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Bret Michaels Talks New Poison LP, Def Leppard Beef and Life After “Rock of Love”

5/12/09, 5:02 pm EST

Photo: Foley/FilmMagic

Bret Michaels recently stopped his tour bus at an eyeglasses store in Springfield, Illinois. “All of a sudden, I’m not making this up, the high school and junior high school next door lets out,” he says. “I wound up signing 2,000 autographs behind the dumpster of a glasses place. Poison always had great fans, but when you’ve been on TV every day for the last three or four years it makes a much bigger level of awareness.” While Rock of Love has made Michaels more famous than ever, this summer he’s returning to his main job when Poison hit the road with Cheap Trick and Def Leppard. Here’s Bret, in his own words, on his busy life:

On the Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick tour: “It’s a shame the economy sucks, but people still need to go out and have a great night and a lot of fun. I think we’re going to give it to them at a pretty awesome price. It’s the night of a thousand hits. All of us have a good competitive spirit and the fans will be the ones that win.”

On Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott calling Poison a “shite band” last summer: “Joe may have been having a bad day, who knows? The bottom line is I like their music. Phil Collen is a good friend of mine. Joe and I e-mailed each other right after that and we straightened things out. I told Joe, ‘Look, I have enough problems fighting with my own band. I can’t take on anything else. I can’t fight everybody. I grew up loving your music and you guys are awesome.’ He wrote back, ‘I’m sorry, mate. It was a bad day for me and they asked me some off the wall questions.’ ”

On the possibility of a new Poison record: “I’d love to say yes, but I’m probably lying. I don’t know if our four heads are all in the right place to make a new album. I would love to make one, I just want it to be a pleasurable experience. My brain is too creative and I don’t want to go in there and fight with these guys at this point. I’d love to do it and if the time is right and everyone’s head is in it, that would be great. We just aren’t there now.”

On Rock of Love Bus winner Taya: “Taya is absolutely beautiful. The show should be called Rock of Dating. You don’t fall in love in a month and a half on TV. You might fall in lust, you might be hot for somebody, but love takes time and both of us have children. We’re having a great time and we’ll see what happens.”

On runner-up Mindy: “When were in the Dominican Republic she should have said what she told me at the reunion. Mindy was great, but she would often get into a funk. I’m not talking about a fake funk, but a real funk. If we were out on the road and you got into a fake funk, we wouldn’t last two days after the show was over. Two or three of these arguments, you’d be like, ‘I’m done.’ She really came around at that reunion and said everything she should have said at that reunion.”

On the possibility of Rock of Love 4: “I don’t know. I have to see where me and Taya go. We didn’t plan on a third one. You don’t finish one and then they start scheduling a show. All three were shot at all different times. It just depends if it works out. If I can withstand doing it and everyone wants to do it, then it’s definitely possible. It doesn’t suck being on a show with 25 women that can’t leave until I say so. They can’t escape. If there was to be something else, who knows what I would do. Maybe I’d be a love guru doctor and I’d give advice. Life throws me a lot of curves and I’ll see what happens.”


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Comments

StrummerJones | 5/12/2009, 5:09 pm EST

Why is this news?

Black Hole Sun | 5/12/2009, 7:58 pm EST

@ StrummerJones:
Answer: Because it’s a SLOW news day.

Aspire2Inspire | 5/12/2009, 10:04 pm EST

In other news, The Clash still matters and Poison does not.

keith | 5/12/2009, 10:56 pm EST

Joe Elliot’s comments don’t constitute a bad day, just a moment of clarity. Poison IS a “shite band”…

Brian Gallagher | 5/12/2009, 11:10 pm EST

Hey Brett, Joe was right you are in a shite band. Your “music” is a fake as your wig.

