Poison sound

[Junk Yard Dog]

Have to say I grew up on Poison and they were integral in helping me learn guitar... Along with all the hair bands: that was the soundtrack of my childhood and formative years as a guitar player, so I have a softspot for CC, love him or hate him.

I started playing guitar when i was 8 in 1984. I remember when I was 5 years old playing air guitar to Eye of the Tiger, Van Halen, Foreigner, and Pink Floyd, so my parents--after 3 years--said 'enough!' and got me an acoustic. ...I was in love with ANYTHING electric guitar with a hot-rodded Marshall tones.

When I was 10, two years after bangin' on an acoustic, I was able to play well enough that the other kids in school thought I was a guitar god--I wasn't. Far from it. BUT, I could play Talk Dirty To Me. My mom bought me every hair metal album I asked for and that is how I really 'learned' to play guitar: listening to bands on tape and playing along and teaching myself. I remember thinking EXACTLY as romanianreaper they had to be chicks. My mom thought they WERE chicks, ha! Poison was one of those bands, along with the Crue. In fact, until shortly after July 21, 1987, ALL I listened to and and played was Poison, All Motley albums to that point, Def Leppard Hysteria, and Whitesnake 1987 album. ...And then the band that changed my life in terms of what Rock N Roll was all about came out with their debut album: GNR, AFD. THAT WAS THE YEAR FOR ME AS A GUITAR PLAYER!

All downhill from there...

Poison was a big part of that. Their first three albums I loved as a kid; I was none the wiser about how lame the lyrics were and what not--I couldn't care less.

I totally get the Poison hate. But I do appreciate them for the memories.

 

[toddmogle]

there's an interview from a guitar mag back in mid 80's where it was modded Marshall's on the first album. Crate's were in play back then too.

Open Up & Say Ahhh was a Randall RG100 with a furman parametric EQ. The Soldano X88R preamp came along on that tour when he had the Bradshaw rack built, powered by an H&H V800 power amp.

Flesh & Blood was the Soldano preamp along with a Marshall JTM-45 and the Crate G60, blended together.
He used a Crate GX130C head for a long time too.

the Soldano Hot Rod 100 and Carvin Legacy heads came along when he rejoined the band in 99-2000 for the tours.

Saw him in a club when he was doing the Samantha 7 thing. He used a Crate Stealth 50 combo. that's it. Guitar, cable, combo. Tone was killer.

He's been using DSL100's the past few years.

 

[Philhouse]

Had a similar exp with growing up at an early age in the 80's, getting interested in guitar and rock music and Poison being the big band on TV at the time. I loved air guitaring to 'Nothin' But a Good Time' (think I had the vinyl Single of that actually and prob wore it out on my parents player) and then Crue, Warrant, Bon Jovi etc... I was too young to know or care about the posing side of that glam scene, they just looked like KISS with no face makeup and played cool rock to me as a kid. Anyway, along came 'Appetite' my tastes changed and the hooks were in me to really get a guitar and start to learn.
I always liked CC's solo on 'Cherry Pie'.

 

[mystixboi]

The solo in Life Goes On is one if the best solos I’ve ever heard. Tons of feel in that one.

 

[311boogieman]

LOL. 311. I hate on very few. 311, you know me. But I still can't take CC. lol. Him I hate on. Lol.

I think the best thing about poison was the blow. Lol.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

We can debate how cheesy Poison was or how good/bad C.C was but quite honestly, they had a few catchy hits and C.C wrote a few cool riffs that are memorable (unskinny bop, Nuthin' but a good time) so they get a pass for the era. I was a fan and even now I will crank the tunes if they come on Hair Nation. What is absolutely unacceptable however, is how bad those albums were produced. Here are the issues;

1. Rikki Rocket. He's actually a solid drummer now. Back then though, holy shit, wtf was he doing? Who was letting him lay down those tracks and encouraging some of that shit. Horrible.

