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'''Bret Michaels''' (born '''Bret Michael Sychak''', March 15, 1963) is an [[People of the United States|American]] singer, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and [[reality television]] personality. He first gained fame as the lead [[vocalist]] of the [[glam metal]] band [[Poison (band)|Poison]]. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single. He appeared in the [[VH1]] reality show ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels]]'' and its sequels, and as a judge on the talent show ''[[Nashville Star]]''. He was the winning contestant on NBC's reality show ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 9)|Celebrity Apprentice 3]]''.
'''Bret Michaels''' (born '''Bret Michael Sychak''', March 15, 1963) is an [[People of the United States|American]] singer, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and [[reality television]] personality. He first gained fame as the lead [[vocalist]] of the [[glam metal]] band [[Poison (band)|Poison]]. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single. He appeared in the [[VH1]] reality show ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels]]'' and its sequels, and as a judge on the talent show ''[[Nashville Star]]''. He was the winning contestant on NBC's reality show ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 9)|Celebrity Apprentice 3]]''.


==Early life==
==Early life==

Revision as of 23:58, 4 August 2010

Not to be confused with Brett Mycles.

Template:Pp-pending

Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels (born Bret Michael Sychak, March 15, 1963) is an American singer, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and reality television personality. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Poison. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single. He appeared in the VH1 reality show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels and its sequels, and as a judge on the talent show Nashville Star. He was the winning contestant on NBC's reality show Celebrity Apprentice 3.

Early life

Michaels was born Bret Michael Sychak, to Wally and Marjorie Sychak, in Butler, Pennsylvania.[1] He has two sisters, Michelle and Nicole.[2] At the age of six he fell ill, and during a three-week stay in the hospital, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.[3]

Music career

Michaels began playing the guitar as a teenager. With drummer Rikki Rockett, bass player Bobby Dall and guitarist Matt Smith, he formed the band Paris, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1983. After playing the Pennsylvania bar circuit, in early 1984 they moved to Los Angeles to seek fame on the Sunset Boulevard scene, eventually changing their name to Poison.[3] That same year he met 16-year-old Tracy Lewis, who would become both his girlfriend, and the muse for one of his most memorable songs. Eventually Matt Smith tired of the band's struggle to find fame, and returned home. He was replaced with C.C. DeVille, who would become both Michaels' friend and a source of conflict.[3]

1980s – 1990s

Local publicity about the band eventually led to a record deal with Enigma Records, and their first album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. It did not see great success until 1987, when Michaels convinced the band to film a video for their song, "Talk Dirty to Me." The album went platinum, and the band became famous.[citation needed] In March of that year, however, Michaels collapsed onstage due to his diabetes. Responding to rumors that he was a drug addict, he announced publicly that he was a diabetic.[3]

1987 also saw the dissolution of his relationship with Lewis, who felt that fame had changed him. Though Michaels contends that Lewis was unfaithful to him, Lewis (now Lewis Crosby) insists that it was Michaels who was unfaithful. Michaels was inspired by the breakup to write "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", explaining that the rose represented his fame and success, whereas the loss of his relationship represented the thorn. The song was released as a power ballad single in December 1988, and is regarded as "the ultimate 80s anthem about heartbreak."[3] The song is also cited as a contributing factor to the eventual end of Michaels' friendship with DeVille, who disliked the song.[4] It is also cited by singer Dee Snider as a contributing cause of the end of the glam rock scene.[5]

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s Poison became one of the biggest glam metal bands in the world, recording their second album, the multi-platinum selling Open Up and Say...Ahh!, and their third album, the multi-platinum selling Flesh & Blood. However, their lives were characterized by the escalating tension between Michaels and DeVille that derived from their mutual drug use, which came to a head during their 1990/91 "Flesh and Blood" world tour. Also cited is the spectacle of DeVille's behavior during the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. After getting into a fistfight with Michaels, DeVille left the band, and descended further into addiction. Poison went on with new guitarist Richie Kotzen recording the album Native Tongue and then with guitarist Blues Saraceno recording the album Crack a Smile... and More!. In the mid 1990s, after a night of partying, Michaels came close to dying when he crashed his Ferrari into a telephone pole. He incurred serious injury, including broken ribs, a disfigured nose and lost teeth.[3] In 1999, reunited with original guitarist C.C. Deville, Poison went on a successful greatest hits reunion tour. In the next decade Bret Michaels would split his time between Poison and a successful solo career.