Cj | 5/12/2009, 11:58 pm EST

The Clash still mattering next to Poison aint saying much…

Peace Brother Jerome watkins | 5/13/2009, 12:06 am EST

hey that asshole Bret Michaels really milked that sick ass show, for every last nickel, he worked it good. Over 3 seasons, and 50 hot women, and none of them were good enough for this over the hill creep -unbelievable! he made himself a nice bundle from VH-1, those whores, they denegrate anyone that appears on their shows. I’m thinking of filing a lawsuit,
for putting out phoney filth on the cable airwaves, and I will sue the pants off Michaels, you all just wait and see. ‘Brutha J”, here is not plain wit ya, I’m serious man -my Uncle Freddie is a big shot lawyer, so Michaels don’t know who he is messin wit.
That’s the bottom line cause Brutha J says so, now get the hell out of here, now!

Ernesto | 5/13/2009, 1:26 am EST

Poison rocks dudes!!!!

hackonestep2 | 5/13/2009, 2:49 am EST

brother j your an idiot.

chrissy | 5/13/2009, 9:39 am EST

its a real shame, atleast he did something with his life. i grew up listening to poison, he and the band have done alot for there fans, music, and there lives. they should get the respect they deserve.

TheCoz | 5/13/2009, 10:02 am EST

Check out MxPx’s cover of “Fallen Angel”…pretty awesome.

Whalespoon | 5/13/2009, 10:08 am EST

Joe Elliot was right.

BK | 5/13/2009, 10:56 am EST

Good, The Bret Michaels Band sucked!

Jake | 5/13/2009, 12:20 pm EST

Poison’s first 2 albums were great. Same with Def Leppard. Joe calling poison shite is the pot calling the kettle black. neither have been good since their 2nd albums.

Steve | 5/13/2009, 1:01 pm EST

Any band that tours without a new album is obviously just cashing in on past glory. Van Halen did it with their latest geriatrics tour. Def Leppard sucks but at least they have the balls to release new albums even though they’re all terrible. Poison sucked from the getgo and came into the metal scene just in time to put the final nail in the coffin of metal music turning the entire metal music scene into a teased hair, make-up freakshow that grade nine girls could sing along to. I think Brett Michaels signing autographs behind a dumpster for a bunch of high school kids about sums up his carrer perfectly.

Steve | 5/13/2009, 1:18 pm EST

Brett Michaels, an aging “rock star” in his mid-40’s signing autographs for a pack of teenagers behind a dumpster sums up this mans career to a T. The metaphors are endless on this one.

Mark | 5/13/2009, 8:49 pm EST

Stop picking on Bret Michaels. How would you like to look like a shemale who got butchered by a plastic surgeon?

bret m | 5/14/2009, 2:51 am EST

hey guys give me a break thats not cool

Mr Lantto | 5/14/2009, 9:44 am EST

Brett, you’re the man. Poison is a great all American rock band. All three shows were great. I’m reading all this hate being spit. If you’re not being hated on, you’re an average joe. Keep doing your thing, you’re definetly living the dream. I’ll have to check the tour dates. Run it till the wheels fall off my friend!

Jenni | 5/15/2009, 6:38 pm EST

Bret I agree with you people need to stop their crap. It’s not cool. If they are not interested in want you have to say and are doing why do they read and watch everything that you do. I love your music. Always have and always will. I love Poison and B*M*B. Keep making music obviously people still love the music or you wouldn’t still be selling albums and selling out shows. Don’t listen to the haters. Listen to the people that matter the fans.

Betty H. | 5/17/2009, 9:46 pm EST

Brett Michaels rocks!!! He is so so so HOT!!! Anyone who talks bad about him is just jealous!! Brett you are so cool!! Don”t let that stuff bother you!! Life is to short! ROCK ON!!!!

Michele | 5/18/2009, 8:49 am EST

Reading the negative comments-Bret is just a guy, living his life and doing what he loves, and fortunate enough to make money doing it.Who cares what these people say-Keep rocking, Bret. We love ya.

