Bret Michaels Talks Health Scares and Tax Day Fun
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John Paul Filo/CBS(LOS ANGELES) — Bret Michaels is beloved by his fans and it’s in no way a one-sided relationship.
So, when the rock legend, 52, revealed this past November that he had been hospitalized six times in two weeks, he gave his millions of adoring fans quite a scare. But the fact was that part of the reason he was in the hospital and needed surgery was his devotion to them and his music.
Michaels had two stents put in his body late last year and decided he felt good enough to take the stage the very next day because he didn’t want to cancel any shows.
“I have said grace of God, good medical attention, a true grit attitude, and good family and great fans have gotten me through a lot of stuff,” he told ABC News. “I feel blessed to be on the good side of the dirt! Forget about just being diabetic, but the brain hemorrhage, then heart surgery and last year, the kidney thing.”
Michaels admits he doesn’t take lightly that he knew he had a foot-long stent in his kidney and that last year, there’s no way he should have played the concert just hours after his operation. But the “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” legend said he chose to give it a try.
“It did not pan out great,” he candidly said of his multiple times to the hospital, eventually having to stay off his feet and away from the stage. “I’ve learned…I’m not going to do that again. I’m not in any way trying to make light of it…but sometimes my passion is my blessing and my curse.”
But Michaels, who just came out with a new summer song “Girls on Bars,” was diagnosed and has been dealing with Type 1 diabetes since he was just 6 years old and said he uses this affliction as “a blessing rather than a curse.”
“I feel good and you will never see me loathing around in self pity,” he said. “That’s just not who I am.”
Michaels wishes he could say he’s “calmed down” a bit since last year’s scare, but he’s just so passionate about music and the fans.
“I have no death wish, I have a life wish,” he stressed. “But I’m learning as I go and just give it a little more time is what I’m learning. The day after an operation on your kidney, don’t go play a concert.”
He continued, “Three generations at this point of my career of great fans and I’m thankful.”
Michaels spoke to ABC News as part of his collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe for “Sing For Your Supper,” where guests get a free burger if they get up on stage and sing at the resorts around the country on Tax Day, which is Wednesday. Michaels will actually perform and sing for his burger, as well, at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, California.
“Last year I had a chance to do this in New York and we had such a great time. This is just about a lot of fun with really good food,” he said. “Tax day is a roll of the dice for everybody!”
This event just extends the rocker’s affiliation with the Hard Rock, especially when it comes to important causes.
“Another one is Pink October with them and My Life Rocks Foundation…I’ve done it for five years in a row and we raise a boat load of money for breast cancer,” he said. “The people [at Hard Rock], they are just good people, they give a lot to charity.”
Expect Michaels to sing his classic “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “we’re just going to have a great time.”
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