2000s

Michaels recorded his first solo album in 1998 A Letter from Death Row, the soundtrack to the same-titled movie he directed, wrote, and starred in. In 2003, he released the studio album Songs of Life which featured the singles "Raine" and "Bittersweet". Michaels also served as a judge during the 2005 season of reality television singing competition Nashville Star and released a country rock album in the same year called Freedom of Sound which featured the singles "Right Now, Right Here", "Open Road" and the hit single "All I Ever Needed" (featuring Jessica Andrews). Michaels released a best of album called Rock My World in June 2008 which featured music from his reality television series Rock of Love including the new singles "Go That Far" (Rock of Love theme), "Fallen" and "Start Again", the first 2 also featuring music videos with clips from the series and the album charted at #40 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the Independent Albums.[6] In December 2008, Michaels released a single version of "Driven" (rock mix) which also featured a music video with preview clips for Rock of Love Bus and he also re released the "Fallen" single with acoustic, piano and demo versions included.[7]

Michaels released a 30-minute DVD from (Time Life) in 2008 called Hard & Heavy Confidential featuring Bret Michaels which included acoustic versions of "All I Ever Needed", "Driven", "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Something to Believe In", it also included in depth interviews.[8] The DVD was included in the Hard & Heavy cd/dvd collection from (Time Life) advertised on TV by Bret Michaels. The same 4 acoustic performances were also released on CD which was titled "Bret Michaels Acoustic Sessions."[9]

In March 2010, Michaels released a new single called "Nothing to Lose" from his upcoming new studio album, Custom Built, which was released on July 6, 2010. The song featured the guest vocals of Miley Cyrus.[10] In April 2010, he released the second single "Lie to Me" and in May 2010 released the third single, "Wasted Time". Michaels also performed a duet with Miley Cyrus of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" on the June 18, 2010 episode Good Morning America.[11] He also previously sang a duet on the American Idol season 9 finale on May 26.

On July 6, 2010 Michaels released his new album Custom Built, which along with its three singles, includes the song "Riding Against the Wind", which is the theme song for his new reality TV series Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It.

Rock of Love

Michaels starred in the reality television dating competition series Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, the first season of which premiered in July 2007.[12][13] Jes Rickleff was the winner of Season One. However, she announced during the October 2007 reunion show that she and Michaels were not right for each other and told runner-up Heather he was all hers and that he should have chosen Heather. The first season was released on DVD in early 2008.

The show's second season premiered on January 13, 2008. On April 13, 2008, Michaels selected Ambre Lake as his "Rock of Love". After the show the two maintained a relationship, but parted ways after just a few months due to personal commitments, they remain good friends.[14]

A third season, Rock of Love Bus, premiered on January 4, 2009. which was a series high for VH1,[15] Michaels chose Penthouse Pet Taya Parker as the winner. When asked about a fourth season of Rock of Love, Michaels said "Now they want me to come back for a fourth 'Rock of Love.' I feel that it should be something that changes up, but I still want that fun element. What you see is what you get with me."[16]

Other television and film appearances

File:Gh3 bret.jpg
Bret Michaels singing "Talk Dirty to Me" in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

Michaels and actor Charlie Sheen established a film production company, Sheen/Michaels Entertainment, which produced the movie A Letter from Death Row (1998), which Michaels wrote, directed and starred in, and for which he released a soundtrack album. They also produced No Code of Conduct that same year, which Michaels also directed and acted in. Their company also produced the feature film Free Money, starring Marlon Brando and Mira Sorvino, and the surfer movie In God's Hands in which Michaels also had a small acting role.

Michaels appeared in the CBS sitcom Yes, Dear, Season 1, Episode 6, titled Greg's Big Day, first aired 6 November 2000. He also appeared as himself in three episodes of The Chris Isaak Show from 2001 to 2004.