Sheridan | 5/18/2009, 3:54 pm EST

Bret, if you do another show it would be nice to see you with ladies closer to your own age – if you truly want a relationship – you won’t find it with most of the 20 somethings – they’re just starting out. You do another show and we’ll be watching!

Angellus | 5/18/2009, 6:42 pm EST

Bret:

Envenenados needs a new Poison album

shelby r | 5/21/2009, 3:36 pm EST

brett is so freaken hottt and awesome all the people that make fun of him are just jeliouse he is cool and they are not keep rocken brett your the best their is!!!!!!!

shelby r | 5/21/2009, 3:39 pm EST

who cares if he wears a wig his hair probibly looks better than yours you jerk step off

shelby r | 5/21/2009, 3:46 pm EST

i really want your new book i’ve seen all your rock of loves and your movie with charlie sheen and i have three poison cds and your new solo cd you rock out loud hay-o

shelby r | 5/21/2009, 3:46 pm EST

i really want your new book i’ve seen all your rock of loves and your movie with charlie sheen and i have three poison cds and your new solo cd you rock out loud hay-o

micstic | 5/21/2009, 4:54 pm EST

ya thats sounds more like a reality show an rite on your lane for a love guru,bret micheals real advice for the hard noks of love.

micstic | 5/21/2009, 4:54 pm EST

ya thats sounds more like a reality show an rite on your lane for a love guru,bret micheals real advice for the hard noks of love.

shelbyr | 5/22/2009, 5:24 pm EST

all you fake mother #$*#$* need to back off brett and stop being jack asses fuck you fake ass bitches dissen on brett

shelbyr | 5/22/2009, 7:06 pm EST

some people just see brett as some hair metal has been but i see a awesome rocker who is sweet and some people think that he is like some of the other rockstars but he is no i’ve seen all his shows he is sweet and actually cares about wemon

Betty H. | 5/29/2009, 6:15 am EST

Hey Bret I saw you in concert the other night at The Omni in Toledo, OH and you were awesome!!! You looked smoking HOT!!! I hope that you tour again next year and I hope you come back to the Omni again next year!!! I almost got to touch your hand!! This was the best concert I have ever been to!! I was alittle afraid though because these girls beside me started fighting and I was afraid I was going to get hurt, but luckly the girl got kicked out! The only other thing that bothered me was people putting their beer bottles on the floor and I had sandles on and I was afraid that I could get cut. But I would LOVE to go back there to see you again! I traveled about 1 1/2 hours to see you and it was well worth it!! I wish I could of stayed longer, but I had to go to work in the morning. If there is a next time, I will make sure I get the next day off!! I just want to say a few things to prove I was there. Your guitar string broke and you said shit happens. A lady fainted (it was hot in there) which I was alittle dizzy too from the heat! Someone showed you her boobs and you said nice boobs It caught my eye! Someone threw her underwear and you put it on your hat!! It was just a good time and I really hope you come back!! Keep rocking!! Take care!! Also, when that lady fainted you stopped the concert to make sure she was ok!! you are such a nice caring person!! God Bless You!!!! Love, B.H.

shelbyr | 6/1/2009, 9:52 am EST

i agree with betty h brett is a really nice person i’m thirteen and i went to one of his concerts in kansas city and it was also awesome and he was also very hottttti have loved brett as long as i can remember i

debschenk | 6/4/2009, 8:22 am EST

Bret, is a good man with a heart of gold! He really does care about his fans.
debschenk

debschenk | 6/4/2009, 8:22 am EST

Bret, is a good man with a heart of gold! He really does care about his fans.
debschenk

jon macvean | 6/6/2009, 9:42 am EST

i hope rock band poison does new studio album 2010 all original new songs all new music i hope there career spanning box set comes out jon.macvean@gmail.com

poisonfan4life | 6/10/2009, 8:53 am EST

shelby…..two words for ya….SPELL CHECK!!!!!! I have been a fan of poison since their first album came out. I have seen them in concert every year they have toured for the last 10 years. I have had the opportunity to meet Bret on a few occassions during his meet n greets along with Rikki. Bret is absolutely a doll and really does love his fans but by no means do I believe he is a saint.

