Dem Vinyl Boyz EP 155 - Poison - Open Up and Say Ahhh

This week, the Dem Vinyl Boyz throw on the leather pants, tease up the hair, and turn the glam all the way up as we drop the needle on Poison’s multi-platinum party record Open Up and Say... Ahh!

Released in 1988, this was the album that catapulted Poison from Sunset Strip heroes to global rock gods. Produced by Bruce Fairbairn (who also worked with Bon Jovi and Aerosmith), the album is packed with arena-shaking anthems, glittery glam hooks, and power ballads that defined the late '80s. From the sleazy swagger of “Nothin’ But a Good Time” to the tearjerking heartache of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” this LP is a crash course in glam metal glory.

We talk about the album’s massive success (over 8 million copies sold), the MTV-fueled rise of Bret Michaels and crew, and how Poison both embodied and exploded the glam rock scene of the era. We also dive into the album’s infamous original cover art controversy and the evolution of their sound that balanced pop appeal with hard rock riffs.

So plug in your Aqua Net and hop aboard the glam train—we’re revisiting the wild ride that was Poison’s Open Up and Say... Ahh!