On May 1, 2008, Michaels appeared on a special celebrity edition of Don't Forget the Lyrics!, on which he raised $200,000 to donate to charity.[17]

In 2010, Michaels was the winning contestant on the NBC reality television series Celebrity Apprentice 3 on NBC.[18]

Michaels stars in a series named Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It, which depicts his life at home with his daughters and their mother.[19] Filming of the series began before Michaels' health troubles, and filming was suspended after his hospitalization.[19] VH1 is airing a preview of the series on May 31, 2010, and the series will air in fall 2010.[20]

In other media

Michaels was portrayed in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, which features him singing "Go That Far", and Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me".

Charity work

Michaels and his band visited troops at Al Asad Air Base on October 6, 2007, while on a tour of U.S. bases in Iraq in support of Armed Forces Entertainment.[21]

He earned $390,000 for the American Diabetes Association for competing and ultimately winning the Celebrity Apprentice 3.

Personal life

Brett Michaels was involved with Pamela Anderson. An abridged version of an explicit sex tape the couple made appeared on the Internet in 1998[3][22] and was released on DVD on September 7, 2005, by Metro Studios.

Michaels has two daughters with Kristi Lynn Gibson. Raine Elizabeth Sychak was born in May 2000,[3] and Jorja Bleu Sychak was born in May 2005. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.[23] Michaels' fear that Raine was "borderline diabetic" was a recurring element during Michaels' tenure on The Celebrity Apprentice 3, on which he appeared to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. Raine herself appeared on the season finale of that program on May 23, 2010, when her father won that season.[24]

Michaels is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.[25] He has a personalized guitar bearing the Steelers' logo, and played the national anthem at Three Rivers Stadium.[26] His favorite player was Jack Lambert, and Michaels has been a member of fan club "Lambert's Lunatics."[27]

On April 12, 2010, Michaels was rushed to the hospital after suffering intense stomach pains, and an emergency appendectomy was performed.[28] On April 21[29] or April 22, 2010,[30][31] (sources differ), Michaels was again rushed to the hospital, this time with an "excruciating" headache. Doctors discovered that he had suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was in critical condition,[32][33] and while some reports suggested that his condition had stabilized,[34] others later stated that this was premature.[35] On April 28, Michael's representatives reported that he was conscious and speaking, albeit slowly, for the first time since he was hospitalized.[36]

In a news conference on May 5, 2010, Dr. Joseph Zabramski said Michaels has been released from the hospital and that "He's just one of those lucky people" and that "he'll make a complete recovery".[37]

Since being released from the hospital Michaels has stated that he is contemplating marriage with the mother of his two children with whom he has recently reconciled.[38] In a May 5, 2010, interview he stated:

As painful as this experience has been, I was given a second chance, right? I don't want to sit around every night worrying this is going to happen again. What I want to do is make a positive bucket list and say, 'I'm just gonna go for it.' There's just so much more I want to do and experience.
[Getting married], for sure, is something I have never done. Kristi's such a great person. We'll see if that happens. But yes, that may be one of the big things on the list. My first goal is to get back (to) 100 per cent. I want to continue to rock the world, and I want to continue to love my family and be a good father.[39]

On May 20, 2010, it was reported on his official website[40] that Michaels has been "readmitted to the hospital this week after suffering numbness on the left side of his body". While conducting diagnostic tests it was found that Michaels has a "patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart."[40] It was further reported that his condition is "operable and treatable" and his doctors believe they "have diagnosed the problem that caused the transient ischemic attack (TIA) or warning stroke", but that they "feel it is highly unlikely this is connected to the brain hemorrhage he suffered just a few weeks earlier".[40]

On July 21, 2010, the DeKalb County, Indiana Sheriff's Department discovered marijuana and other unspecified drugs in Michaels's two tour buses after drug sniffing dogs supposedly alerted to the odor of narcotics. Bret Michaels consented to an open search of the buses.[41] Michaels' rep said in a statement to Billboard.com, "Officers on the scene claimed there were no trailer tag lights. No arrests were made. Mr. Michaels allowed an open search of the buses and everything was handled in a professional manner." [42]

Discography

For a discography as a member of Poison, see Poison discography.

