Q&A: Bret Michaels on health scare

"Life as I Know It," with Michaels' longtime girlfriend, Kristi Gibson, and their daughters, Raine, 10, and Jorja, 5, premieres Monday, and the singer performs at the Arizona State Fair on Oct. 23.

He called to talk about his health, career, family and love of Arizona.

Question: How are you feeling?

Answer: I'm at about 75 to 80 percent of where I would like to be. But considering everything I've been through - not only being diabetic (since age 6) but the appendectomy, the brain hemorrhage, and now they have diagnosed a PFO (patent foramen ovale), which is a hole in my heart . . . I'm thinking I'm in good shape.

Q: How are your doctors in Phoenix assisting with your recovery?

A: They do weekly blood work. From the appendectomy, which was in early April, till the very end of May, I had pretty much been in the ICU (at Barrow and neighboring St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center), going back and forth. In the third week of January, I go in and get (the heart operation) done.

Q: You grew up in Pittsburgh but decided to settle down in north Scottsdale. Why?

A: I love that Southwestern, open desert feeling. It's a beautiful area to live in and raise my kids. I bought a 5-acre property in the Silverleaf-DC Ranch area. Luckily, there was another 5 acres that abutted that we ended up getting.

You've got this really cool vibe, but it's also laid-back enough that you can enjoy it. You're in a very contemporary city with great sports teams . . . but if you want to get out in the open desert, you can get out there.

Q: How much time are you able to spend at home?

A: I balance it. We have five (shows) in a row this week. I'll come home Sunday night and stay for two or three days, then fly back for the next show. I go back every chance I get. My daughters are in school right now, and I like to go down and be as much of a participant in all the stuff that's going on.

Q: You've had friends in Phoenix since Poison's early days in the 1980s.

A: I have had such a history with Phoenix and that whole area. When Poison first started, we would come down and play (at such bars as) the Mason Jar. We started by moving the pool table out of the corner . . . to make room for our drums. When I say we paid our dues there, we truly did.

Q: Where in the Valley do you and your family enjoy hanging out?

A: I love Mastro's (Steakhouse in north Scottsdale). I've been around the world and I've seen a lot of good steaks. But that one, right there, I can't get enough of it, and the pretzel bread.

My kids and I love to go down to CrackerJax, a little amusement park (in north Scottsdale). In the middle of the day, when there's no one there, I'll pull my kids out of school and we'll go ride the go-karts. They laugh at me.

Q: You've been spotted in Cave Creek and other motorcycle-friendly locations on your Harley-Davidson.

A: I just love motorcycles. For the road, I love the Harleys, the big bikes. But I also race dirt bikes. A good, long ride on a warm day on a Harley is good for your soul. I go by myself a lot. That alone time riding, it makes everything right with the world.

Q: Was Kristi open to another reality show, after your previous series (VH1's "Rock of Love") had you seeking relationships with other women?

A: At first, I don't think either one of us was crazy about the idea, but I made the deal; I was executive producer. A lot of those shows are very overproduced. They tell you, "You're going to go shopping. You're going to do this."

But with this show, everything is real - my family, the school. I just took my daughter Raine down to Phoenix Children's Hospital, and we met all the kids that had just been diagnosed with diabetes. We took a bunch of stuff and spent time with the families.

Q: Were you surprised by the flood of media and fan attention when you got sick?

A: I've dealt with TMZ and the media for years . . . but I was absolutely surprised. When you are sick for real, lying in a bed, there is nothing glorious, starlike or romantic about being in an ICU. It really lifted my spirits to see the amount of people who were concerned.

Q: What did you take away from the "Apprentice" experience?

A: I watched the way Trump did things. He is a very secure guy, but he's very funny. He has a real self-deprecating sense of humor, but when he wants something done, he does not screw around. I agree that procrastination is death.

Q: Is the band OK with you doing solo albums and tours?

A: Poison tours every summer, and I enjoy those couple months with my band. But I am still extremely passionate about making new music, which is why I stepped out solo in 2002.

via azcentral.com