Hollyweird

Hollyweird
Studio album by Poison
Released	May 21, 2002
Recorded	April 2001 - April 2002 at Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, California and Rock Central Studios in Sherman Oaks, California
Genre	Hard rock glam metal pop punk
Length	42:04
Label	Cyanide Music
Producer	Thom Panunzio
Poison chronology
Power to the People (2000)Power to the People2000 Hollyweird (2002) Best of Ballads & Blues (2003)Best of Ballads & Blues2003
Singles from Hollyweird
"Rockstar" Released: May 27, 2001 "Squeeze Box" Released: March 4, 2002 "Shooting Star" Released: November 5, 2002

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
411Mania	(4/10)
AllMusic
antiMusic
KNAC

For other uses, see Hollyweird (disambiguation).

Hollyweird is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Poison, released on March 21, 2002 through Cyanide Music and debuted at No. 103 on The Billboard 200 chart and No. 8 on the Independent Albums chart. The album sold 11,000 copies in its first week with a No. 103 debut on the Billboard 200 chart.

Musical style

The record brought together Poison's original line-up for the first full studio project since Flesh & Blood. The result was a combination of old and new sounds, with guitarist C. C. DeVille frequently preferring pop and punk rock sounds to the heavy metal style which had characterized Poison's previous records. The band's new style was particularly evident in the songs "Emperor's New Clothes", "Livin' In the Now" and "Home (C.C's Story)" which featured DeVille on lead vocals.

Production and marketing

In the face of major label offers which would have required the band to re-record old material, the band decided to release the album through their own label, Cyanide Music. Hollyweird was recorded at Henson Recording Studios, in Hollywood, California and Rock Central Studios in Sherman Oaks, California with producer Thom Panunzio.

Songs

The album's themes revolve almost exclusively around the trials and tribulations of success in Hollywood, California; a theme which had previously been explored in the band's single "Fallen Angel" from their second album Open Up And Say... Ahh!.

The first single released from the album was Rockstar which was released on the web as a preview for the album, the 2nd single was a cover of The Who song "Squeeze Box".

Bobby Dall on The Who cover "Squeeze Box"

...Actually, that was Rikki's idea. When we came into rehearsals ... to break the ice for the new record ... before we started fightin' and arguin' about songs, we went through a list of covers and remakes. ...It was the song that stuck and I think it fits perfectly for our band. It has a great melody and a great vocal, but it's also kinda sparse and undefined ... it was kinda like an open pallet for us.

"Shooting Star" was also released as a single for the album and was referred to as part 2 to the Fallen Angel single from Open Up And...Say Ahh.

Track listing

All songs written by Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett except where indicated.

1. "Hollyweird" - 3:15
2. "Squeeze Box" - 2:32 (Pete Townshend)
3. "Shooting Star" - 4:39
4. "Wishful Thinkin'" - 2:49
5. "Get 'Ya Some" - 4:22
6. "Emperor's New Clothes" - 2:15
7. "Devil Woman" - 3:47
8. "Wasteland" - 3:56
9. "Livin' In The Now" - 2:37
10. "Stupid, Stoned & Dumb" - 3:10
11. "Home" (Bret's Story) - 2:49
12. "Home" (C.C.'s Story) - 2:47
13. "Rockstar" - 3:33

Singles

• "Rockstar" - May 27, 2001
• "Squeeze Box" - March 4, 2002
• "Shooting Star" - November 5, 2002

Band members

• Bret Michaels - lead vocals & Rhythm Guitar
• C.C. DeVille - Lead guitar, lead vocals on "Emperor's New Clothes", "Livin' In the Now" and "Home (C.C's Story)"
• Bobby Dall - bass
• Rikki Rockett - drums

Additional personal

• Dan Wagner – keyboards
• Mark Poole – backing vocals
• Christy Calabro – backing vocals
• Cliff Calabro – backing vocals