Renowned Poison drummer Rikki Rockett reminisces about the band’s iconic album Open Up And Say … Ahh!, revealing an interesting twist: Walmart initially refused to stock the album due to its provocative cover art. This cover featured a striking, tribal-inspired figure with an exaggerated tongue, which sparked controversy and debate among retailers.

During his appearance on The Motley Croc Show, Rockett shared insights into the creative process behind the album’s cover. He explained that his late friend, Mark Williams, crafted the infamous tongue prosthetic. The band collaborated with a model for a photo shoot, and despite their best efforts, the label deemed the imagery too tame. The initial concept portrayed a rock star with an elongated tongue, dramatic hair, and bold makeup, yet it failed to meet the label’s expectations for shock value.

Undeterred, Poison decided to refine their vision and enlisted the talents of acclaimed rock photographer Neil Zlozower to enhance the cover art. Rockett described how he and bassist Bobby Dall worked with Dall’s girlfriend, Bambi, to transform her look with striking stripes and vibrant colored contacts, culminating in a bold aesthetic that the band felt would resonate with their audience.

Despite the band’s excitement over the new design, Walmart remained unconvinced about the cover art’s appropriateness.

Walmart’s Controversial Decision on Poison’s Album Cover

“Walmart rejected it — Walmart,” Rockett confirmed emphatically. He recounted how Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, expressed concerns that the cover represented a demonic figure, which he believed was inappropriate for the store’s image.

This left Poison and their management in a challenging position. “We gathered with our management and label to discuss our options. Ultimately, we had to ask ourselves whether we were in the album cover business or the music business,” Rockett stated. The band realized that their primary goal was to share their music with fans. Given that Walmart accounted for a significant portion of their sales—between 35 to 40 percent—they knew they needed to compromise. It was a time when many fans frequented Walmart for music, attracted by lower prices compared to traditional record stores.

The band had to weigh the benefits of reaching a massive audience against the artistic integrity of their album cover. In the end, they opted for a censored version of the cover that satisfied Walmart’s standards, allowing the retail giant to carry the album. Released in April 1988, Open Up And Say … Ahh! went on to achieve remarkable success, selling over 5 million copies in the United States.