HomeFeaturesPeople › Rock God & Philanthropist Bret Michaels Tells All - Page 2

AFM: The Bret Michaels' Vocalizer, a vocal warm-up exercise, is out now on iTunes. How did this project come about?
BM: I wanted to do something for all of the aspiring rock stars out there. The vocal warmer CD is awesome because it’s all of the exact same exercises I do before and after each show. I wanted to do something a little different, share a little bit more with the fans.

AFM: When can we expect new Bret iTunes?
BM: Well we just released Double Dose of Poison: Ultimate Hits on May 3rd but I’m releasing another solo album on June 14th which I’m so excited about. It’ll have a little bit of a country influence, but mostly it’ll be straight-up, good old fashioned rock n roll, and I think the fans are eally going to enjoy it. I also just re-recorded “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” with Raine and Jorja for Kidz Bop Monster Ballads and that might be the coolest collaboration I’ve done to date. It was such a blast, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to jam with my two favorite girls.

AFM: You are known across the country as being a big supporter of the American Diabetes Association. Can you explain your history with the disorder?
BM: Well I’ve been diabetic since I was 6 years-old, and it’s a huge part of who I am and why I do what I do- why I’m driven and the way I live my life. I will say that it’s made me very conscious of my health, and that maybe if I hadn’t been in the shape I’m in, my health problems this year might have gotten the best of me. Because of being a diabetic I’m constantly monitoring myself- and to live the lifestyle I live with this disease you have to be alert and aware all the time. And you have to keep yourself fit- there’s no getting around that. So in a lot of ways being a diabetic has probably has saved my life in that it forced me to learn how to live my life healthfully, despite the world of excess that I’ve lived in.

AFM: How did it feel to donate more than $600,000 to the cause when you competed on (and won) The Apprentice?
BM: Winning the “ Celebrity Apprentice” was just unbelievably awesome. I had the best time- and I was excited to show the world that I’m driven and determined and a hard worker…. Anytime you achieve something like that it gives you the confidence to go after more. And the fact that I was working to support diabetes research and that my winnings were to cause that’s so important to me- that was a huge motivator. To be able to give to Diabetes research and draw support and attention to the cause on that scale was just wonderful. And because of “Apprentice,” I formed a partnership with Snapple and have the highest grossing diet drink on their roster. And from there I am doing work with Ford, Dean Guitars and a lot of other things you will come to see soon.

AFM: What was it like to film The Apprentice? Is it as grueling as it looks?
BM: It was demanding, it was grueling, and I learned so much in the process. When people ask me what it takes to win I tell them this: You’ve got to work hard, delegate, and be able to perform on a fume, because you don't eat a whole lot and you don't sleep a whole lot, and that's the deal. I had an amazing experience on the show, but it was never, for a minute, easy.

AFM: What is on the horizon for you?
BM: I’m only getting started. I have a ton of great projects in the works. And it’s definitely going to be another whirlwind year for me. As soon as that tour is over I go straight back out with the solo band, and we will go right on through 2012. I just partnered with Dean Guitars to create my own line of signature guitars. I always use Dean Guitars on tour so I’m really excited to be working with them to create my own line. I have my autobiography, Roses & Thorns, coming out soon and I’m also looking forward to the Bret Michaels Super Cruise this November. The Cruise will go from Miami down to Cozumel Mexico, and it’s just going to be a wild time—it’ll be a great chance for me to kick back, rock out, and relax with all of my fans. I’m also putting together a vocal warmer CD for all the aspiring rock stars out there; it’s awesome because it’ll be all of the exact same exercises I do before and after each show. And there are always dozens of more things I want to do, more projects. Tom Petty once said, “You never slow down, you never get old”; that line has served me well thus far, so I definitely don’t plan on slowing down any time soon.