2. Production on the drums. God Aweful snare and clicky bass drum with swooshy cymbals and hi-hat.

3. C.C's guitars always sounding smeared.

4. C.C's complete and utterly shit vibrato. The guy had reasonable chops, how did he not understand vibrato as well as staying in key? There are always spots in solos that sound flat and you are thinking good lord man, how can you not hear how off you are.

5. The guy who started this thread actually thinking any of those Poison tones are good lol. I mean seriously? C.C has one of the worst guitar tones ever recorded for the era. My recollection is that it was solid state as well.

6. Already stated but needs to be stated again. Rikki effin' Rocket. WTF was he doing on some of those songs??? Too much 50's influence maybe.. a splash too much of Ringo Starr drumming.Add to the fact that he was a dork. Looked like he should be in the Cure. Essentially only Brett and Bobby looked like they were legit rock stars.

 

[Filter500]

The guy who started this thread actually thinking any of those Poison tones are good lol. I mean seriously? C.C has one of the worst guitar tones ever recorded for the era. My recollection is that it was solid state as well.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

The guy who started this thread actually thinking any of those Poison tones are good lol. I mean seriously? C.C has one of the worst guitar tones ever recorded for the era. My recollection is that it was solid state as well.

Sounds good to me.

Maybe it is the version I was listening to that came on the radio the other day but the one you linked sounds better for sure. Is it a remaster or something? Still though, mixing and tones were def. not the strong points. I stand by my rant and C.C's terrible vibrato lol.

 

[Kevin11]

A slight off-topic detour if I may. I knew Bret and Rikki peripherally way back in the early 80s. I went to high school with them albeit I was a couple of years younger. Around the time those two graduated hs, they started a cover band called Spectres - no Bobby or CC at this time. I remember them doing Priest, UFO, Rush, etc., but even at this point, they were into the glam thing and putting on a show. They did a lot of under 21 shows and actually inspired my brother (drummer) and I to start our own band with some hs friends of ours.

As I approached my senior year, Spectres were making a name for themselves in the Central PA area and doing more originals. They eventually switched to all originals and changed their name to Paris. They took the glam thing and their production to a new level and you could see glimpses of what they'd become. They would play any place they could book a show. High schools, roller rinks, bars, community centers. You name it. They worked harder than anyone I've ever seen before or since to promote and book themselves. Put every penny they made back into the band and their production. Since they were all original, if they got booked at a club or bar, they needed an opening band to cover the night. This is where our paths really crossed. They hired my baby hs band to open for them a few times and we got to know them pretty well.

One show that sticks out was a cold, miserable, winter night in Gettysburg, PA. The club was dead. It was Paris and their crew, my band, our parents (still underage), the bar staff and a few stragglers. Totally dead. Felt really bad for those guys as they'd promoted the hell out of the show. Bret and Rikki did something that night that will stick with me forever. As soon as my band took the stage, those two came out of their dressing room, stood right in front of the stage, and cheered us on for our entire set. Afterward, they invited us backstage to sneak a few beers and shoot the shit before they went on.

Setting the music and their musicianship aside for a sec, they're two of the nicest and hardest-working guys in the biz. They're living proof that drive, determination and a solid work ethic can make amazing things happen.

Getting back on-topic...they moved to LA and grabbed Bobby and CC somewhere along the way and became Poison. My brother used to know and hang with CC a bit back in the day and as I understand it, the first album is mostly sold-state...and I want to say Crate. Maybe there were other amps too (Marshall, etc.) as he stated in interviews.

 

[damaan]

It seems that Poison are the rock equivalent of Marmite - you either love them or you hate them
I agree with many in that they influenced my guitar playing and certainly the first 2 albums are worth cranking up! I agree with @Philhouse that when GNR came along - it blew Poison away! However the sound of 'look what the cat dragged in', still today sounds so f-in good.
Anyway - roll on the summer for the Big Stadium tour of The Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett

 

[Kevin11]

And speaking of GnR, I've heard stories of Slash auditioning for Poison right after they moved to LA. They hired CC instead. I think it probably worked out best for everyone...including us.

