redd granite

For any of you that use Yahoo as your landing page, you are aware that the ‘trending now’ searches for the last week have included Bret Michaels, lead singer of Poison and reality TV star, as they like to say. The reality TV star I could care less for, but as a musician and a guy who has recieved an A+ for branding himself, I applaud. Bret Michaels as had a recent tough go of, first for an emergency appendectemy, which derailed his tour with his personal band labeled under ‘Bret Michaels’, then as recovery set in, he is rushed to the hospital with headaches. The diagnosis was a brain hemorage that left him in critical condition. Bret Michaels must be some sort of survivor.  The news now comes out that he may resume his bands tour on May 26 if he does not have any major set backs. This, despite the fact, that the doctors have never pin pointed the actual location or cause of the hemorage.

Now Bret Michaels can conjure up many varied opinions based upon his personna, or as I call it ‘branding’. I for one, respect this guy.  I highly respect the fact he lives a full life, despite being a type I diabetic from childhold. Tough to deal with the blood sugar variations and stabbing yourself four times a day while keeping the schedule and branding that Bret Michaels does.

As the lead singer of Poison, this Michaels started his success full speed from the hair band days. But quite predictably, that music phased passed quickly with the advent of the Seattle driven, flannel shirt wearing era of grunge rock lead single handedly by the appearance of Nirvana. Gone quickly was Poison’s popularity along with the other bevy of hair bands that commanded the lions share of airplay.  It took Bret Michaels a while, waiting until the fans of the hair bands grew up, got overly responsible with matters of life, and missed the hair bands, touching off a resurrection reunion tours of hair bands that have been going on now for nearly 10 years. (I have seen Poison nearly yearly for the last 8 years). But the true branding of Bret Michaels leveraged this hair band life style into the bevy of reality based shows which has made him pretty much a house hold name. Again, great branding.

This was really a set back for Michaels.  But this is not anything that will hold him back. He enjoys touring with solo, and knows the value of touring with Poison, which as its own resurrected branding thanks to the cross marketing traffic that the Bret Michaels branding has resulted.

Here is hoping to no set backs in his recovery and resuming his tour may 26

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Related posts on favorite songs
• Exciting Information Regarding The Digital Music World-For Those …
• Favorite Children's Songs | Play Songs On Guitar
• Rock Band: Country Track Pack | Nintendo Wii Stuff – Christmas …
• Motorola MOTOROKR EM30 Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, MP3 Player …
• disney movies releases | Express Disney

I am a rocker. I may have said it before earlier, in spite of the softer side of our original music, I am rock all the way through. And while I do not mean to derail the upcoming redd appearance with the Dazzling Weasel Faces (when you get the website right, Marty?), the irony of Styx coming to town here in Dallas in mid-November, and me sitting on the back porch listening to Dennis DeYoungs greatest hits cd….well, somehow it just seemed a bit ironic. Some say the parting of the ways from him in Styx (he truly being the founder with the Panozzo bro’s, not JY like the current lineup likes to say in concert) was a rift of musical styles.  Some say it was his big ego. Some say he became an emotional wreck difficult to deal with. I do not know or care.  While I adore the current line-up, including Lawrence Gowen (why do Canadians like the voices of DeYoung and Gowen ((who is Canadian)) so much?), I do miss DeYoung.  OK. Could not take “Babe” in concert.  But I sit here listening to his greatest hits, and this is music that flows, is insightful, jazz influenced, man, it is good shit…..So I thought I would do a shout out. And if any of you have not picked up his latest cd…100 Years From Now….do it.  Get on the website and look for info on it www.dennisdeyoung.com , see if you can get a copy. The title song is one of my top 20 of all time, and, if you can believe this, a number 1 hit in Quebec….remember the Canadian reference?  Well, there you go.  Not sure how up to date the website is, the last post from his wife was June of 2009.

A Bit Older Now

And to sure folks, right now as I finish this post, “Black Wall” is playing on the CD, and this is one of my top 10 of all time, as is Styx’s “Show Me The Way”, another DeYoung penned song.  I do not think even my beloved Doors have 2 songs in my top 10….there you go.  Hats off to you Dennis.  I understand the tiff, the lawsuits, the current guys bagging on you on occasion, but you know, really, Styx was the best, and I mean the best, when all of you were together…Shaw, Young, Panozzo x two, DeYoung….the chemistry, talent for song writing, voices, performance was second to none.  I still remember growing up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Styx was a local icon before the market ever knew of them…..and I miss you guys

And Dennis, if you do come through Dallas playing music of Styx with DSO….well, I think it is cheesy, but I will be there, in the front row