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US Rock US Indie US Hard Rock CAN
2003 Songs of Life
  • Release date: April 22, 2003
  • Label: Poor Boy Records
 — — — — —
2005 Freedom of Sound
  • Release date: January 1, 2005
  • Label: Poor Boy Records
 — — — — —
2010 Custom Built
  • Release date: July 6, 2010
  • Label: Poor Boy Records
 14 4 1 1 44
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

Year Album details Peak chart
positions
US US Rock US Indie US Hard Rock
2001 Ballads, Blues & Stories
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: Poor Boy Records
 — — — —
2008 Rock My World 40 16 4 4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Soundtrack albums

Year Album details
1998 A Letter from Death Row
  • Release date: August 25, 1998
  • Label: Ugl Records

Extended plays

Year Album details
2000 Country Demos
  • Release date: 2000
  • Label:
2008 Bret Michaels: Acoustic Sessions
  • Release date: 2008
  • Label: Time/Life Music

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country Rock Digital Songs
1998 "Party Rock Band" (with C.C. DeVille) — — A Letter from Death Row
2003 "Raine" — — Songs of Life
"Bittersweet" — —
2004 "All I Ever Needed" (with Jessica Andrews) 45 — Freedom of Sound
"Right Now, Right Here" — —
2005 "Open Road" — —
2007 "Go That Far" (Rock of Love theme) — — Rock My World
"Fallen" — —
2008 "Start Again" — —
"Driven" (rock mix) — —
2010 "Nothing to Lose" (with Miley Cyrus) — 32[43] Custom Built
"Lie to Me" — —
"Wasted Time" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Filmography

Template:Filmography table begin |- | 1994 || Burke's Law || 1 episode |- | 1994 || In God's Hands || |- | 1998 || A Letter from Death Row || |- | 1998 || The World's Greatest Magic 5 || |- | 1998 || No Code of Conduct || |- | 1999 || Martial Law||1 Episode |- | 1999 || Poison: VH1 Behind the Music|| |- | 2003 || Yes, Dear|| TV Series |- | 2005 || Nashville Star|| TV Series, Season 3 |- | 2007 || Rock of Love with Bret Michaels || TV Series (season one) |- | 2008 || Rock of Love 2 || TV Series (season two) |- | 2008 || Don't Forget The Lyrics || Fox TV |- | 2008 || Ellen-Fox Shows || February 14, 2008 |- | 2008 || Saturday Night Live|| |- | 2009 || Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels|| TV Series (Season 3) |- | 2008 || VH1's "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" || Host (5-part special; December 2008 - January 2009) |- | 2009 || E True Hollywood Story: Bret Michaels|| |- | 2009 || The Penguins of Madagascar|| Singing "Wheels of Thunder" in Little Zoo Coupe |- | 2009 || Behind the Music: Bret Michaels || |- | 2009 ||American Pie Presents: The Book of Love || as himself |- | 2010 || Celebrity Apprentice 3 || as himself |-

| 2010 || Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It || as himself Template:Filmography table end

