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. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode 12, the grand finale:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Two Sentences: The battle of the Penthouse Pet vs. the Girl Next Door came to an end as Bret Michaels flew his two final women — Taya and Mindy — on a “private jet” to the “Dominican Republic” (his quotation marks for some unknown reason, not ours) for two final dates and one big decision. Bret tangoed with a mostly mute Mindy and Ziplined with a suddenly demure Taya (yes, he shouted “Hey-oh!” as he plunged through the jungle) and the girls got fitted for engagement rings … (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference Showgirls in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode 11:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: The final three girls hit Miami with Bret — sporting braids thanks to his Spring Break trip to Cancun, we presume — who reveals, “If there’s one thing I love, it’s Carnival” and dresses everyone up in skimpy Mardi Gras outfits. This puts Mindy in a funk, which becomes the theme of the episode: girls in crappy moods. During helicopter and swamp-boat-gatoring dates, Michaels pumps the ladies for info about Taya’s mental stability, and after an awkward dinner where nobody speaks, he throws the gauntlet. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode 10:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Five Sentences: Bret Michaels invites the girls to “make sweet music” with him at an Orlando studio, so the four finalists write lyrics to one of his songs (that sounds suspiciously like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” — just kidding … kind of) and perform them, too. As a bonus, an old issue of Rolling Stone is seen laying on the bed while Jamie crafts her song (thanks, ROL!). Taya, who says she’s been singing with her father for years, wins the challenge while poor tone-deaf Mindy flails. Beverly and Taya join Bret for a gig, then he dons a chef’s jacket and cooks everyone eggs. It’s nice to know the rock & roll lifestyle is alive and well. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode nine:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: As we mercifully draw closer to the conclusion of this dreadful, joyless season of Rock of Love, Bret Michaels brings in the girls’ ex-boyfriends and two interrogators — our beloved Heather from ROL season one, and season two “winner” Ambre. After some contentious questioning (Brittanya spits at Heather, and Ashley has to admit she still lives with her muscle-bound tattooed ex, James), the pair decide their favorite is Mindy. So where’s this American Idol twist you may be asking … (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode eight:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: In Spring Break capital of the world, Panama City, Florida, Bret puts his ladies to the test hosting a kids pool party while he watches on a very rock & roll “nanny cam.” The winner: Ashley (”I might dance on the weekend, but Monday through Friday I am a stay-at-home mom”) rides ATVs with Bret, but the date turns sour when Michaels talks smack about her BFF Farrah. Hint: this is what we in the literary world would call foreshadowing.

Hey-Oh!: For the first time this season, Bret referenced his favorite song — his own “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”! (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to say “speed bump” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode seven:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: After another week off (this time it was the Oscars), Bret’s girls head to Alabama to compete in the Truck Stop Games. Events include a beer-belly flop, a stripper-pole showdown and some sort of hotdog hand-off (not as dirty as it sounds). When the truckers judging the contest make a slightly unfair, boob-related ruling in favor of the Green Team, Bret takes the runners-up onto his bus for some special alone time that gets so icky thanks to Ashley, new recruit Kami splits the next morning. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to say “smoking hot” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode six:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Four Sentences: Bret’s tour lurches to Nashville, and rather than celebrate the city’s rich musical history, Michaels has his remaining 10 girls visit a giant slimy field for the tackle-football extravaganza known as Mud Bowl 3. Mindy the MVP joins Michaels for a show in Texas where she gets to eat a giant corn dog (seriously, that’s not a double entendre; check minute 31). Unfortunately for the rest of the winning Sweethearts team, Bret receives word that a friend has died in Iraq moments before his group date. And … buzz kill. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to say “smoking hot” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode five:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Five Sentences: First of all, Rock of Love went on hiatus the week of the Super Bowl but aired Sunday night against the Grammys!? So much for honoring rock & roll, Bret. While the music industry celebrates its biggest night, Michaels brings his girls to a strip club in Missouri (since the women didn’t know where that is, chances are they missed his “Meet Me in St. Louis” reference) for a makeover challenge. But wait, there’s a catch! The three “frumpy” gals wind up joining the tour because Brets’ original crew are neither smoking, hot or hotties. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to say “poop” in our recaps (it’s surprisingly easy). Here’s our take on episode four:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: Is Bret Michaels trying to find “love” or is this show an elaborate plot to knock off women in vinyl underwear? This week Maria exits via ambulance and Taya takes a spill off the stage during the Roadie Challenge that looks damn near deadly. But the real kicker is that all the real dirty drama goes down at Michaels’ gig’s afterparty … that Bret is too pooped to attend — so much for being a real rock & roller! (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to say “hair extensions” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode three:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: The 12 remaining “ladies” hit an ice rink in Champaign, Illinois, for “Baby Hockey,” where good ol’ Lacey tries to prevent them from slapping a Baby Bret doll into the goal. Despite a possible popped breast implant (pity the paramedic), the pink team scores a strip-club date with Bret where everyone hops onstage but Beverly (decked out in camo cargo pants), who admits she’s hesitant to humiliate herself on TV because she has three kids. Bret deems her “a buzzkill”; we’d call her “a rational human.” (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode two:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: Bret Michaels’ tour pulls into Indianapolis, where he tests the girls’ devotion by forcing them to write vows for a mock wedding where the brides wear, well, nothing, and groom Bret sports one of those T-shirts with a tux printed on the front (classy!). Taya, Farrah and Brittanya win a hayride date with Bret, which rankles the increasingly psychotic Brittaney (he wasn’t swayed by her mushy five-page vow). And just before elimination, Melissa articulates the words we’re all thinking: “It is hard to kiss you after all those yucky girls kissed you.” (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode one:

Ninety Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: In the most clever move recorded in reality television, Bret Michaels figures out how to combine his day job with his side hustle, taking 20 women on the road to vie for his attention while his band continues to tour the States — yes, Rock of Love has gone mobile! In episode one, Michaels does his usual bit: snaps photos of the ladies, then watches them drink and fight. Though one of his delicate flowers takes a test-tube shot where no test-tube shot has ever gone before. … (more…)

With “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” playing in the background, Poison’s Bret Michaels picked Jes to be his so-called “rock-star girlfriend” on the final episode of Rock of Love. Click above to check out Rock Daily’s interview with Michaels, where he admits his true feelings about the girls on the show and reveals what went on behind the scenes, and keep reading for our final Rock Reality Show Recap of the series:

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our Rock Reality Show Recaps. Here’s our take on the finale episode: (more…)

Sunday night Poison frontman Bret Michaels’ quest for a worthy romantic partner will come to an end with the final episode of Rock of Love. Since Rock Daily has been closely following every catfight, projectile vomiting attack and rendition of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” on the show each week, we were more than pleased to sit down with Michaels to grab a little dirt from behind the scenes. Come back Sunday night after the last episode airs for our full interview (where Bret reveals details from the reunion show and scenes you didn’t see), but for now, enjoy Michaels admitting what really happened with Heather and his true feelings about Lacey — plus check out a shocking tease as to who he ultimately picked to rock his world.

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• Rock Reality Show Recap: Bret Michaels’ Poison Superfans Sniff Out Phonies on “Rock of Love”