 

[Rock Bodom]

Riffs, hooks, fun performances and over the top 80's glam...that's all Poison was setting out to do and they did it just fine. CC never pretended to be the next EVH (more like an 80's hot-rodded version of Ace) and his playing fit the band great.

I saw them open for DLR twice on the Skyscraper tour, they were great performers. First show was an arena, and lights go down, spotlight on CC with his hair has huge in the videos and playing a slime green BC Rich.Totally made me want to be a rock star. It was just cool as heck, everything a big 80's show should be. Second time it was an outdoor show, still awesome and I got one of CC's picks.

Man, you just had to be there for some of this stuff. Yeah, it was Lynch and EVH and Vai and much more technical players that influenced my "serious" playing, but some of these "just for fun" bands were great.

I always liked the tone on the song Look What the Cat Dragged In too (favorite song on that album as well), but overall, I thought his tone on the second album was a huge step up. Right from the opener, man I thought it sounded thick.

GnR was great too...man, I still love listening to Appetite especially with headphones and clearly hearing Izzy and Slash play off each other, that's the real magic right there. Such an awesome decade!!

 

[MrDowntown]

they were the RnR dream... the sound was super...pop-glam-bubble-gummy, whatever... but the hooks were there, both lyrically and musically. not difficult, but most time the catchiest of hooks is very simple... some less poppy than others.

but...not a MF'r here would have bad-mouthed them, or ran down CC's tone or whatever when their shit was pumping at a party or show in the hey-day '80's...and all the chicks were around. shiiiitt.... you would've thrown your fist in the air and danced with the ladies... period.

seems...years ago i saw Rikki do an interview...who "claimed" he was (at current, or previously) a hair-dresser or something. so with that, he knew a lot about hair and makeup and shit...joked about knowing the best hair-spray to use but, that helped propel them...put them in the forefront, as they were so different...their makeup was way better than the next group. i also remember another interview with Nikki Six talking about all the hair and makeup the Crue were (for the biz) like he wasn't a huge fan of it but... "...we may wear makeup, but we'll still kick your ass out back after the show..." rock-on Nikki

 

[Rock Bodom]

One show that sticks out was a cold, miserable, winter night in Gettysburg, PA. The club was dead. It was Paris and their crew, my band, our parents (still underage), the bar staff and a few stragglers. Totally dead. Felt really bad for those guys as they'd promoted the hell out of the show. Bret and Rikki did something that night that will stick with me forever. As soon as my band took the stage, those two came out of their dressing room, stood right in front of the stage, and cheered us on for our entire set. Afterward, they invited us backstage to sneak a few beers and shoot the shit before they went on.

Setting the music and their musicianship aside for a sec, they're two of the nicest and hardest-working guys in the biz. They're living proof that drive, determination and a solid work ethic can make amazing things happen.

That's an awesome story, man!! I already liked these guys, but this gives me even more respect...thanks for sharing!

 

[Kevin11]

seems...years ago i saw Rikki do an interview...who "claimed" he was (at current, or previously) a hair-dresser or something. so with that, he knew a lot about hair and makeup and shit...joked about knowing the best hair-spray to use but, that helped propel them...put them in the forefront, as they were so different...their makeup was way better than the next group. i also remember another interview with Nikki Six talking about all the hair and makeup the Crue were (for the biz) like he wasn't a huge fan of it but... "...we may wear makeup, but we'll still kick your ass out back after the show..." rock-on Nikki

Rikki absolutely was a hair stylist back then. He's 100% responsible for the band's look in the early days. In the early 80s no other band that I knew of in central PA was doing what they did. Every other band would smack talk them and their lack of musicianship, but man if they didn't ALL start teasing their hair and wearing makeup and spandex in fairly short order.

