Bret Michaels is being forced off the road for a few weeks. The Poison frontman, currently out on his “Live & Amplified” solo tour, underwent emergency surgery for a kidney stone and has been told by his doctors to sit out the next three to four weeks while he recovers.
The trouble came to a head after a July 18 performance honoring military families at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington. Michaels, 63, had been fighting severe kidney pain, and on July 19 was diagnosed with a complicated obstructing kidney stone that needed surgery straight away. He had pushed through earlier July shows in intense pain before the stone finally forced him to the hospital.
Dr. Abby Borhan, Michaels‘ physician, laid out both what was done and why performing now would be dangerous:
“A ureteral stent was successfully placed during the procedure and remains in situ. Due to the nature of Michaels‘s post-operative condition and underlying health factors (diabetes, lower back compression fracture),he is restricted from performing for the next 3 to 4 weeks and only prescribed light physical activity as part of his recovery. A ureteral stent causes significant internal friction, constant physical discomfort, and localized inflammation. The physical demands of Bret‘s high-intensity live performances exacerbate these symptoms. Strenuous physical exertion carries a high risk of intense pain spikes, gross hematuria, and acute stent displacement, which would require immediate medical intervention.”
She pointed to Michaels‘ lifelong Type 1 diabetes as a major complicating factor:
“Michaels‘s recovery is also complicated by his lifelong Type 1 Diabetes. Although I understand Bret‘s determination to play through the pain, I explained that because Type 1 Diabetes inherently compromises the immune system and impairs healing, he faces an exceptionally high risk of contracting a serious UTI or developing urosepsis, a blood infection, until the stent is removed.”
And she was blunt that touring and safe recovery cannot coexist right now:
“The demanding nature of a high-intensity tour schedule makes it impossible to maintain the sterile environments, strict hydration schedules, frequent rest, and precise blood glucose management required for his safe recovery. He must strictly refrain from all live performances until we re-evaluate his condition in 3 to 4 weeks to determine when he can safely resume touring.”
Reports indicate the affected dates run from late July into mid-August, with Michaels aiming to return to the tour in late August. No rescheduled dates have been announced yet.
True to form, Michaels framed the setback with optimism and gratitude:
“I’m forever grateful for the amazing medical treatment and ongoing medical attention throughout my personal life and career, and truly grateful for family, friends, fans, band, crew and promoters for their understanding and, if all goes well, will hit the road late August back to delivering 1000% energy, intensity and truly nothing but a good time.”
His team echoed that in thanking fans for their patience, promising updates on rescheduled shows and his return to the “Live & Amplified” run as soon as they are confirmed.
This is far from the first serious health hurdle Michaels has cleared. He has managed Type 1 diabetes since childhood, survived a life-threatening brain hemorrhage in 2010 and a warning stroke before it, had a hole in his heart repaired in 2011, and underwent kidney surgery in 2014. That history is part of why his medical team is treating this stent recovery so cautiously.
Looking further ahead, Michaels has spoken about reuniting the original Poison lineup — Rikki Rockett, C.C. DeVille and Bobby Dall — for a belated 40th-anniversary celebration of the band’s 1986 debut Look What The Cat Dragged In, with an eye on 2027 or 2028.
