There's no doubt that the kings of that period are back in fully functioning form, with the classic sounds that took them from starry-eyed wannabes to platinum-selling status. Now on a summer tour with some of their former peers--Cinderella, Winger, and Faster Pussycat--the boys once known for flaunting glam, hairspray, and waaaay too much makeup are proving they survived the dark days of glam-metal's demise as well as their own battles of in-fighting and substance abuse.

The reunion of singer Bret Michaels, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett started in 1999 for a one-off tour and has amounted to a full resurrection--this time at a more mature and tolerable pace. "Back in the day, we were running hard and heavy. We literally worked for about 10 years without ever having a day off. Now we only tour for about five months and then take a break, go make a record, and come back together again. We get a chance to miss it, and it's a much more enjoyable pace of working," says Dall.

Maturity and acceptance have come into play for the new and improved Poison. "I always described Poison as a car, and all the wheels are going in a different direction--it's very hard to go anywhere!" laughs DeVille. "But as you get older. you realize everyone made it together and everyone has something to do with it. So I've learned to relax and let everyone contribute. And it's become easier for me, because it's easier for people to deal with me."