Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Zoo Freaks, get ready for a wild ride as we spin Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison from their iconic album Open Up and Say... Ahh! This power ballad, released in October 1988, became Poison’s only number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the charts for three weeks starting December 24, 1988. The song’s raw emotion stems from a real heartbreak experienced by frontman Bret Michaels. After a gig in Dallas, Michaels called his girlfriend, Tracy Lewis, from a seedy motel and heard a man’s voice in the background. Devastated, he grabbed his acoustic guitar and wrote the song in a laundromat, pouring his pain into lyrics like “Every rose has its thorn / Just like every night has its dawn.” Michaels later shared in a 2010 Rolling Stone interview that he scribbled the song on a yellow legal pad, editing down “a bazillion verses” to craft this timeless hit.

The song’s creation wasn’t without resistance. Capitol Records hesitated to release it as a single, fearing its acoustic, country-tinged vibe clashed with Poison’s hard-rock image. Michaels fought for it, backed by bandmates C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett, and their persistence paid off. A Dallas country station was the first to play it, a bold move for 1988, before rock stations caught on. The music video, directed by Marty Callner, was shot at Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and a nearby warehouse, featuring a forlorn Michaels and a woman driving a Thunderbird in the rain, listening to the song on her radio. In a 2018 Billboard interview, Michaels reflected, “This song isn’t just about that moment in my life. It encompasses my entire life,” noting how fans sing along passionately, each connecting to its universal themes of love and loss.

Poison’s journey began in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in the early 1980s, when Bret Michaels (vocals), Rikki Rockett (drums), Bobby Dall (bass), and Matt Smith (guitar) formed a band called the Spectres. Initially playing under the name Paris, they honed their glam metal sound in local bars. Seeking greater exposure, they relocated to Los Angeles in 1983, where Smith was replaced by C.C. DeVille. Renaming themselves Poison, they embraced the Sunset Strip’s vibrant scene, known for its excess and flamboyant style. Their big break came with the 1986 debut album Look What the Cat Dragged In, which went double platinum, fueled by hits like Talk Dirty to Me. By the time Open Up and Say... Ahh! dropped in 1988, produced by Tom Werman after KISS’s Paul Stanley couldn’t commit, Poison had solidified their place in the glam metal pantheon, with the album hitting five-times platinum.

Zoo Freaks can stay connected with Poison through their official channels. Check out their latest updates on Bret Michaels’ official website, which doubles as the band’s hub, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather at dedicated spaces like the Bret Michaels Official Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can share their love for Poison’s music and vibe with fellow enthusiasts. So, crank up Every Rose Has Its Thorn, let those emotions flow, and keep rocking with the Zoo Crew!