims that Bret Michaels “isn’t speaking” to a Poison bandmate as reunion plans remain intermittent.
Evick has served as Poison’s touring guitarist since 2009, stepping in for live performances while C.C. DeVille focuses primarily on studio work, and he continues to appear regularly in Michaels’ solo shows. For now, the apology suggests an attempt to cool tensions publicly even as fan speculation around money and band politics continues to follow the group.