References

  1. ^ a b "Bret Michaels". Biography.com. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  2. ^ "TV Guide biography".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Behind the Music VH1; September 28, 2009
  4. ^ Flenderson, Eustace: Sex, Drugs & Rock'n'Roll ... & Sex & Drugs Some More: The Poison Story, Harper-Collins, New York, page 312, ISBN 4329212492
  5. ^ Ribbert, Anthony John (2001). Twisted Sister:The Completed Uncensored Story. Omnibus Publishing. pg. 365. ISBN1342523432
  6. ^ "The Billboard 200 and Top Independent Albums chart". AllMusic.com. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  7. ^ "2008 digital singles". BretMichaels.com.
  8. ^ "Time Life Video: Hard & Heavy confidential featuring Bret Michaels". TimeLife.com.
  9. ^ "Bret Michaels Acoustic Sessions: Music Review". RollingStone.com.
  10. ^ "Nothin' To Lose Songfacts".
  11. ^ Herrera, Monica. "Miley Cyrus and Bret Michaels Duet on 'Good Morning America'" Billboard; June 18, 2020
  12. ^ "StarPulse.com News".
  13. ^ "VH1 Rock of Love". RealityBlurred.com. December 6, 2006.
  14. ^ "Bret Michaels & Ambre Lake".
  15. ^ Hibberd, James (15 April 2009). "Brighter Mon. at NBC". The Hollywood Reporter. 409: 10. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Bret Michaels: Poison frontman talks music, 'Rock of Love' and new book". Coloradodaily.com.
  17. ^ "Poison". TheGauntlet.com News.
  18. ^ Stelter, Brian (May 24, 2010). "Bret Michaels Wins 'Apprentice' After Illness". The New York Times.
  19. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (May 18, 2010). "Bret Michaels Reveals Offstage World in VH1's 'Life As I Know It'". The Rolling Stone.
  20. ^ "Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It - Coming Soon To VH1". VH1. May 17, 2010.
  21. ^ Sewell, Matthew (25 October 2007). "Bret Michaels hails troops at Al Asad Air Base". dcMilitary.com. Comprint Military Publications. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  22. ^ "Celebrity sex tapes". WCBS-TV. CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
  23. ^ "Bret Michaels says hemorrhage felt like gunshot". Yahoo! News. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  24. ^ The Celebrity Apprentice 3]; NBC; May 23, 2010
  25. ^ "Bret Michaels". Bretmichaels.com. It was also said that Bret could be considered the front man for the Steelers for his devotion and love for the team.
  26. ^ "Bret Michaels". Bret was asked to sing the national anthem at one of the last Steelers games held at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium before it was demolished
  27. ^ Linda von Wartburg (September 22, 2008). "Bret Michaels, Diabetic Lead Singer of". Diabetes Health. When Bret was a kid, his most influential role model was a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker by the name of Jack Lambert. Says Bret, "He was one of these people that just had this ferocious go-for-it attitude. And that's the attitude that helped to develop my thinking. When they would be losing games, you could just see him come on the field and motivate that team to win. Finding a way. You're not going to win every game, you're not going to have a platinum record every time you put a song out, but it's the going for it that is really the pot of gold. As I've gone along, as I've experienced life, I've learned that it's the going after it that's the really awesome thing.
  28. ^ "Former Poison rocker released from San Antonio hospital". San Antonio Business Journal. April 14, 2010.
  29. ^ Shenfeld, Hilary. "Bret Michaels Prayed to God He'd Survive", People.com, May 19, 2010
  30. ^ "Bret Michaels in ICU with Brain Hemorrhage". Star Magazine. April 23, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  31. ^ Toff, Benjamin."Arts, Briefly: While Contestant Ails, 'Apprentice' Thrives", The New York Times, April 26, 2010
  32. ^ Cruz, Anne Marie (23 April 2010). "Bret Michaels Rushed to ICU with Brain Hemorrhage". People. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  33. ^ Goodman, Dean (23 April 2010). "Rocker Bret Michaels Has Brain Hemorrhage: Report". Reuters via The New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) (dead link)
  34. ^ "Bret Michaels - Stabilized". TMZ.com. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
  35. ^ "Bret Michaels still in critical condition, according to his official website". EW.com. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
  36. ^ "Bret Michaels conscious and speaking". people.com. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
  37. ^ Gaynor, Tim (2010-05-04). "Bret Michaels expected to recover fully". Reuters. MSNBC.com. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  38. ^ Everett, Cristina (May 6, 2010). "Bret Michaels considers marrying girlfriend Kristi Gibson after surviving near-death experience". Daily News. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  39. ^ "Bret Michaels considers marriage". Jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  40. ^ a b c http://www.bretmichaels.com/2010/news_files/news.shtml
  41. ^ "Tour Bus of Bret Michaels, Pot Discovery by Drug Sniffing Dogs". National Ledger. July 23, 2010. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
  42. ^ http://www.billboard.com/news/bret-michaels-busted-for-marijuana-on-tour-1004105999.story#/news/bret-michaels-busted-for-marijuana-on-tour-1004105999.story
  43. ^ "Chart Beat Bret Michaels". 2010. Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links

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