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Poison's Bret Michaels Not Really a 'Guitar Hero'



Hard-rocking Bret Michaels hit it big back in the '80s as lead singer for the wild hair-metal band Poison. The band stormed the Top 40 Charts and conquered the radio waves with hits like "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" and "Talk Dirty to Me," and it's still selling out concerts today. Aside from the band, Michaels has worked with other artists like Stevie Nicks and Kenny Chesney, and he's even branched out to producing, directing and acting in films. Bret's new solo album, 'Rock My World,' lands this summer (June 3), and he filled us in on his favorite gadgets. Though he might not be the most skilled 'Guitar Hero' player out there, Michaels stays in touch by keeping a classic old school pager by his side.


What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set?


My iPod Touch, Its great, I have my music and my movies all on one device, I can watch or listen on a bus or a plane or where ever.


What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love/hate about it?

I still have a pager, I plan on keeping it till they eventually just go out of business. I haven't got a page or a bill for it in 6 months so maybe they already did.


Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was it about?

I don't really text, I get texts and utilize the technology to get information, but Im not good at texting back.


Where do you go (site or service) pretty much every time you get online?

I pry around Myspace, go to several sports sites and of course the AOL channels. My kids and my solo band really have forced me to be part of the cyber age, without them I wouldn't know where to go


What annoys you most about your iPod, cell phone, or laptop?

I still use a cell phone, not a PDA type of device so I get overly annoyed by having to hit the number keys over and over to try to text, which takes me back to my previous answer about texting.


Name one thing you wish your iPod/cellphone/laptop could do that it doesn't do now?

I wish there was a way to record directly into the I pod, so if I had an idea for a song I could just hit a button and sing into it. I know there is an add on gadget that you can get, but I wish it was built in.


What upcoming gadget can you not wait to get your hands on?

Ya know, I don't really look into whats coming out, I usually see someone with something then get interested in it. So I'm not sure really, but I'm interested in getting one of the handheld HD cams that record directly onto hard drives instead of tape.


You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?

My iPod Touch with a solar powered battery charger, loaded with 'The Simpsons' and 'Dave Chapelle.'


What's the most-played song or artist on your iPod?

I really just keep it on shuffle, but Thin Lizzy, Kenny Chesney, Nickelback and Foo Fighters pop up often.


BlackBerry, Sidekick, or Treo?

Motorola Pager, but my staff all has blackberry's that I pay for so i guess that makes them mine and makes my answer Blackberry.


Do you have an iPhone?

No, my guitar player has one and his cheek always hits the key pad and hangs up on me.


What's the longest time you've ever spent playing a video game in one sitting and what game was it?

Im not really a video game guy at all, but my daughter and me have played 'Guitar Hero' a few hours at a time, its embarrassing that two of my songs are on the game and I cant play it very well.


Mac or PC?

Both, For business and e mail I use a pc, but my studio and all creative work run on a Mac

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