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Bret Michaels should probably be taking it easy. After all, he’s survived an emergency appendectomy and a brain hemorrhage, which followed by a warning stroke and the discovery of a hole in his heart — all in the span of a couple of months.
But the 47-year-old rocker shows no signs of slowing down. After a surprise appearance on the American Idol finale, which had fans both cheering and praying for him, Michaels is on the road again with his band Poison. And he’s ready to drop his solo album, Custom Built, on July 6.
Michaels told Parade.com that it’s the love he has for his family and fans, and his plans for the future that keep him rockin’ night after night.
The worst is behind him.
“I’m feeling pretty good. Each day I feel a little bit better. As the chemical meningitis from the bleed starts to dissipate, it gets a little bit better. The bottom line is, I got really sick and it all had a domino effect for me, from the appendicitis to the brain hemorrhage. And then I had a warning stroke, and now they found out I got a hole in my heart, which I’m going to go get an operation for that in the late fall, early winter. But I just said to myself, you know what? Whatever it is, I live my life passionately. And music is a powerful healer for me. I’ve learned a lot of it is mind over matter. Once I knew that I had a chance to survive the brain hemorrhage, I was taking life and grabbing it for everything I could.”
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He’s grateful for the overwhelming support.
“The fans, the media, everybody, I’m beyond grateful for their love and support because it’s part of what’s helped me to heal. The great vibes, prayers and well wishes, it really means a lot to me. In the years prior to being sick, I really like to think that I treated people great. And when I come back to venues year after year, I’m friends with these people, and I ask them how their families are doing and what’s going on. It’s nice to get that love and support back.”
Where he finds his strength.
“Honestly, it comes from 41 years of having diabetes and finding the strength to go through and live life to the fullest. I had great parents that allowed me to do all the things I wanted to do, but told me, ‘You gotta buck up and you’re going to have to work harder to achieve things.’ And recently, it has been my family. The night I had my brain hemorrhage, my two daughters and Kristi truthfully saved my life. That’s the God’s honest truth. When it all hit the fan, when it came to that moment that I needed to react, my family rallied behind me, and as a father, I didn’t want them to wake up in the morning and see me collapsed on the floor.”
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How his two young daughters handle it all.
“We talk about it a lot, and truthfully, it’s very tough. The moment we say goodbye, if they’re not coming out on the road with me, is tough. It shouldn’t be easy, because if it were easy, then we probably wouldn’t love each other so much. So what makes it real is that it is tough. I sit down and I explain that I’m going away and that I’ll be back. We look at the schedule and plan it out. And then they ask me how many gifts I’m going to bring them. That’s always important! Daughters are good — they key it up right on cue and I’m a sucker and I give them whatever gifts necessary.”
Putting family life front and center with his upcoming VH1 reality series, Life as I Know It.
“Fans have asked for years to get a glimpse into my life, of what I do outside the craziness of Rock of Love or just being on the road. And I think they’re really going to enjoy it because the show is all about my daily existence of finding balance in my life. I absolutely love my family. I’m a very hands-on father. I’m close with my kids and we have fun together. Kristi and I love and respect each other. But in the same sentence, I also love what I do. I love being on the road and I’m passionate and I don’t’ think there’s anything wrong with that. The trouble is finding the balance of making both work.”
Will he be taking a seat at the judges table?
“I don’t know. We have a meeting in L.A. in a couple weeks and we’re going to sit down and talk. They did a poll and I think it was Madonna, P. Diddy, Howard Stern and myself, and I took 50% or 60% of the vote and that’s tremendous. I would love to be a judge on American Idol. I think I would bring a lot to the table.”
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Why he should get the job.
“I’m not built exactly like Simon Cowell, but, at the same time, I respect what he did. But I would have to bring my own personality. I think if they have someone in there to try to imitate Simon, it would be a mistake; he’s an original. Bring Bret Michaels in to be original to who and what I am. Bring someone who can bring a little grit, true grit back to the show.”
Getting support from Simon.
“I love the fact that Simon gave me great kudos. He said that I would be a great judge. What he sees in me is the fact that I have lived this career from the basement up. I’ve played pool halls with four people in them and I’ve managed to be one of the few non-casualties, financially, in the music business.”
Would he have tried out for American Idol when he was a fledgling rocker?
“Hell yeah. The great thing about today, with the Internet and American Idol, is that you get instant exposure to millions of people. Here’s the downside: it’s also easily disposable if you don’t let people find out more about your personality and who and what you are. In other words, you can get easily exposed and then easily disposed if you’re not careful. And I’m going to try to build new talent that will be around like Poison, Aerosmith, Stevie Nicks and Lynard Skynard. You can say what you want about us classic bands, but we’re still out here selling out arenas. That’s what I hope to bring to American Idol –some of those years and years of experience and true grit to the show.”
