Native Tongue – Poison (1993)
Released in 1993, Native Tongue is the fourth studio album by Poison and marks a major turning point in the band’s history. Arriving during the height of the grunge explosion, the album showcased a more mature, blues-driven and hard rock-oriented direction — far removed from the flashy glam sound that made them famous in the 1980s.
It was also the only Poison studio album to feature guitarist Richie Kotzen, replacing C.C. DeVille.
Album Credits
Band Members:
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Bret Michaels – Lead Vocals
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Richie Kotzen – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
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Bobby Dall – Bass, Backing Vocals
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Rikki Rockett – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer:
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Richie Zito
Label:
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Capitol Records
Release Year: 1993
Genre: Hard Rock / Blues Rock
Album Tracklist
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Native Tongue
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The Scream
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Stand
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Stay Alive
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Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)
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Body Talk
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Bring It Home
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7 Days Over You
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Richie's Acoustic Thang
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Ain’t That the Truth
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Theatre of the Soul
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Strike Up the Band
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Ride Child Ride
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Blind Faith
Total Length: Approx. 63 minutes
Cover Art & Design – Mini Description
The cover of Native Tongue features a tattoo-style graphic with a heart pierced by a dagger, surrounded by tribal and traditional ink elements. Compared to the glam-heavy aesthetics of earlier releases, the artwork reflects a stripped-down, more serious and blues-oriented identity.
The design symbolizes emotional scars, strength, and transformation — fitting for a band navigating a changing musical era.
Musical Style & Sound
With Richie Kotzen’s influence, Native Tongue introduced:
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Blues-based guitar phrasing
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Technical solo work
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More introspective lyrics
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Less glam, more substance
Tracks like “Stand” leaned toward gospel-influenced hard rock with positive messaging, while “Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)” delivered darker emotional intensity. “The Scream” opened the album with heavier, modern hard rock energy.
The record is more guitar-driven and musically intricate than previous Poison releases.
Fun Facts & Trivia
1. Only Album with Richie Kotzen
This is the band’s only studio album featuring Richie Kotzen.
2. Stylistic Shift
The album marked a deliberate move away from glam metal toward blues-infused hard rock.
3. Grunge Era Challenge
Released during the dominance of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the album faced a dramatically different rock landscape.
4. Internal Conflict
Kotzen was later dismissed from the band amid internal tensions, making this lineup short-lived.
Did You Know?
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Richie Kotzen contributed significantly to the songwriting and guitar arrangements.
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“Stand” became one of Poison’s most uplifting and melodic singles of the 90s.
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The album is often viewed by fans as underrated due to timing rather than quality.
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It is Poison’s longest studio album of the classic era.