G | 6/14/2009, 2:50 am EST

How could I be jealous of some wasted burned up Character like Bret Michaels, which is wearing his aunt’s wig, he could look better if he lose that wig, all the horrible makeup, the fake orange tan and started making real music instead of songs like Fallen

angela | 7/5/2009, 5:31 pm EST

i saw him in concert for the third time in my life. i am so in love with bret michaels. poison still has the best music ever and i never get tired of listening to time and time again. they rock and bret michaels is still hot and sexy.

Erik | 7/7/2009, 1:38 pm EST

To all you haters… Accomplish even one great thing that Bret has done, and you will have the right to complaine. You probably have miserable lives, and no one pays any attention to you. Brutha J can shove his lawyer crap ! And i’m sure if we looked at Steve’s life we would find nothing very good to talk about either. Go get a life and find something good to talk about.

Erik | 7/7/2009, 1:45 pm EST

And, by the way, G, Bret has had the hat off alot lately both in concert and doing many things that a wig would fall off of your head, if you had a wig. And, again, go accomplish anything comparable to him, and you can call him all the names you like !! Even though i think the 2nd and 3rd Rock Of Love were a bit corny at times, there are alot worse things that people do to get famous. Either way, he’s better than you are, loser.

d | 9/28/2009, 12:58 pm EST

hi

dn | 9/28/2009, 1:05 pm EST

hi

Anonymous | 10/14/2009, 5:39 pm EST

Bret – I’ve seen BMB 3 times and you absolutley rocked each time. I waited in line for 7 hours in Hagerstown, my back hurt, my friend’s feet went numb, but we won’t settle for anything but the front row!!! I loved you in high school and never would have dreamed that 20 years down the road I would see you 3x in a year.
Keep bringing it. Please thank Big John for coming out to say hi to us – what a sweetheart.
Em.

JEPC34 | 10/28/2009, 11:32 pm EST

Poison, and Bret’s solo stuff, is awsome old fashion rock and roll!! He eats, sleeps, breaths and bleeds rock n’ roll!! He gives it to you straight… people frown upon him for doing the “Rock of Love thing…” and i can understand why, but again, the music is what he is famous for. Not the “shananagins” on a TV show. You can tell he put’s his heart and soul in every song he releases. I’ve seen Poison 4 times, and will definetly go and see them again, and again if possible.
Def Leppard was a great band, no doubt about it. Some monster hits, like Poison, BUT… let’s face it, their style of music is not nearly as big as it once was. Rock lives on and always will. I actually was peeved that i paid for Def Leppards last albums, because they lacked something. Poison, and Bret’s solo stuff, has at least 10 tracks on each that are good rock tunes. Perhaps not “LEGENDARY GREATEST OF ALL TIME songs”, but a strong rock and roll party to each of them.
Now for the particulars…

Bret’s voice, still there, still strong. Joe’s… sorry, but let’s face it! not nearly anything like he used to be. Today, if he tried to sing like that to get a record deal… NO WAY IN HELL!! Leppard will always be great, but you have to know when your time is over… and I honestly think, Def Leppard is done.

I went to one of the concerts this year… watched both of them… Poison killed them… BIG TIME!! Bret, don’t stop being who are truley are… an embodiment of rock and roll.

JEPC34 | 10/28/2009, 11:40 pm EST

One other thing… I play in a rock band, and i know one thing that I totally agree with Bret… and always will agree with him… when your fans love you, you love them right back, because your not anyone with out your fans. I’ve met Bret, and I was lucky enough to go get tattoo’d in the chair next to him, and we talked for over an hour about music, and he gave me alot of tips… but the best tip he gave me was simple…

Love what your doing, love your fans, and don’t listen to the s**t that “non-fans” say, because your not playing for them… your playing for your fans, and for you!!

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