Bret Michaels is recovering after a painful health scare forced him into emergency surgery — but not before the Poison frontman powered through three concerts while battling what he described as “intense” pain.
The 63-year-old rocker revealed in a Facebook update Wednesday that he had been hospitalized after a kidney stone failed to pass on its own for seven days. Michaels said the pain eventually became too severe, forcing doctors to operate.
Writing from his hospital bed, Michaels said the experience left him with “complete gratitude” for the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who helped care for him.
“The pain became intense but, as usual, I played through Charleston, Grantville, and a special private show at Fairchild AFB in Spokane for veterans, active duty and their families,” Michaels wrote.
According to the “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” singer, he was taken to the hospital immediately after the Spokane performance when the pain became too much to continue ignoring.
“The operation has been done and is complete & I’m out of post-op recovery,” he told fans, adding that he is doing everything he can to recover and get back on stage once he receives a clean bill of health.
Michaels also used the moment to reflect on the importance of the people who help others through health emergencies, saying he is “wise enough to know how important family, friends, fans, doctors and nurses play such a vital role in our everyday health.”
The health scare comes in the middle of a busy stretch for Michaels, who is currently scheduled to return to the stage on July 31 in Belleville, Illinois. His North American tour dates are expected to continue through September.
Michaels had also been scheduled to perform as part of Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair, a concert series affiliated with President Trump that ran from June 25 through July 10. However, he pulled out of the event in May, saying the show had changed from what he originally believed it would be.
“When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life,” Michaels wrote at the time.
The singer, whose father was a veteran, said he has always been proud to support military families. But he explained that the event had become “much more divisive” than what he agreed to join, and that concerns had been raised about the safety of his fans, band, crew, family and himself.
For now, Michaels appears focused on healing after his emergency procedure — and, true to form, getting back in front of fans as soon as doctors allow it.
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