Poison Frontman drinks the Kool-Aid of Success

Being a porn star was something Bret Michaels never set out to become. The multi-talented Poison front man had visions of becoming an actor but in the traditional sense. So when a homemade film of him having sex with his girlfriend at the time -- Pamela Anderson -- circulated around the Internet, Michaels sued to stop its distribution and won, setting a legal precedence that has helped other celebrities who have had personal property stolen and then marketed. (While the Tommy Lee/Pam Anderson film might be the most famous, the Michaels’ film was the first.)
“Look, it was a long time ago and I made that film for us at the time,” said Michaels. “If I wanted to make money off it I would have sold the film rights to it long before someone took it from me and released it.”
Michaels, who will bring his solo show featuring music from the Poison songbook as well as tunes from his recent solo projects to Streeter’s Ground Zero Nightclub on Friday, July 29, doesn’t need to make money marketing his sex tape with Pamela Anderson. He has made plenty of cash from being one of the shrewdest businessmen to come out of the metal circuit.
Not only did Michaels retain publishing rights to the Poison tunes that helped the band create 15 top-40 songs with several gold and two multi-platinum albums worth 30 million album sales, he has also written numerous successful tunes for other artists. One is the hit song “Love’s A Hard Game To Play,” sung by Stevie Nicks. Michaels also produced the song, which helped Nicks’ album, “Timespace,” reach platinum status. 

HERE COMES THE JUDGE
Back to the acting career, Michaels has enjoyed some success in the film industry. He has made several appearances on television shows (currently he is a judge on USA Network’s “Nashville Star” talent search series) and has co-hosted “Access Hollywood” on several occasions.
In the mid-’90s he formed a film production company with actor Charlie Sheen. They released a few movies including “A Letter From Death Row,” in 1998 (Michaels had a hit song of the same name) in which he directed and co-starred alongside Martin Sheen.
In 2000 he directed both Martin and Charlie Sheen in the film “No Code of Conduct.”
Michaels is unwilling to comment on his friend who in recent years has had legal and marital troubles and seems to be haunted by drug demons.
“Charlie is my friend. We met because he was a fan of the band and was inspired by the song ‘Something to Believe In.’ It turned out we lived by each other and we started to hang out and then we created the film company. He is a great friend and I want to leave it at that.”

NEW ALBUM
While the film career and production company are on hiatus, Michaels’ musical career is not. His current album (just released a week ago) “Freedom of Sound” has country crossover appeal with songs like “All I Never Needed Is You,” and “New Breed of American Cowboy,” both expected to climb the country charts.
While Michaels’ early influences included Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and KISS, he was also a big fan of southern rock and country music. He saw the success Kid Rock had crossing over into the country scene and decided to join in. Kid Rock has publicly stated that Michaels has been a big influence on him -- it turns out the admiration is mutual.
“I am a big fan of Kid Rock’s and his stuff is often in my CD player,” said Michaels. “I like Uncle Kracker too. In fact I sing backing vocals on the song “When The Sun Goes Down,” that Kracker and Kenny Chesney had a hit with.”
Speaking of hits, Michaels and his bandmates Poison had several of their own, including the power love ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Nothin’ But A Good Time,” and a cover of Loggins’ and Messina’s “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”
Poison and Michaels got their start in 1984 in Pennsylvania and moved to LA in hopes of signing a record deal. Their guitar player at the time had a wife and child and was concerned over the future of the band, so he quit and returned home. Needing a guitar player, they auditioned several, including one player who later went on to his own fame.
“Yes, Slash did audition for us and he was great. He was one of three finalists but we didn’t sense the chemistry with him,” said Michaels. “We decided on C.C. DeVille. Even though I really didn’t like him we sensed he would bring something to the band.”

FISTFIGHT
DeVille did, but “chemistry” got in the way. After the release of their third album “Flesh & Blood” in 1990, featuring the hits “Unskinny Bop,” “Ride the Wind” and the ballad “Something To Believe In,” Poison was at the top of the industry. By 1991 they were headlining and selling out major arenas around the world. DeVille’s cocaine and alcohol habits were becoming a distraction and after a mediocre performance at the 1991 MTV Music Awards, DeVille and Michaels got in a much-publicized fistfight leading to DeVille’s firing.
Pennsylvanian guitar prodigy Richie Kotzen replaced DeVille but was quickly fired when the band caught him having an affair with drummer Rikki Rockett’s fiancée. Then a serious near-death car crash by Michaels put the band on hold during the mid-’90s.
By 1999 DeVille and Michaels patched up their differences and the original band reformed and began touring again. Much to their delight they picked up where they left off. Their first concert back as the original line-up was to a sold out crowd of 18,000 at Pine Knob outside of Detroit.
So what’s up with Poison today?
“We are still a band, just taking a year off so that we can all work on our solo projects,” said Michaels. “We will be back touring in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our first album ‘Look What the Cat Dragged In,’ that had our first hit ‘Talk Dirty to Me.’ We are definitely touring and maybe a new album will be in the works.”
Industry insiders are already speculating that the 2006 Poison tour will be one of the hottest of the year. In the meantime Michaels is enjoying his solo tour and giving fans a taste of everything. Previous shows have been selling out with Michaels pleasing the crowds with all the Poison hits, plus songs from his current solo projects.
At 42 Michaels attributes a couple of factors to maintaining his youthful good looks and his ability to rock and roll as if he was still 22.
“I am a life-long diabetic so I have had to watch my diet and stay in shape. I have a three-year-old daughter and having kids helps keep you young,” said Michaels. “Now don’t get me wrong, I still love to party and have a good time, so don’t anyone out there think that I am going soft in my old age.”
To catch the energetic Brett Michaels at Streeters’ Ground Zero Nightclub, buy tickets in advance online at www.streetersonline.com or by calling the box office at (231) 932-1300. Tickets are going quickly and Detroit CRap rockers Jo Caine and 75 North open the ages 18 and up show.
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