Bret Michaels says tour with Poison, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard will be ‘high energy party’

Poison frontman Bret Michaels said the upcoming tour with Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard and Joan Jett will be a high energy party.

“I’ve been working on that for years, hoping we could put it together with everybody and it just worked,” Michaels told People magazine on Tuesday. “It will be an absolute, all out, high energy party. I think people are excited for a live, good time summer party with great music.”

The tour makes a stop at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Aug. 16. It is sold out.

Speaking to the magazine before taking part in the fourth annual Matthew Gavin’s Marquis New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, the Butler native also thanked fans for their support.

“I just want fans to know that I am completely grateful for all the great years — I’m a guy that’s about gratitude with a positive attitude,” he said. “We now have three or four generations of amazing fans and I’m thankful for every single one of them and all those great years that let me live out what I love to do, which is being on the road and playing music.”

He also reflected on his health issues, growing up with diabetes, and giving back to various organizations and charities.

“I’ve got to give my mom and dad credit because they were so instrumental in finding a diabetic youth camp for me when I was a kid. We couldn’t find one so they created one in Harrisburg and that was the beginning of me learning how to be charitable. It’s not just about me wanting to give back, it absolutely makes me smile to be able to do it.”

Michaels’ father, Wally Sychak, died in August.

The PNC show will be a sort of homecoming for Michaels. A self-dubbed “yinzer rocker,” he spent time growing up north of Pittsburgh as well as in Central Pennsylvania.

The tour, which kicks off June 21 in San Antonio, Texas, recently added shows for Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Nashville, Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Poison did tour with Mötley Crüe in 2011 and hit the road with Def Leppard in 2017, but The Stadium Tour will mark the first time all four acts will be on the same bill.