At the end of the day, it’s about making it big.
“I hope that my legacy is this: I’m a fighter, a survivor and I rocked the world. That would be it.”
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lol Over all, pretty great article.
A few notes?
1) From emergency appendectomy to the warning stroke and the discovery of a hole in his heart was just over a month – maybe 5 weeks, so “a couple of months” is overly generous time wise.
2) He’s touring with B*M*B (Bret Michaels Band) at the moment. He’ll be touring with Poison next year for their anniversary tour.
That’s pretty much it. At least you didn’t call him the Former Poison Frontman like so many others do.
Thanks! :) :)
great article on a great man bret truly is an amazing man im just happy hes still around for you to interview he would be the PERFECT judge on american idol i would start watching it agaain
Bret Michaels is a piece of crap. He has a show where he sleeps with bar maidens and strippers for three seasons and then he has a show about how much his family is important to him?! He seems to be doing anything and everything that will put him in the spotlight. Whether it’s sleeping with tramps on one show and then proclaiming his love for the mother of his children (he has never married her even though she was good enough to have children with him) and his children the next, or faking illness for sympathy and more attention Michaels is surely a piece of work. He has to be because as an entertainer he isn’t much. His bad pop songs are not desired by anyone. His relationships, his “music” (that’s an insult to music) and his sincerity are all as fake as his hair. Hey Michaels! Do everyone a favor and go away! We’ve all had enough of you!! You’re becoming the Herpes of entertainment! You won’t go away, you keep coming back and nobody wants to know or hear about you!!! You do know about Herpes I bet!
John you are an idiot. You showed how dumb you really are when insulting someone you know nothing about. Let me inform you a little. Bret hasnt married Kristi because of his career, she wants someone who can be home more than he is. They do love each other and their children. He takes his girls out on the road very often so that he can be with them. The whole rock of love thing was when he and Kristi had called it quits. Now they are giving it another shot, nothing wrong with that since they do have 2 little girls. I’m not even going to reply on the statments about faking an illness that was just stupid. Trust me Bret doesnt have to go that far to get attention, he has millions of fans that have been behind him for years. He sells out shows every night, and that has nothing to do with faking an illness or rock of love. That is because he is a awesome preformer and he treats his fans with respect and like family. If you dont like Bret then quit reading articles about him, and quit watching shows with him on it, no one is forcing you to
People who have followed Poison for years know that Bret is the real deal. He’s honest, hardworking and talented. He’d be great for idol and has proven track record on reality TV.
John’s just dumb. Clealy people want Bret around; just not you. Who cares. No one pleases everyone not even Oprah.
I notice with quasi-humor – that almost all of the people who slam Bret Michaels are insecure men. Not Peter, though :)
His doctor was a WORLD=Leading specialist – do you really think that he would jeopardize his career to lie? really?
Jealous much John??
I really feel sorry for people who seem to enjoy trashing a pop icon like Bret.
As a Poison fan from 25 years ago – I can actually say that I like Bret’s music better now. He’s not as “pretty” as he was then – but then, neither am I! HA….and he’s still rocking it pretty well for 47!
And John – for a final note – REALITY tv ISN’T REALLY reality! Get a grip.
Bret is sweet, humorous (loved Rock of Love for his side comments)talented and sexy.
Here’s to another 47 years!
And I am SO sick of people (men especially) who make comments about how little time that he spends with his children….I know a lot of single mothers who are raising their children with ZERO male input, time or money…unlike what Bret is doing. His job (that is making them live a GREAT lifestyle) takes him on the road – unlike the men who just might take care of their kids two days every two weeks – IF THAT!
What is real is that the women on “Rock Of Love” are tramps and what is also real is that Michaels did have sexual relations with them. If he really loved the mother of his children (as well as his children) he wouldn’t disrespect them by banging whores on national tv. “Jealous”? Hmmm…not of Michaels piss poor music and bad hair extensions. Perhaps one can be jealous of the fact that nothing seems to scare Michaels. If one ponders it anyone who is sane would be afraid to go on stage with that voice and those…hmmm…dare they be called “songs.” It’s probably better to call them bad attempts of getting people to listen to him caterwauling. He sells out concerts? I don’t think so. As a matter of fact it appears that his middle slot in the current Skynyrd/38 Special tour can’t even make people come hear him. At last report the arena was half full when he did his moaning on stage, but when Skynyrd hit the stage the house was packed. Even when people pay money for a concert they still won’t show up to hear something terrible even if it means getting to the concert hall a little earlier so they can relax and wait for the headliner (Skynyrd not Michaels!). Michaels is a “has been.” Anyone who defends him must share the same low moral fiber and be deaf!
Raymon Tagata