Posted By: Metal Sludge
OCEAN CITY — Bret Michaels and his Poison bandmates just wrapped up the Rock of Ages summer tour with Def Leppard and Lita Ford, which was named after the successful Tom Cruise movie of the same name.
Now Michaels is back on the road as a solo artist in support of a new album called “Get Your Rock On.”
Michaels’ tour will include a performance with his backing band at Sunfest at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets to his postponed Sunfest 2011 concert will be honored. He will also play an acoustic show at the Moodswing nightclub in Wilmington on Tuesday.
While he gained a whole new generation of fans with his reality show “Rock of Love” and his turn on “Celebrity Apprentice,” Michaels is letting the music do the talking again at the moment. He answered a few questions about his Delmarva ties, the new album and “Margaritaville.”
You celebrated the holidays with your Poison bandmate Rikki Rockett and his family at their home at the beach in Delaware many years ago, and he still visits. Did you enjoy the area?
It’s a great area — the beach is awesome, the people are fun and it has such a cool, laid-back vibe. I’m looking forward to coming back for sure. Let’s just say both Maryland and Delaware have always showed me a good time in the past. I know both the Wilmington show and the Ocean City show are going to be parties; myself and my solo band all have a lot of family from the area, so we’re looking forward to both places.
You’re bringing your band to Ocean City and then you’ll play an acoustic show a few days later in Delaware. How different will the set lists be?
You know, I bring it 200 percent no matter what I do. The acoustic shows may be a little quieter but the energy is still there. The acoustic stuff is more spontaneous so I never know what the set list will be. But then again, so is the big rock show. We just go out there and ride the wave; our set list is just an unofficial guide.
For your new solo album, you recruited a dream team of guest players including Joe Perry, Michael Anthony, Ace Frehley and many others. Is it safe to say that the majority of them are people who were your heroes when you were a kid?
Absolutely. Most of these people I consider not just heroes, but also friends. To make music with those guys — as well as Loretta Lynn and Jimmy Buffett — is unforgettable. Working with newer artists like Lil Jon and Sal Costa has been awesome as well.
The heat seemed to be excruciating this summer throughout much of the country. How did you deal with all of the outdoor shows?
It’s certainly been hot, but I have a ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., so the heat is part of my life. I tour throughout the year across the country and abroad and I’ve seen it all weather-wise. I always joke that I’m a weather warrior now — rain or shine, heat or cold, I get out there and give it all I’ve got.
How often did you hit the arena rock shows as a kid in Pennsylvania?
As a kid with a passion for live music, I hit any concert I could. Honestly, back then there were many more tours and lots of shows to go to. You could always catch a great band. But even today I go see shows. Recently, I’ve been to Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw, Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band. And Jimmy Buffet, which is when Jimmy had me come out and do the live version of “Margaritaville” that is on the new album.
It seems like a lot of classic hard-rock bands like Van Halen and KISS are spending more time in the studio working on new material than in recent years. Any chance of a new Poison album?
Never say never. We have no concrete plans for a new album at the moment, but the Poison guys are like family to me.
I’ve been out all summer with them on the Rock of Ages tour and you never know what can happen.
Article from Delmarvanow
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