Bret Michaels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bret Michaels
Michaels performing in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Bret Michael Sychak
Born	(1963-03-15) March 15, 1963 (age 62) Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock glam metal country rock country blues rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter actor filmmaker
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Capitol Cyanide Music Inc. VH1 Classic

Bret Michael Sychak (born March 15, 1963), known to the world as Bret Michaels, is an American singer and musician. He is famous for being the lead singer of the rock band Poison. The band has sold over 65 million albums all over the world.

Poison had many hit songs, including six that reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their most famous song, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", went all the way to number one.

Besides his work with Poison, Bret has a successful solo career. He has released his own albums and starred in movies and TV shows. He was a judge on the talent show Nashville Star and starred in the popular reality show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. He also won the reality show Celebrity Apprentice 3. His solo album Custom Built was a big hit, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Hard Rock chart. In 2006, Hit Parader magazine named him one of the greatest heavy metal singers of all time.

Early Life

Bret Michaels was born on March 15, 1963, in Pennsylvania. He grew up near Pittsburgh and later in Mechanicsburg. He has two sisters, Michelle and Nicole.

When he was six years old, Bret was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This is a condition he has managed his entire life, even while performing on stage.

Music Career

The Start of Poison

As a teenager, Bret Michaels loved playing the guitar. He started a band with his friends Rikki Rockett (drummer) and Bobby Dall (bass player). In 1983, they formed a new band called Paris.

The band wanted to become famous, so in 1984, they moved to Los Angeles. They changed their name to Poison and started playing in clubs. After their guitarist was replaced by C.C. DeVille, the band's classic lineup was complete.

The band signed a record deal and released their first album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. It became a huge success after they made a music video for their song, "Talk ... to Me". The album sold millions of copies, and Poison became famous.

In 1987, during a concert at Madison Square Garden, Michaels collapsed on stage. He had an insulin shock because of his diabetes. He later told the public about his condition to clear up rumors.

The same year, his relationship with his girlfriend ended. This inspired him to write the famous song "Every Rose Has Its Thorn". The song is about how even good things, like fame (the rose), can have painful parts (the thorn).

Success and Challenges

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Poison was one of the biggest bands in the world. They released more hit albums, including Open Up and Say... Ahh! and Flesh & Blood.

However, there were tensions in the band, especially between Michaels and guitarist C.C. DeVille. DeVille left the band in 1991. Poison continued with other guitarists for a few years. In the mid-1990s, Michaels was in a serious car accident but recovered from his injuries.

In 1999, the original members of Poison, including C.C. DeVille, got back together for a successful tour.

Solo Career and TV Fame

Michaels in 2008

In the 2000s, Bret Michaels balanced his time between Poison and his solo career. In 2003, he released the album Songs of Life, which included the song "Raine," dedicated to his daughter.

In 2005, he was a judge on the TV show Nashville Star. This led him to release a country-rock album called Freedom of Sound. His song "All I Ever Needed" became a country hit.

His fame grew even more with the VH1 reality show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. The show's theme song, "Go That Far", was on his solo album Rock My World.

Recent Music and Tours

Michaels performs in Massapequa, New York, in 2014

In 2010, Michaels released the album Custom Built. It was his most successful solo album, reaching No. 1 on the hard rock charts. That same year, he performed on American Idol and with Miley Cyrus on Good Morning America.

He has continued to release new music, including the singles "A Beautiful Soul" (2014), "Girls on Bars" (2015), and "Jorja Bleu" (2017), a tribute to his younger daughter. In 2020, he released his autobiography, telling his life story through pictures and stories.

In 2023 and 2024, Michaels launched his "Parti-Gras" tours. These concerts were like big parties, featuring other famous rock bands and artists like Night Ranger, Jefferson Starship, Dee Snider, and Lou Gramm. The tour continued in 2025 with more special guests.

On the Screen

Bret Michaels has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He started a production company with actor Charlie Sheen. They produced the movie A Letter from Death Row, which Michaels also wrote, directed, and starred in.

He is well-known for his reality TV shows. Besides Rock of ..., he won Celebrity Apprentice 3 in 2010, raising money for charity. He also had his own show, Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It, which showed his life with his family.

In 2020, he competed on The Masked Singer as the "Banana" and finished in seventh place.

Life Outside of Music

Family and Personal Life

Bret has two daughters, Raine and Jorja, with Kristi Lynn Gibson. He proposed to Kristi on his reality show, but they later separated in 2012.

He has a line of pet clothing and accessories sold at PetSmart. In 2023, he adopted a husky from the Nebraska Humane Society. The dog, now named Bret Michaels, had helped save a sick kitten by giving a blood transfusion.

Health Challenges

In 2010, Michaels faced serious health problems. He had a brain hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) and was later diagnosed with a hole in his heart. He had surgery to fix the heart condition. Michaels has said that his family and fans helped him stay strong through these challenges.

He was also injured during a performance at the 63rd Tony Awards in 2009 when a piece of the set hit him. He later settled a lawsuit over the incident.

Charity Work

Bret Michaels is known for his charity work. He has done a lot for Operation Homefront, which helps military families.

By winning Celebrity Apprentice 3, he raised $640,000 for the American Diabetes Association.

In 2014, after tornadoes hit the town of Pilger, Nebraska, he and his band helped with the cleanup. He also held a concert to raise money for the victims.

Discography

Studio albums

• Songs of Life (2003)
• Freedom of Sound (2005)
• Custom Built (2010)
• Jammin' with Friends (2013)

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Bret Michaels para niños