Bret Michaels Nearly Beheaded at Tony Awards

Some might say it was the karmic wheel just doing its job of balancing everything out when Bret Michaels of Poison was nearly beheaded by the descending curtain emblazoned with "Broadway" at the 2009 Tony Awards. Some might say it was just bad timing. It was most definitely irony in motion: a reality show star caught up in a real live moment, mis-timing his cue, and facing the hard reality of failing to follow script. Bret Michaels would probably say it was just painful.

It certainly looked that way.

Bret Michaels, the lead singer of the legendary hair metal band Poison, and the band rocked the Tonys Sunday evening, performing "Nothin' But A Good Time" with the cast of "Rock of Ages," the hit Broadway show that chronicles the journey of an aspiring rock singer (played by Tony Award nominee and "American Idol" alum Constantine Maroulis). When everyone exited to the rear of the stage, Bret Michaels was a little late in making his exit. As he stepped up onto the raised platform, a descending curtain nearly decapitated the star of the reality show "Rock of Love."

His "good time" was over for the evening.

Just before the show, Bret Michaels told NY1, "For us, it's really kilere. It's the most awesome, yet strangest thing we've ever done."

In literature, throwing in a line like that would be called foreshadowing, especially considering what befell the blond front man soon thereafter.

But what really killed was "Billy Elliot."

Because Bret Michaels words (and floor routine) was a sign of things to come for the musician and "Rock of Ages," which went home with nothing. "Billy Elliot" was the big winner of the night, winning Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Performance by a Leading Actor (shared among the three teenage boys who rotated as Billy Elliot), Best Performance by a Featured Actor, and five others. Angela Lansbury won her fifth Tony Award for her performance as Featured Actress in "Blithe Spirit." Geoffrey Rush won for Best Leading Actor in a Play for "Exit The King." Best Performance for Leading Actress in a Play went to Marcia Gay Harden for "God of Carnage."

"Hair," not to be confused with the aforementioned Bret Michaels, won for Best Revival of a Musical. Best Play went to "God of Carnage." Best Revival of a Play was won by "The Norman Conquests."

Although it was speculated upon by many, Bret Michaels did not break his nose. It was reported that the rocker was doing well.

Following the incident, possibly the funniest (though insensitive) headline came from NJ.com, "Bret Michaels Tony Awards Video: Unskinny Bop (on the head)."

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Sources:

"2009 Tony Awards," CBS Television

NJ.com

NY1