Poison drummer Rikki Rockett said rock media in the 1980s tried to manufacture hostility between glam metal and thrash metal acts, citing a magazine cover framing Poison against Metallica. He recalled meeting Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich on the same day and finding the supposed rivalry absent, arguing that media narratives could encourage fan divisions between artists with different styles.

Rockett said he and Ulrich shared a drink and spoke for around 90 minutes after joking that they were “supposed to hate each other”. He argued listeners should be free to enjoy varied music, while also suggesting that rock music may now lack the kind of social movement that previously helped create strong musical scenes. His memoir, *Ghost Notes: My Life In Poison*, is due to be released in September.