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Article published Jun 8, 2008 Bret Michaels rocked my world
I'm not a ho, I only play one on the phone. That was my mantra after speaking with former Poison star Bret Michaels on the phone.
I had received a 93.1 Point Pals e-mail near the beginning of May that held some very exciting news: Bret was coming to Knoxville to perform at The Valarium. And thus the geeking out began.
I sent Weekend Editor Steve Wildsmith a text with the news and to find out if The Daily Times would get a chance to interview him. The details hadn't been worked out yet, but I had plans forming in my head.
I called my best gal pal, Kristie, with the news, and she ended up buying us tickets the day they went on sale. It was at that point that the geeking out increased -- I would get to see "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" or "Unskinny Bop" performed live. I would get to see the man who'd caused love, lust and frustration in two seasons of "Rock of Love" on VH1. More importantly, I could hear him sing "Talk Dirty to Me" and imagine that he had spotted me amongst the fans and every word in the song was meant for me. Plus, it's Bret Michaels!
When Wildsmith told me he had an interview set up with Bret, I asked if I could say hello. To my surprise, Wildsmith agreed. Part of me wanted to actually do the interview, but as Wildsmith pointed out, I didn't have to be a professional if I was just saying hi.
Finally, the day came, and I waited for Wildsmith's phone to ring. I didn't think I could go through with it, but Wildsmith wouldn't let me back out, thank goodness. I was ready for the moment when he asked Bret if he could talk to a co-worker that was uber excited. However, I was unprepared for hearing Bret Michaels say, "Hello, Sweet Amanda."
I babbled about how excited I was to see him, and he told me what an awesome show I was going to see. Then the magic moment came, and he said to tell Wildsmith that if he wanted to get together after the show, he should let him know. I volunteered myself to go as "the token hot female." Yes, I actually used that phrase.
Now it's Bret Michaels -- and Bret Michaels knows how to work women -- so, of course, he agreed. He even went so far as to say, "Will you be my sweet smokin' hot female?"
That's all it took for all rhyme and reason to leave my brain even though I knew I wouldn't really meet him, and I knew that he was simply being Bret Michaels and flirting with me because that's what he does.
On "Rock of Love," Bret always asked the women he didn't eliminate if they would stay and rock his world. So I thought I would show I was a true fan and pulled out that line, but it didn't quite come across the right way. He didn't quite know what to make of me, but in true Bret Michaels form, he said that we'd rock each other's world.
Yes, it was all fake. No, I wouldn't really meet Bret Michaels. Nor would I have really tried to "rock his world" if I had. But for one moment in time, I was a groupie that would say anything and felt like a rock star's attention was directed solely at me.
Oh, and the show really was awesome. I enjoyed every second of it, except for Bigfoot's sister deciding to stand in front of me during his opening number. Bret was even a true showman and had a roadie pass out water to a crowd that was growing increasingly hot due to the lack of air conditioning.
If I had to do it over, I think I would probably play a ho again. After all, I really did rock his world, even if it was only on the phone -- and in my own imagination.
Amanda Greever is a copy editor at The Daily Times. She writes a weekly column in Women's Times. She can be reached by calling 981-1163 or e-mailing amanda.greever@thedailytimes.com.