Man, I still remember the first time I heard "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" blasting from my cousin's beat-up Camaro back in '89. That opening guitar riff? Instant chills. But let's get real – most people think this Poison band classic is just another cheesy 80s ballad. Trust me, there's way more to it. If you're digging around for info on poison band every rose has its thorn, you probably wanna know the gritty details, not just the Wikipedia version. Maybe you heard it on a throwback playlist, or your dad won't stop humming it. Whatever brought you here, I'm breaking down everything: the drama behind the lyrics, why it almost didn't get released, and how to play that iconic intro (yeah, I'll show you the chords).
Funny thing – Bret Michaels wrote this in a Laundromat. Seriously. Picture it: cowboy boots on sticky floors, humming into a tape recorder while his jeans spun dry. That's the kinda random magic that birthed this song. Makes you wonder how many other hits started in weird places, right?
How "Every Rose" Almost Got Killed (And Other Backstage Secrets)
Poison was touring hard when Bret wrote this. They were opening for Ratt, sleeping on floors, eating gas station hot dogs – the glamorous rockstar life. Then Bret found a love letter from his girlfriend... to another guy. Ouch. He grabbed his acoustic guitar, headed to that Laundromat (no fancy studios back then), and poured all that hurt into three chords. But when he played it for the band? Crickets.
CC DeVille hated it. Called it "country crap." They almost scrapped it entirely. Can you imagine rock history without this anthem? Here's why it nearly died:
- The band wanted heavier stuff – This ballad didn't fit their "Look What the Cat Dragged In" image
- Record execs said it was too slow – "Where's the hairspray? Where's the shredding?"
- Bret fought for it – Threatened to quit if they didn't record it (gutsy move for a rookie band)
Thank God he won. When they finally cut the track, producer Bruce Fairbairn made them strip it down. No big drums at first, just Bret's raw vocals and that lonely guitar. Listen closely to the album version – you can hear the squeak of his jeans shifting in the chair during the solo. Realness you can't fake.
Lyrics That Cut Deeper Than You Think
Everyone knows the chorus, but let's unpack verses most people miss:
"Although we both lie close together we feel miles apart" – Sleeping next to someone who's emotionally gone
"I listen to our favorite song playing on the radio" – Cruel irony when your song comes on post-breakup
It's not just sappy metaphors. That laundry list of pain? Brutally specific. Bret didn't hide behind poetry – he namedropped GNR's "Sweet Child O' Mine" as the song haunting him (though legal made him change it to "our favorite song" later). Real talk: this vulnerability shocked fans used to their party anthems. Some critics called it manipulative. Me? I think it’s why the Poison band every rose has its thorn sticks – it’s messy human truth disguised as power-ballad fluff.
By the Numbers: How Big Did This Thing Get?
Let's talk stats – because this wasn’t just some radio blip. The poison band every rose has its thorn explosion changed careers. Check this out:
| Milestone | Detail | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | #1 for 3 weeks (Dec 1988) | Dethroned "Bad Medicine" – poetic justice |
| Album Sales | Pushed "Open Up and Say...Ahh!" to 8x platinum | Saved their career after a weak debut |
| Global Reach | Top 10 in 15 countries | Even shocked the Brits who hated glam metal |
| Current Streams | Over 350 million on Spotify alone | Gen Z discovers it faster than you'd think |
But here's the kicker: MTV initially refused to play the video. Said Bret's bandana-and-cowboy-hat look was "too country" for Headbangers Ball. They only caved when radio requests went nuclear. Moral? Never underestimate sad rock dudes with acoustics.
Where Are They Now? Poison's Thorny Legacy
Wanna hear something wild? That song still pays Bret's bills. Every time it plays in a Walmart or a rom-com? Ka-ching. But the band dynamic got messy:
CC DeVille: Hated the song for years. Now? Plays it solo at county fairs. Cash changes minds.
Bobby Dall: Still bitter about royalty splits. Avoids interviews about it.
Rikki Rockett: Calls it "the song that bought my drum kits." Smart man.
I saw them play it live in 2019. Bret introduces it differently every night – sometimes funny, sometimes genuinely emotional. That night? He said "This one's for anyone who ever loved wrong." Half the crowd teared up. The other half screamed for "Talk Dirty to Me." Such is life.
Mastering the Song Yourself (Guitarists, Listen Up!)
Okay, players – this is why you searched for poison band every rose has its thorn tabs, right? Forget complicated chords. It’s literally three shapes:
- Intro/Verse: G - D - Em - C (repeat like your heart’s breaking)
- Chorus: C - D - G - Em (strum hard on "THOOOOORN")
- Secret Sauce: Palm-mute during verses, open strum on chorus. Makes the emotion swing.
Tuning is standard, but capo on 2nd fret gives Bret’s signature twang. Pro tip: steal his fingerpicking pattern during the solo – thumb on bass notes, fingers plucking higher strings. Sounds fancy, takes 20 minutes to learn. Thank me later.
Covers That Nailed It (And Ones That Butchered It)
When a song hits this big, everyone tries covering it. Results? Mixed. Here’s my brutally honest tier list:
| Artist | Year | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Miley Cyrus | 2020 | Surprisingly great – raspy vocal suited it |
| Post Malone | 2018 | Auto-tune massacre. Just no. |
| Blake Shelton | 2013 | Finally nailed the country vibe Bret wanted |
| William Shatner | 2011 | Spoken-word trainwreck. Painfully awkward. |
The winner? Wynonna Judd’s 2003 country version. She injected Appalachian ache into it. Bret even said she "out-sadded" him. High praise.
Fans Keep Asking: Your Burning Questions Answered
I’ve scoured forums and guitar shops – here’s what real people ask about poison band every rose has its thorn:
Q: Did Bret really write it in 10 minutes?
A: More like 45. He had the chords first – the lyrics poured out fast after finding the letter.
Q: What’s the rose in the video? Real?
A: Plastic. Budget was $50k. Most went to dry ice for the "dream sequence." Priorities.
Q: Why does the solo sound so different live?
A: CC DeVille improvises wildly. Studio version was his 3rd take – he was hungover.
Q: Does Poison hate playing it now?
A: Bret loves it. Bobby tolerates it. CC used to mock it but now milks the applause.
Q: What key is it in?
A: G major. Capo makes it A major. Change your chords accordingly!
Why This Song Won’t Die (And Where to Experience It)
Spotify streams prove poison band every rose has its thorn isn’t retro – it’s timeless. Want the full experience?
- Original Studio Version: On "Open Up and Say...Ahh!" (1988). Listen for the chair squeak.
- Definitive Live Cut: "Swallow This Live" (1991). Raw crowd singalong energy.
- Solo Acoustic: Bret’s 1998 "A Letter from Death Row" version. Chilling.
If they tour near you? Go. Even if you hate hair metal. Watching 50,000 people scream "THORN!" cathartically? Therapy cheaper than a shrink.
Fun fact: Bret still keeps a dried rose from the original video shoot. Corny? Maybe. But after surviving cancer and band feuds? That thorn means something deeper now.
Look, music snobs dismiss Poison as fluff. But when you’re nursing heartbreak at 2 AM? That simple guitar line hits harder than any complex symphony. That’s the poison band every rose has its thorn magic – it’s duct tape for shattered hearts. Still works after 35 years. Bet it’ll work in 35 more.
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