Bret Michaels

Who Is Bret Michaels?

Bret Michaels is a renowned American singer, songwriter, and television personality best known as the lead vocalist of the glam-metal band Poison. With Poison, Michaels achieved widespread success in the 1980s and 1990s, producing hits such as “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” Beyond his music career, Michaels gained significant fame in reality television, starring in VH1’s Rock of Love (2007) and Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It (2010). He also triumphed in the 2010 season of The Celebrity Apprentice.

Early Life

Born Bret Michael Sychak on March 15, 1963, in Butler, Pennsylvania, Michaels was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of six. Throughout his career, he has managed the illness by regularly taking insulin and monitoring his blood sugar levels.

Poison

In the early 1980s, Michaels formed a band with his longtime friend, drummer Rikki Rockett. They initially performed as part of a group called Paris, which later evolved into Poison when guitarist Matt Smith was replaced by C.C. DeVille. Moving to Los Angeles, the band adopted the quintessential glam-metal look—teasing their hair, wearing heavy makeup, and donning extravagant outfits. Their style drew comparisons to contemporaneous bands like Mötley Crüe and helped define the “hair metal” genre.

Poison secured a record deal with Enigma Records, leading to the release of their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986). Michaels, alongside his bandmates, contributed to the songwriting process, and the album achieved commercial success, driven by hits like “Talk Dirty to Me.” The band’s success continued with their second album, Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988), which included the chart-topping single “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and the popular anthem “Nothin’ But a Good Time.” These tracks cemented their place in the mainstream and allowed them to transition from opening acts to headliners on major tours.

Their third album, Flesh and Blood (1990), continued their success, with hits like “Unskinny Bop” and “Something to Believe In.” However, internal conflicts within the band and external challenges started to affect their dynamics. Michaels had a highly publicized altercation with guitarist C.C. DeVille at the 1991 MTV Music Video Awards, leading to DeVille’s dismissal from the group.

Despite facing some obstacles, including changes in musical trends in the 1990s, Poison remained a significant force in rock music. Their 1993 album Native Tongue, featuring new guitarist Richie Kotzen, failed to achieve the same level of commercial success as their earlier works, although the power ballad “Stand” garnered attention. Kotzen was eventually replaced by Blues Saraceno, and Poison’s legacy as one of the defining bands of the glam-metal era remained intact.

Scandals and Setbacks

Bret Michaels faced several personal and professional setbacks throughout his career. In 1994, he was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in multiple injuries, including a broken nose, jaw, several fingers, and a few ribs. Despite this, Michaels and Poison continued working on their next album. However, after completing the project, they were disheartened to discover that their record label chose not to release it, opting instead for a greatest hits compilation. The new material was eventually released in 2000 as Crack a Smile and More.

In 1998, Poison was dropped by their record label. With the band struggling, Michaels pursued other ventures. He partnered with actor Charlie Sheen to form a production company, which led to his first lead role in the film Letter from Death Row (1998). Michaels not only starred in the film but also wrote the screenplay and composed its soundtrack. He also took on the role of co-director.

Around this time, Michaels became embroiled in a very public scandal. A sex tape featuring him and his former girlfriend Pamela Anderson was leaked to the Internet Entertainment Group. In an attempt to prevent its release, Michaels filed a lawsuit against the company, although the circumstances of how the tape was obtained remained unclear. Michaels’ lawyer at the time, Edwin F. McPherson, stated, “Pam had a copy. Bret had a copy. Bret still has his copy. That’s all I know.” After the scandal subsided, Michaels resumed touring with Poison, which saw some challenges when bassist Bobby Dall underwent emergency spinal surgery in 2001. Following his recovery, Dall rejoined the band, and Poison released Hollyweird in 2002. Although the album did not perform well on the charts, the band continued to enjoy success as a live act. In addition to his work with Poison, Michaels released two solo albums: Songs of Life (2003) and Freedom of Sound (2005).

In 2005, Michaels experienced a frightening moment when someone fired shots into his tour bus in Chicopee, Massachusetts, causing broken glass to strike him. Undeterred, Michaels issued a statement expressing his resolve: “It’s going to take more than a cowardice act like this to make me stop performing or stop my tour.”

Reality TV Star

In 2007, Michaels took his career in a new direction by starring in the reality show Rock of Love. The show featured a group of women competing for his affection through various challenges. While the show was criticized for its content and the portrayal of its contestants, who were often depicted as excessively young, frantic, or intoxicated, it gained a loyal following. Michaels’ candid commentary and willingness to incorporate his personal health struggles, including his battle with diabetes, added an element of authenticity. In the end, he selected Jes, a cosmetologist from Illinois, as the winner, although their relationship did not develop as expected.

The following year, Michaels returned for Rock of Love 2, where he again sought a woman who could embrace his rock-and-roll lifestyle. The new season featured more provocative challenges, including private peep shows and mud football. One contestant even became so intoxicated that she slept through her own elimination.

In 2020, Michaels participated in The Masked Singer as the Banana and was eliminated in episode 13.

Health Issues and Personal Life

Michaels’ career was marked by both success and significant health challenges. In 2009, he sustained an injury to his head during a performance at the Tony Awards, which was later believed to have contributed to a brain hemorrhage in 2010. That same year, he underwent an emergency appendectomy. In May 2014, Michaels had to leave a performance mid-show due to low blood sugar. Later that year, he underwent kidney surgery and faced additional health complications, requiring multiple hospital visits. Despite these setbacks, Michaels remained determined to continue performing, and updates about his condition were shared through his guitarist Pete Evick on Michaels’ social media pages.

Michaels is a father of two daughters, Raine and Jorja, from his relationship with former girlfriend Kristi Gibson.