Poison’s ‘Hollywood’ Harley: Where Is It Now?
Heritage Softail dubbed ‘Hollywood Taxi’ was featured in band’s music videos only to later ride off into the unknown. We found it!
Back in the awesome Eighties, when hit-making band Poison was at the height of its fame, frontman Bret Michaels‘ head-turning Harley pretty much did the impossible: It stole the spotlight from the glam rockers — three times!
That’s no small feat when you consider that back then, Poison had foxy ladies swooning and guys fist-pumping virtually every time they stepped in front of an audience. But, in Poison’s classic music videos for the 1988 hit “Fallen Angel,” 1990’s “Unskinny Bop” and 1991’s “Ride the Wind,” it was the Harley-Davidson motorcycle that had everyone’s attention and admiration.
An artfully outstanding custom bike, the canary-yellow two-wheeler has Fat Boy bars, true duals and its “Hollywood Taxi” moniker branded on its tank. The ’80s Heritage Softail model’s logo is embossed on the fender.
And when you have a heavy metal mane like Michaels, it makes sense to remove the Heritage’s windshield to let the wind breeze through your hair while riding the open roads of Southern California. Adding to the enviable customization are spoke wheels and a studded seat and saddlebags. It’s all of these extras that make it impossible not to look cool cruising around L.A. gripping the Fat Boys on this attention-grabber. And this is precisely the reason why the hard-rockers featured the beautiful bike in their music videos.
Of course, “Hollywood Taxi” also inspired one of Poison’s biggest hits. Time spent on the bike, inspired Michaels to pen the Harley-riding anthem “Ride the Wind,” in which he proudly describes his favorite ride in the most badass way possible: “Like something they never saw before, their jaws dropping to the floor — steel made of soul and sin…”
After racking up fans of its own, however, the “Hollywood Taxi” eventually seemed to have turned off its meter and disappeared from the road as well as from TV screens and public consciousness.
We’ve been keeping track of this stellar ride throughout the decades, however, and it seems to be holding up quite well, as is Poison, whose reunion tour kicked off earlier this month in Baltimore, Maryland.
One of the benefits of being a rock icon, Michaels actually owns the custom Harley. It is one of many in his collection, which includes at least one Harley that was customized with a paint job to match his favorite guitar. Fortunately, Michaels is humble enough to share his bikes with fans every now and again. In fact, when the band headlined a 2011 Poison boat cruise and concert, the singer-songwriter brought his “Hollywood Taxi” on board and let fans attending the event sit on the famous bike and pose for photos.
Today, Michaels is still sharing “Hollywood Taxi” with fans, but in a new way. “Hollywood Taxi” currently sits behind glass, on display at the Hard Rock Riviera resort in Mexico. In 2004, the multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter loaned his Harley to the hot spot to be exhibited as part of its “Bret Michaels Rockstar Suite,” occasionally taking it out for special events, like the band’s previously mentioned 2011 cruise that celebrated Poison’s 25 years in the biz. The bike is featured prominently in an exhibit that greets guests at the entrance to the themed hotel room at the Hard Rock Riviera. Michaels’ famous acoustic guitar from the video for the classic ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” keeps the Harley company.
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