The Stadium Tour featuring Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts is one of the most highly anticipated rock tours in recent years. The tour was originally scheduled for summer 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many rock fans are wondering – is Poison still planning to participate in The Stadium Tour once it is rescheduled?
Quick Answers
Yes, Poison is still scheduled to perform as part of The Stadium Tour once new tour dates are announced. The band’s participation has not changed despite the postponement. Poison, along with the other bands on the bill, remain committed to doing the massive stadium tour once it becomes safe and feasible to do so.
Background on The Stadium Tour
The Stadium Tour was announced in December 2019 with Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts as the featured co-headliners. The tour was slated to hit stadiums and festivals across North America starting in the summer of 2020. Some of the scheduled stops included:
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
- Minute Maid Park in Houston
- Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago
- Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia
- Fenway Park in Boston
The tour announcement was met with huge fan anticipation. The Stadium Tour was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for fans to see these massively popular 80s rock bands perform together in massive venues. However, the tour ended up being postponed in May 2020 due to the unprecedented health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Are the Original Bands Still Planning to Tour Together?
Yes, all four bands are still planning to come together for The Stadium Tour once it can be safely held. In March 2021, it was announced that the tour was officially being postponed until the summer of 2022. All bands confirmed they were still on board.
Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts jointly stated:
“To all our loyal fans, we wanted to let you know that we learned today that the tour is getting moved to 2022. This is the only way to ensure that we can play ALL of the dates for ALL of you who have purchased tickets. We appreciate you hanging in there and can’t wait to get back on stage and bring The Stadium Tour to all of our fans. It is going to be one for the history books!”
So while the tour schedule has shifted, all four rock acts are still planning to unite for the massive stadium shows. The Stadium Tour is still very much on, just postponed until 2022.
Will Poison Stay on The Tour?
Yes, Poison confirmed they are still planning to join The Stadium Tour in 2022. The glam metal rockers issued an individual statement when the latest postponement was revealed, saying:
“To all of our fans, we wanted you to hear the news from us first. The Stadium Tour is moving to 2022. We are excited to get back on stage with our brothers Motley Crue, Def Leppard and Joan Jett next summer. This gives everyone enough time to get ready to rock your world like only Poison, Crue, Leppard and Joan Jett can. Can’t wait to see you all!! Saturday night will still be alright for fighting in 2022!”
Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett are all ready to bring the Poison party to stadiums across North America next summer. While the wait is longer than anticipated, Poison fans can rest assured knowing the “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” rockers are still booked for The Stadium Tour.
Latest on Rescheduled Stadium Tour Dates
As of October 2022, no new tour dates have been formally announced for The Stadium Tour. However, Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen did confirm in a recent interview that June and July of 2023 are being looked at as the targeted timeframe.
“We’re pretty much looking at June, July ’23 right now,” Collen stated. “That’s what the plan is. That seems to be the kind of timeframe everybody’s zeroing in on.”
So while the full schedule has not been revealed yet, it appears The Stadium Tour will officially be happening in Summer 2023 rather than its original 2020 or 2022 timeframes. All four co-headliners remain committed to making this epic tour a reality for rock fans once stadiums are back at full capacity.
How Long Will the Tour Last?
The original Stadium Tour itinerary featured a massive 50+ date schedule, covering most of the major markets in North America. If and when the tour is able to happen in 2023, fans can expect a similar lengthy trek so the bands can reach as many cities as possible.
In an era where many rock bands only do short tours or limited residency shows, The Stadium Tour stands out for its huge ambition. Motley Crue, Poison and the other co-headliners aim to deliver an extended series of concerts over 2-3 months time. The tour is positioned to be one of the most far-reaching in recent rock history based on its vast number of dates.
Setlists and Production
While full setlists have not been revealed, fans can count on all the bands playing their biggest hits and fan favorites. Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard, and Joan Jett have dozens of beloved songs between them that still get heavy rotation on radio. Fans are eager to hear smash hits like:
- Motley Crue: “Kickstart My Heart,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Home Sweet Home”
- Def Leppard: “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Love Bites,” “Animal”
- Poison: “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Talk Dirty To Me,” “Nothin’ But A Good Time”
- Joan Jett: “I Love Rock N Roll,” “Crimson And Clover,” “Bad Reputation”
Production is also promised to be massive, with pyrotechnics and state-of-the-art lighting. The tour name “Stadium Tour” truly fits based on the extravagant stages and effects planned. Fans can anticipate a bigger-than-life spectacle when these classic rockers return to stadiums.
Example Setlist for Poison
Here is one possible setlist for Poison on The Stadium Tour based on their touring history:
Song |
---|
Look What the Cat Dragged In |
Ride the Wind |
Talk Dirty to Me |
Your Mama Don’t Dance |
Fallen Angel |
Something to Believe In |
Nothin’ But a Good Time |
Unskinny Bop |
Every Rose Has Its Thorn |
Rock and Roll All Nite |
Impact of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic threw major tours and live events into disarray throughout 2020 and 2021. Even as conditions improve, ongoing challenges have impacted The Stadium Tour, like:
- Venue/local restrictions on capacity and safety protocols
- Hesitancy of some fans about mass gatherings
- Logistics issues like staffing shortages
Promoters and bands felt it was prudent to push the tour back until these factors stabilize. While it required patience, this strategy gives The Stadium Tour its best shot at reaching all markets successfully.
Demand and Excitement Remains High
Despite the postponements, demand and excitement are still sky-high for The Stadium Tour. These bands all have loyal multi-generational fanbases who are eager to see them perform together. When new 2023 dates get announced, expect swift sellouts across the board.
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee expressed his gratitude for fans’ patience and enthusiasm, saying:
“It’s the only way to ensure that we can play ALL of the dates for ALL of you who have purchased tickets. We appreciate you hanging in there and can’t wait to get back on stage and bring The Stadium Tour to all of our fans. It is going to be one for the history books!”
The Stadium Tour still represents a dream lineup to rock fans. The chance to see these four iconic bands play hit after hit in one unforgettable concert experience will make the wait worthwhile.
Future Touring Plans
Beyond The Stadium Tour, what lies ahead for Poison and the other bands?
Bret Michaels has hinted Poison may do select dates celebrating the 40th anniversary of their formation in 2023. But The Stadium Tour will likely be this band’s priority and biggest touring activity next year.
Def Leppard plans to continue touring in support of their latest album Diamond Star Halos. Motley Crue also intends to remain active live performers beyond The Stadium Tour.
As for Joan Jett, 2023 will mark 40 years since her song “I Love Rock N Roll” became a #1 hit. Expect anniversary celebrations of that career-defining anthem.
Is This Their Final Tour?
Both Def Leppard and Motley Crue have implied that The Stadium Tour could potentially be their last ever tour. The bands want to go out on a high note and make the most of this opportunity. Poison has not made any claims that this is their farewell.
NW Crue bassist Nikki Sixx said: “Rumors are implying this will be the last time we tour together. Nothing has been decided or confirmed. Only thing that is confirmed is we are excited to celebrate the 35th anniversary of TOO FAST FOR LOVE with The Stadium Tour. I look forward to seeing all you Crueheads out there!”
So The Stadium Tour could wind up being the swan song for some of these bands. Fans should not take the opportunity to see them together for granted.
Conclusion
While the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in plans for The Stadium Tour, it is still very much poised to happen in 2023. Poison remains firmly committed to being part of the spectacular tour alongside co-headliners Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Despite the delays, the hype and demand for this once-in-a-lifetime rock extravaganza has only intensified.