Bret Michaels' Medical Emergency: Rocker Rushed Off Stage Mid-Concert, Evaluated by Paramedics

Poison frontman, a type 1 diabetic, suffered brain hemorrhage and small stroke in 2010

By Rebecca Macatee May 30, 2014 12:48 PMTags
Bret MichaelsAli Goldstein/NBC

Bret Michaels' Thursday night concert in Manchester, N.H., came to an abrupt end when, just three songs into his set, the rocker rushed off stage for a medical emergency.

Guitarist Pete Evick updated fans on the incident via Michaels' Facebook page, explaining that he was notified "instantly" by a crew member "that Bret's blood sugar was extremely low."

The 51-year-old "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" singer, who has suffered from type 1 diabetes since childhood, "returned to the stage only to announce that he could not continue." Michaels "is a health fanatic and fiercely monitors is blood sugar," Evick wrote, noting that the Poison frontman "basically had to be dragged off the stage in his sickest of conditions."

As Michaels was being evaluated by paramedics, he "could [barely] speak, but begged [Evick] to apologize to the fans and seemed only concerned for them."

Later on Thursday night, "Team Bret" posted a Facebook message with "a huge shout out to all the paramedics both on and off duty who assisted Bret tonight," adding, "No words can thank you enough for your help."

This isn't the only health scare Michaels has endured in recent years, though. In 2010, he suffered a brain hemorrhage followed by a seemingly unrelated stroke tied to a hole in his heart. Fortunately, the Celebrity Apprentice star not only recovered, but he also kept a great attitude as he moved forward.

"2010 was, without question, a roller coaster year for me," he said in an October 2011 interview with Vegas All Night. "But when you have an amazing family, and you still have a lot music left to make, and you have such incredible and supportive fans behind you, you're going to fight until the very last breath before you throw in that towel."