Bret Michaels hails troops at Al Asad Air Base

Marine Corps News ^ | Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Sewell

[SandRat]

Bret Michaels lead, singer of the rock and roll band Poison, recently paid a visit to troops in Iraq where he put on a concert and visited with the troops. Michaels also spent time after the show to take photos with the troops as well as sign autographs, he signed everything from guitars to casts.

Four business associates from Florida raised over $240,000 in order to bring Bret Michaels and his band to Iraq to put on concerts for the service members. From right Mike Aby, Nikki Linn, Michelle Roberts and Mike Erthal spent the last year putting on multiple fund raisers in order to fund this concert series for the troops.

Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock and roll band Poison, recently paid a visit to troops in Iraq where he put on a concert and visited with the troops. Michaels entertained the troops and had them waving their hands in the air to the rockin’ sounds of Poison as well as some other popular bands.

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2007) -- Bret Michaels band visited troops at Al Asad Air Base Oct. 6 while on a tour of US bases in Iraq in support of Armed Forces Entertainment.

However, Michaels’ trip wasn’t free it had to be funded in order to get the musician and his band here. Thanks to the dedication and desire to support the troops four friends from Florida raised the money in order to bring the band.

Mike Aby and Nikki Linn felt that they needed to show their support for the troops in Iraq and felt that the best way to do it would be to set up a concert for them.

“We had a friend who came back from Iraq and felt like he wasn’t supported and we wanted to show people that the troops were supported,” explained Linn.

“Just because those people are gone overseas does not mean they are forgotten,” stated Aby.
Aby and Linn along with their business associates Michelle Robertson and Mike Erthal set out to raise enough money to fund a trip for a band and provide some comfort items to the troops overseas.

They used fundraisers such as a concert they organized at a motorcycle event in Daytona Beach, Fla., in order to generate funds for the trip, as well as sitting in front of stores collecting donations, and receiving funds from various veterans’ organizations. The four friends managed to raise more than $240,000 in order to provide a little joy to service members who were forward deployed.

After calling on numerous bands to would show support for the troops and want to do the trip, Bret Michaels was the first one to say yes.

According to Aby and Linn, Michaels was anxious take the trip. He wanted to get over to Iraq right away.

Aside from funding the bands trip over, the four also purchased tens of thousands of dollars worth of mp3 players, DVD movies and T-shirts that were given out at the concert and on visits to the hospitals on the bases.

Michaels made a visit to the hospital at Al Asad and made a point to stop at each patient to greet them, wish them well and take a photo with them. At the same time Aby and friends were passing out their goodies to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that were currently in the hospital.

Michaels’ final event of the day was a concert for the troops at Al Asad, where he played various hits from Poison and other bands as well. The music was loud and the energy from the crowd could be felt throughout the room. Michaels also stayed after the show to take pictures with service members and sign autographs.

Michaels expressed his support for the troops and what they do as well as thanking them for all of their hard work that is keeping America safe for the future.

According to Aby and Linn they are not finished either, they have recently had a custom motorcycle built that will be sold for funds for future endeavors for the troops as well.

[SandRat]

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[GOP Poet]

How cool for the people that raised the money. How uncool that Bret had to be paid to go. The people that raised the money are awesome and deserve a many, many kudos! Bret? I don’t know how to feel about this. Is it normal they are paid?

[SandRat]

If the USO was running it they would, otherwise I don’t know.

[RightOnline]

Ever been on the road? Costs $$ to field a band, sport. That’s just running around in vans in the U.S. Now....take that to the other side of the world........

[infidel29]

Is it merely a coincidence that it's metalheads who are the ones supporting the troops? Michaels, Metallica, Kid Rock, Nugent and Alice Cooper(I'd call them the grandfathers of metal).

Meanwhile sissy Marys like Barely Man-enough are firmly in favor of "peace"

[Renderofveils]

Also include Iced Earth and Diecast (one of them newer metal bands) in that number. Diecast’s tune “Definition of a Hero” gives me goosebumps whenever it comes around on the cd-changer. And Iced Earth has a longstanding record of being a very, VERY patriotic band.

[do the dhue]

bump

[Tex Pete]

“How uncool that Bret had to be paid to go.”

I understand your point, but he didn’t have to go at all. I am just glad that he did, and that people are showing their love for our heroes.

[exit82]

Good on Bret. At least he is entertaining the troops. Most entertainment types “support the troops” and can’t be bothered to get off their rumps and do something constructive for them.

Still can’t believe he passed up the stripper on his “Rock of Love” show.

[quiet_reverie]

My husband went to this show with Brett Michaels and said it was fantastic - it really lifts morale to have support from home.

[GOP Poet]

Hey that's cool. I just do not know what the norm is and that is why I asked.

I understand having the costs covered and it is very cool he went, don't get me wrong. I just don't understand the whole profit motive stuff, but he may not have profited much if at all. But as someone else mentioned it went over very well and the troops really loved it. I think that is what matters.

I was just wondering about the pay part. No sweat. Kudos to Bret too. I like Brett from what I know of him and totally respect him for going.

I am sure too the performers get paid in loyalty from troops when they get home and also from the troop families, because they are either appreciative or are reminded of their music and buy more. So in the end I would think these people get excellent PR and loyalty from the troops and family.

Good for Brett!

[GOP Poet]

That is excellent first hand knowledge and helpful to know as well.

I am so glad he got an opportunity to enjoy it :-).

[GOP Poet]

Thanks for the heads up. It sounds as though they all get paid. I wasn’t sure what precedent was. Now I know and can give Brett a break and the thumbs up he deserves. :-)

[GOP Poet]

They looked like they could party together. But she looked like she may be a drunk and her Father . . . well I think the multiple shots with him and his alcohol said it all. As long as no children are involved whatever turns the crank.

[Drew68]

How uncool that Bret had to be paid to go.

I doubt he banked on the show. If anything, Bret, his band and road crew were probably given a modest per diem and all associated travel expenses were paid for.

[Drew68]

Now I know and can give Brett a break and the thumbs up he deserves. :-)

Yeah, go ahead and give it to him. And before anyone chimes out about how Bret isn't nothing but a washed up dinosaur from a mediocre 80s hair-metal outfit, I'll just say that those fighting over in Iraq are happy when anyone shows up to entertain them!

His show on VH1, Rock of Love was pretty popular with a lot of younger viewers.

[GOP Poet]

Dude!. Who was trash talking Brett's talent and status? You are gettin' all premature defensive for no reason. My husband and I watched it. He seems like a very cool guy albeit one with some woman issues, but hey who wouldn't when they are not willing to settle down with a nice, attractive, church going, intelligent lady, who wouldn't even consider whoring themselves for the T.V. and build a God filled life--lol? Even then God didn't make any of us perfect by any means.

Sounds as though Brett's name is out there more than ever and he will probably have a big surge in popularity after both the show and visit to Iraq. Me thinks marketing campaign and what a great way to market oneself as an artist--sharing one's talent's with the men and woman who fight and die for our country. Ain't gettin' any arguments here. :-)

[GOP Poet]

oh yeah . . . rock on! :-)

[romanesq]

That stripper was a beast and plain nasty. I saw bits of that show and he showed at least a little judgement.

Props to the guy for doing something good for the troops. His stock has gone up in my eyes.