POISON Frontman To Release First Enhanced Solo CD And Video

Singer/songwriter Bret Michaels will be releasing his first full-length enhanced solo CD, "Songs Of Life", on April 22 on his own Poor Boy Records. Written and produced by Michaels, all 14 tracks on "Songs Of Life" are exactly that, songs inspired by events in his life. The music tells a strong story and the CD booklet is a pictorial, loaded with photographs and images of Michaels' life, including a never-before-seen photo of Michaels after his horrific car crash. As far as the music, Michaels says, "This is my sound and these are my songs. Love it or hate it, 'Songs Of Life' is me, a straight-up rock record, and the fans are getting the real deal. Always have and always will. I don't know any other way."

In addition, "Songs Of Life" will be an enhanced CD, including the video for the first single "Raine", a song written after the May 20, 2000, birth of his daughter. The video, shot in ten locations over six months, also contains some of Bret's actual family footage, as well as exclusive footage not shown in the TV version.

The songs on this record are very personal to Michaels, and the subjects touch on things he has experienced rebellion and angst, tough relationships, surviving diabetes, sex and violence, unconditional love, life after the tragedy and heroism of September 11, family, loyalty, sacrifice (Bret's father was a Navy veteran who served in the Korean conflict, his uncle Nick was killed in World War II and cousin Bobby, a marine, was wounded in Vietnam). "To me, this is why music is so important and relevant," says Michaels, "It is an outlet to the people who create it and the fans who listen to it, regardless of the genre, the era or the image. The real success is the fact that you had the balls to go out and make a CD that you believe in, regardless of what is popular at the time."

The CD will also include two bonus tracks, "Party Rock Band" from the film and soundtrack "A Letter From Death Row" (written, produced and directed by Michaels and starring both Michaels and Martin Sheen),as well as "Stay With Me", an acoustic piano track from the album "Ballads, Blues and Stories", a unique storytellers CD made available only to Michaels' fan club at bretmichaels.com, one of the only fan clubs to offer backstage passes to all members to meet the vocalist at select shows.

Michaels, who turns 40 on March 15, 2003, has been an insulin-dependent diabetic since the age of six. The vocalist has suffered and survived the complications of this deadly disease. "In many ways, diabetes is as much a blessing as a curse," says Michaels, "It's taught me that even if I've had to work twice as hard to get half as far, it's shown me to never give up, no matter what the conditions."