When they were still a cover band, they did a show at a dumpy roller skating rink. Place was filled to the brim with screaming girls. Lights go down, people go nuts, a tech rolls a large road case center stage in the dark. Intro tape starts playing. Fog is blowing everywhere. Guy on the intro tape introduces the band a-la Kiss (Yoooouuuuu wanted the best...). Everything stops for a split second, then boom! Lights, explosion, confetti cannon and here comes Bret jumping out of the road case, pink boa, 100 bandannas, hair teased up to god. They were just out of high school. It was impossible to NOT be inspired by it.

 

[MrDowntown]

seems...years ago i saw Rikki do an interview...who "claimed" he was (at current, or previously) a hair-dresser or something. so with that, he knew a lot about hair and makeup and shit...joked about knowing the best hair-spray to use but, that helped propel them...put them in the forefront, as they were so different...their makeup was way better than the next group. i also remember another interview with Nikki Six talking about all the hair and makeup the Crue were (for the biz) like he wasn't a huge fan of it but... "...we may wear makeup, but we'll still kick your ass out back after the show..." rock-on Nikki

Rikki absolutely was a hair stylist back then. He's 100% responsible for the band's look in the early days. In the early 80s no other band that I knew of in central PA was doing what they did. Every other band would smack talk them and their lack of musicianship, but man if they didn't ALL start teasing their hair and wearing makeup and spandex in fairly short order.

When they were still a cover band, they did a show at a dumpy roller skating rink. Place was filled to the brim with screaming girls. Lights go down, people go nuts, a tech rolls a large road case center stage in the dark. Intro tape starts playing. Fog is blowing everywhere. Guy on the intro tape introduces the band a-la Kiss (Yoooouuuuu wanted the best...). Everything stops for a split second, then boom! Lights, explosion, confetti cannon and here comes Bret jumping out of the road case, pink boa, 100 bandannas, hair teased up to god. They were just out of high school. It was impossible to NOT be inspired by it.

...you know what is funny...and i never thought of it like this...but hearing you describe Bretts entry, i swear in my mind i see DLR. lol...

very cool you knew them when...very cool, thanks for the stories

 

[stratjacket]

Good time rock and roll, the Billie Eilish of the 80’s...

 

[311boogieman]

Great stories guys

I could be wrong but it seems that many/most of the hair bands from the 80's really only connected with the audiences of that time. You know...the tunes you grew up with. Funny in a way how Poison, Skid Row, Warrant, Winger, etc really didn't come into play until the end of the 80's. Oh well, I don't want to get too far off topic.

Poison looked like girls. Cinderella comes to mind too. That whole androgyny thing. As mentioned, they didn't dress like that to win over men. They did it because the girls liked it. wink wink

 

[Mailman1971]

I graduated in 89.
When these bands were coming out. I was playing guitar a couple years.
So when I learned ‘talk dirty to me’ I was the envy of all around.
Seems foolish these days. But back in the mid 80s.....
All this cock rock was THE BOMB!!

 

[BigGuitars]

Regarding the point about rock shows attracting chicks in the 80s, well those days are looooong over, and never coming back. EVER! Rock music is so uncool now, and I think especially 80s rock is the subject of utter scorn and humiliation with the younger generation now. They absolutely hate it. It did not stand the test of time. I say this as a fan of 80s rock. The kids today only like rap and various forms of nihilistic, reality-show-sounding pop music. You can’t even twist their arms to get them to listen to rock. I’m only 29, and I can see that my generation, and the one below me completely and utterly reject rock music in basically all its forms. I know that I’m a pretty good player, and guitar has not helped me one iota with the ladies. That just shows how utterly uncool rock music is today. Girls think it’s so lame. They look at guitar playing like girls in the 80s would look at computer nerd burnouts. That’s how rock music and guitar is viewed today.