‘Broadway’ Bret Michaels Stays Positive About Tonys Mishap
‘BROADWAY’ BRET MICHAELS STAYS POSITIVE ABOUT TONYS MISHAP
June 12, 2009
Bret Michaels ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good explanation.
The Poison frontman says he’s “trying to remain very positive and somewhat humorous” about the mishap that left him with a broken nose and busted lip at the Tony awards Sunday night. But he expressed dismay that show organizers didn’t show more concern for him at the time.
The rocker released a rambling, self-effacing and laugh-out-loud funny statement Thursday night, spelling out the night in painful detail: how he was clocked in the head, how he regrets the attention it attracted and how he wishes he had made the after-parties.
Michaels said he was honored to perform, and “even though I was completely out of my element I was really enjoying myself prior to my injury. In fact all involved at the awards show treated me good.”
But everything after his opening performance at Radio City Music Hall was “a little blurry.”
Michaels had just finished singing Poison’s hit song “Nothin’ But a Good Time” and turned around to leave the stage when a descending set piece clocked him squarely in the face and knocked him down. Publicist Joann Mignano says Michaels fractured his nose and had to get three stitches in his lip.
“In hindsight, there is no doubt I got my bell rung,” he writes, continuing: “unfortunately it has been posted and perhaps funny to watch, but I can assure you it has been painful to experience.”
He says in his dazed state he recalled “staring at what seemed to be Shrek, a talking goat head and several monkey-like creatures.”
Michaels says he doesn’t blame anyone for the accident, but found it “a little strange” when he heard it was said that he had “missed his mark” and was doing fine — when he’d never been warned about the set piece and his condition wasn’t known until much later.
He regrets that the incident took attention away from “the actors and actresses who put in so much time and hard work on or off Broadway to get to the Tonys. This is their moment and I am sorry that some of it may have gotten overshadowed by my thick rocker cranium being struck by a stage prop.”
The statement thanks everyone from band members to Liza Minnelli for checking on him in the dressing room to the “Good Lord” for giving him “a thick skull.”
And his final beef: He was “bummed that I did not get to attend the after parties, cuz rumor has it Anne Hathaway was going to be there and she is hot.”
He signed off as “Broadway Bret Michaels.”
BRET MICHAELS OFFICIAL STATEMENT AFTER THE TONYS INCIDENT
I am trying to remain very positive and somewhat humorous about the whole situation. I apologize that I did not make a statement earlier as I have been feeling pretty beat up over the last few days. The fact is I was honored to be asked to perform at the event. The entire “Rock of Ages” production were awesome and even though I was completely out of my element I was really enjoying myself prior to my injury. In fact all involved at the awards show treated me good.
I had a great time at the Tonys right up until I got blindsided, I must admit it was a little blurry after that. In hindsight, there is no doubt I got my bell rung, unfortunately it has been posted and perhaps funny to watch, but I can assure you it has been painful to experience. In all honesty I had absolutely no idea what struck my head. Upon impact I thought a piece of the lighting rig had fallen out of the ceiling and as I fell back it seemed like my head struck the stage and I blacked out for a second. When I opened my eyes I noticed a large set prop coming down straight for me. I immediately pushed myself out of the way and amidst the chaos I laid on the floor and asked “what the hell just happened?”
My nose, mouth and the back of my head felt numb. I vaguely remember asking Big John, `do I have any teeth left in my mouth?’ I knew I could move my arms and legs and that was an instant relief. Somebody handed me a towel to wipe the blood from my face and in my dazed state I recall staring at what seemed to be Shrek, a talking goat head and several monkey like creatures.
Over the last few days a lot of speculation as to what happened and who is to blame have surfaced. I need to make clear at no point since the incident occurred do I feel like the accident was malicious in any way and I feel this will all work itself out. However I must state I found it a little strange that the only statement released by the Tony organization was that I missed my mark and that I was completely fine. First, I thought, `what mark?’ as there was no official mark, just a retracting drum riser and an overhead prop being rapidly lowered which was out of my view. Second, I think it was slightly irresponsible for them to report that I was fine without full knowledge of my condition, when a doctor hadn’t even looked at me yet and I surely don’t remember any X-Ray machines backstage. I am not looking for an apology, I only hoped that on a human level that the Tony organizations’ representative would have expressed some concern for injury in their statement or at the very least claim they would be looking into the matter.
Whether it was a miscommunication, missed cue or missed mark no matter what the situation was the prop should have been stopped or at least slowed for a few more seconds until I cleared the stage. I apparently had less than two seconds to avoid being hit. It was evident I was backing up and moving in the direction to exit the stage for at least 30 to 40 feet and it is plain to see I had no clue this prop was descending. For God sake, they have at least a five second delay to prevent the airing of unapproved expletives and nudity!
For the record never at any point during my Sunday morning rehearsal was I ever instructed that the piece was coming down and that I had very little time to get off the stage, otherwise believe me I would have stopped or at least ducked so as not to be knocked out at the Tonys. Trust me I never wanted any of this to happen. I was simply doing as I was told which was to exit the stage as Poison’s song “Nothin’ but a Good Time” came to a close.
I feel for the actors and actresses who put in so much time and hard work on or off Broadway to get to the Tonys. This is their moment and I am sorry that some of it may have gotten overshadowed by my thick rocker cranium being struck by a stage prop. On a high note I hear it was the highest rated Tonys they have had in years. However, I was bummed that I did not get to see any of the acts perform during the Tonys as I have never seen a play on Broadway before, probably would have enjoyed it, and even more bummed that I did not get to attend the after parties, cuz rumor has it Anne Hathaway was going to be there and she is hot.
I would like to personally thank Bobby and C.C., Mark Hogue, Larry Morand and my crew along with Liza Minnelli, Mark Indelicato and Carole Propp for rushing to my dressing room to check on my condition. In closing I truly appreciate everyone’s concern. I thank the Good Lord I have a thick skull and I have a feeling this may have been my first and final curtain call at the Tonys.
Sincerely,Broadway Bret Michaels
Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com and www.ap.org