BRET MICHAELS, BACK IN HOSPITAL AFTER SUFFERING WARNING STROKE

From Bret Michaels MySpace blog, this afternoon:

CELEBRITY APPRENTICE FINALIST, BRET MICHAELS, BACK IN HOSPITAL AFTER SUFFERING WARNING STROKE KNOWN AS A TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA)

RECEIVES DEVASTATING NEWS AS TESTS SHOW HE HAS A HOLE IN HIS HEART OR PATENT FORAMEN OVALE (PFO)

Bret Michaels was readmitted to the hospital this week after suffering numbness on the left side of his body, predominately his face and hands which doctors described as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or warning stroke. While MRI and CT scan tests were being conducted, Michaels also received a Doppler Ultrasound of his legs and lower abdomen looking for blood clots and most importantly an Ultrasound Bubble Test of his heart was conducted which proved positive for a Patent Forum Ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart. Dr. Zabramski (Bret’s neurosurgeon), Dr. Becker (who ordered the test), Dr. Cook (who conducted the test) and Dr. Frey (Director, Outpatient Stroke Program) all confirmed the results.

Dr. Zabramski states “There is no doubt that the positive Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is devastating news to Bret and his family. The good news is that it is operable and treatable and we think we may have diagnosed the problem that caused the Transient Ischemic Attach (TIA) or warning stroke; however we feel it is highly unlikely this is connected to the brain hemorrhage he suffered just a few weeks earlier. Once again it is great that he quickly reacted to the severe numbness and got to the hospital immediately.”

Dr. Zabramski continues, “I realize Bret wants to make a full recovery so that he can be active with his family, attempt to attend the finale of Celebrity Apprentice and especially get back on the road to continue making music. Without a doubt he is very determined to get healthy and make a 100% recovery. Medically speaking it is a fantastic attitude both mentally and physically for him to have. However, Bret’s brain and body are not quite 100% yet, especially with the hole found in his heart. Further tests will be conducted throughout the week and I will have more information next week as to how this Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) will be treated. For now, Bret will be treated with outpatient care which includes a daily injection of Lovenox (a blood thinner to reduce the chance of blood clots) and blood tests.”

Bret’s rep, Janna Elias, states “Bret wants everyone to know he cannot thank you enough for all of the well wishes, prayers, and good vibes you have sent his way. Even though these last few months have been tough on him and his family, especially this most recent setback, he is in good spirits, great medical hands and is positive and hopeful that everything is going to be OK. He is up, walking, talking, continuing his daily rehab and very happy to be alive but he has made it clear he is sick and tired of being in the hospital and is ready to rock again.”

Wendy Dio says Ronnie James knew how much people loved him

Wendy:

“Today my heart is broken. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us … Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”

His music most certainly will.

Worst rock club in New York City: Gramercy Theatre

If your favorite rock band is playing in New York City and it happens to be the Gramercy, wait til the band comes around and plays at another club. No amenities like coat or bag check is only the beginning. You can’t get any worse than the Gramercy’s general admission. They usually overbook it to the point where you can’t enjoy the show. And, by that time, if you want to get a beer … forget about it. It’s too crowded to even get to the bar(s). Even if you get a ticket in the seated area, the seats are really uncomfortable. It is NOT a good place to see any kind of show. Not to mention that the staff is one the most surly of all the NY clubs. You would find better customer service at a lake full of piranhas.

Avoid like the plague.

Alex Lifeson of Rush says a more guitar-oriented sound is a “reaction to what we were doing in the ’80s”

Here’s the whole answer by guitarist Alex Lifeson in an interview with Gibson.com:

Lifeson: It’s probably a reaction to what we were doing in the ’80s, when we started incorporating keyboards into our sound. It was still a very new thing, and that’s what really connected to us. But I think, once we got though the ’80s, we realized we went as far as we could with that. The real core part of the band is really in the three pieces — and really in the guitar. And in looking back, strictly for scheduling purposes, we put the keyboard down before we put the guitar down. So that made things a lot more restrictive for me and I had to work around a sound spectrum that was already occupied by keyboards. And I think, as a reaction to that, in the ’80s I went for a much wirier, thinner, clear trebly active pickup sound. In that period, I think that was just a response to the density of what the keyboard was doing. Around the early ’90s, though, we all made this conscious effort to step away from keyboards, especially Geddy, which you would think would be unusual. But I think he’d had it and felt very confined in his area of the stage with keys and stuff. I mean, even with stuff we’re writing now, I have been the one kind of introducing some keyboard lines. Part of that reaction was replacing keyboard stuff with guitar parts — “Vapor Trails”, for example, has so much layered guitar stuff and it’s fun to do. And even “Snakes & Arrows” has a lot of layering and it’s great fun to do, and I love listening to it and I love doing it. But it makes it harder to really not depend on a lot of triggers and samples and stuff like that playing it live. But as I was saying, even now, where I want to bring some more keyboard back in, I am getting a lot of resistance from Geddy.