How Poison's 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' Became Their Only No. 1 Hit in 1988

An emotional acoustic ballad unexpectedly transformed a hard-partying glam-metal band into the creators of one of the most beloved heartfelt anthems of the 1980s.
American Songwriter

On This Day in 1988, Poison Topped the Chart With One of the Greatest Power Ballads Ever Written—Inspired by a Devastating Phone Call Made From a Laundromat

On this day (December 24) in 1988, Poison topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” The now-classic power ballad spent three weeks at No. 1, making it the final chart-topper of ...
Houston Chronicle

For the love of a power ballad: From Heart’s ‘Alone’ to Tesla’s ‘Love Song,’ defining the smoldering sub-genre

“Power ballad.” The phrase sounds like an oxymoron. Rather, it’s shorthand for the type of song that has, over time, deftly avoided definition. To wit, an anthology titled “The Very Best of Power ...