Bret Michaels likens his body at age 60 to a classic muscle car. "I'm still fast, and I'm still fun to drive," the Poison rocker quips in this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. "I just need a lot more maintenance."
Michaels - who celebrated his milestone 60th on March 15 - has always lived life at full throttle. After he found stardom with his band Poison in the late '80s with hits like "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Nothin' But A Good Time," drama within the group and a series of health setbacks —complications with his type 1 diabetes, a near-fatal brain hemorrhage and a stroke in 2010 - threatened to derail his career.
But Michaels persevered: As Poison's success stalled in the early 2000s, he moved into reality TV (VH1's Rock Of Love and NBC's Celebrity Apprentice 3) and carved out a successful solo music career.
Looking back Michaels - who kicks off his Parti-Gras tour in July - is invigorated by everything he's survived, including a hospitalization last June for an undisclosed medical scare.
"It's been a crazy roller-coaster ride," says Michaels, who's a dad to two daughters with his on-and-off partner of 30 years, model Kristi Gibson. "After all the adversity I've been through, I just feel grateful to be here. If I were to go today - and I hope I don't! - I would die with a full heart."
Read more at PEOPLE.com, and for more on Bret Michaels' life at 60, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
Hot off the heels of a massive stadium tour with Poison, for the first time ever, Bret Michaels is hitting the road for a limited run of live dates for his 2023 Parti Gras Tour. Michaels has created this tour with a Mardi Gras feel in celebration of his great fans and hit music. The renowned rockstar will bring a few of his rocker friends along for a mashup of all killer, no filler hits featuring special guests Night Ranger and Jefferson Starship with special appearances from Steve Augeri (former lead singer of Journey) and Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), plus a nightly surprise guest to rock your world.
Presented by Live Nation, the 12-city limited date run kicks off on Thursday, July 13 at the one and only Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI; known for its epic concerts and parties, going on to make stops across the US including at The Pavilion at Star Lake, in his birthplace of Pittsburgh (PA), Holmdel (NJ), Tinley Park (IL), Tampa (FL), and more before wrapping up in Charlotte (NC) at PNC Music Pavilion on August 6. The tour promises to be a modern day throwback to epic tailgate parties, positive energy, and a much needed nothing but a good vibe.
“After seeing Bret bring the party in every market of The Stadium Tour, this past year, we are looking forward to more of his ‘nothing, but a good vibe, high-energy performing’ on The Parti-Gras Tour next summer,” said Rick Franks, Global Touring Live Nation.
Michaels states, “I created Parti-Gras as a sincere and grateful thank you to the fans, friends, and family who have rocked with me over the years. I promise to deliver positive energy, live, raw, real music, and all the bands will deliver sing-a-long hit after hit songs. Your voice will be hoarse after an epic, big, fun stage show.“
Tickets for the tour are on sale now at LiveNation.com. VIP Meet & Greet Tickets are available for Parti-Gras at BretMichaels.com.
Tour dates:
July
13 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
15 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake
16 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
21 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
22 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
23 - Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
28 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
29 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
30 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
August
4 - Tampa, FL - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
5 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
6 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
