Bret Michaels Opens Up On Health Challenges At 60 Years Old: ‘I Still Got a Lot of Life to Live’

The lead singer of Poison, Bret Michaels, recently reflected on his life and his stellar music career. In an interview with People. The singer, who turned 60 in March, revealed that he has no regrets about his life. “If I were to go today — and I hope I don’t! —” Michaels told the news outlet, “I would die with a full heart.”

The singer further compared his 60-year-old body to a classic muscle car. “I’m still fast, and I’m still fun to drive,” the Songs of Life singer told People. “I just need a lot more maintenance.”

Bret Michaels reveals that he has been able to overcome all his challenges

Following the success of his band Poison in the late ’80s with chart-toppers such as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Nothin’ but a Good Time,” Micheals was faced with several challenges that could have derailed his career.

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At the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, Michaels got into a physical altercation with his bandmate, C.C. DeVille, which made headlines and caused the latter to leave the band, although he later rejoined in 1999. Also, he had a series of health setbacks, including complications with his type 1 diabetes, a near-fatal brain hemorrhage, and a stroke in 2010, putting his career in jeopardy.

However, despite the challenges he faced, Michaels persisted and diversified his career. As the band went into obscurity in the early 2000s, he changed career and transitioned into reality TV, starring in shows such as VH1’s Rock of Love and NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice 3, and also pursued a successful solo music career.

Reflecting on his journey, the 60-year-old reveals that he is energized by all that he has overcome in his life so far, including spending time in the hospital in June of last year for an undisclosed medical condition. The rocker is now set to kick off his Parti-Gras tour in July. “It’s been a crazy roller-coaster ride,” Michaels said. “After all the adversity I’ve been through, I just feel grateful to be here.”

Bret Michaels revealed his childhood was full of struggle due to diabetes diagnosis

The singer disclosed that he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes which was almost fatal when he was just six years old. “I was almost at ketoacidosis, which is when the organs shut down,” Michaels said. “It was the first time I’d ever seen my father cry.”

The singer stated that it was quite frightening as he had to be hospitalized due to his ailment and required insulin injections four to five times a day. “It was scary,” Michael said. “But my parents told me, ‘You’ve got to choose not to be a victim.'”