Bret Michaels

We are just a few weeks past the unofficial start of summer with Memorial Day weekend, but I am already looking forward to the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day weekend! That is because one of Northern Colorado's biggest and best events will return to Loveland, and it looks to be bigger and better than ever!

Could you imagine how different Poison would sound if Slash was their guitarist? Or how the former Guns N’ Roses star would look with poofy hair and tons of makeup? Well, the top-hatted one did in fact try out for the job, and as you might expect it wasn’t a perfect match.

Two years ago, Poison frontman Bret Michaels suffered a life-threatening brain hemorrhage, and he credits the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. for delivering him from death’s doorstep. Since then, he’s donated a music room to the institute, and now he’s also helping celebrate the hospital’s 50th anniversary.

Last we heard from Bret Michaels, he was chasing rock’s original gypsy, Stevie Nicks, for a guest spot on his upcoming solo record, ‘Get Your Rock On,’ tentatively due this summer. While he may not have scored Stevie for the album (yet?), he has already lined up a veritable who’s who of…well, of people who make music, spanning the gamut from fellow rock veterans Joe Perry of Aerosmith and Ace Freh

It was supposed to be nothin’ but a good time. But the finish line at the XSport Fitness Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half-Marathon on Sunday was slightly less celebratory than originally planned after post-race performer Bret Michaels had to back out due to illness.