On any given night, you can expect the usual suspects at Hard Times Café in Manassas, but throw 1980s rocker and reality TV star Bret Michaels into the mix, and you've got yourself a party.
Hard Times hosted the official Bret Michaels after-show party after the Def Leppard, Cheap Trick and Poison concert July 12. The Poison frontman and VH1 reality TV star showed up, around 11:30 p.m. And, of course, that's when the real party started.
Women -- from the white-collar, suburban mom to the tattooed trio of young women -- flocked to get a peak of or an autograph from the hair-band rocker.
Some waited with a Sharpie to have their breasts signed, while many more were satisfied with a signed publicity photo.
"This is my first time here," Ashley Davis, 22, said. "I'm a big fan of his show ("Rock of Love"), and I wanted to see what it would be like."
A few minutes with Michaels wasn't cheap. Fans paid $30 to get in the door for the event.
Michaels spent most of his one-hour appearance time behind a table, signing autographs and meeting fans. Sidekick Big John was also there, fending off pushy females.
Manassas-based cover band Evick played for the crowd, covering classic Bon Jovi, AC/DC and Poison tunes. Evick lead singer Pete Evick also plays with Bret Michaels' solo band -- Bret Michaels Band.
It was that connection which led Michaels to host the party there in the first place, said Hard Times Café co-owner Chris McNutly.
"This is a big event for us," McNutly said. "We're trying to expand to have more entertainment here."
John Shepherd of Manassas attended, just out of curiosity.
"I wanted to see the freak show. I am not necessarily a fan, but I wanted to see what it would be like -- the crowd," he said. "It's exactly what I had expected."
But the appearance meant a lot more for others. Lucky fan Mickey Agyuama of Manassas got Michaels to autograph his buddy's guitar.
"It means a lot to me," Agyuama said. "It's one of those bucket list things -- something you want to do before you die. Now I can check it off the list."
Maggie Ramsay can be reached at 703-878-3392.
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