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RIKKI ROCKETT Is ‘Very, Very Proud’ Of POISON’s ‘Native Tongue’ Album: ‘I Think It’s A Great Record’
Poison drummer Rikki Rockett has spoken warmly about the band's 1993 album "Native Tongue" in a new interview with Detroit radio station WRIF, calling it a great record despite it underperforming commercially compared with the band's earlier releases. The album marked a significant departure for Poison, trading its glam-metal party anthems for a more serious, blues-rock sound, and was notable as the only Poison record to feature guitarist Richie Kotzen following C.C. DeVille's 1991 departure.
Produced by Richie Zito, "Native Tongue" debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and included the singles "Stand" and "Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)". Rockett noted the album still sold around a million copies in its first few months and was well received by critics, even though it fell short of the multiplatinum success of Poison's earlier DeVille-era records. He attributed the more modest reception to timing and shifting audience expectations amid the rise of grunge, rather than any shortcomings in the music or production.
In short
- Rikki Rockett praises Poison's 1993 album "Native Tongue" in new interview.
- Blues-rock LP featured Richie Kotzen, sold around a million copies.
- Underperformed versus earlier albums, but was well received by critics.
Explained simply
Poison are an American rock band who became known in the 1980s for glam-metal songs with a flashy look and party-focused lyrics. Guitarist C.C. DeVille left in 1991 and was replaced by Richie Kotzen, whose blues-rock style helped shape the band’s next album.
Released in 1993, “Native Tongue” was the only Poison album to feature Kotzen. It took a more serious musical direction and reached number 16 on the US album chart, with singles including “Stand” and “Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)”.
The record came out as grunge was gaining popularity and listeners’ tastes were changing. It sold less than Poison’s earlier, multi-platinum albums, though it still sold around a million copies in its first few months and received positive reviews.
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