Butler native Bret Michaels rocks the crowd Wednesday at the Big Butler Fair. The band Poison's front man brought songs both classic and new plus blasts of pyrotechnics to the stage for thousands of fans.

FRANKLIN TWP — Bret Michaels' homecoming performance at the Big Butler Fair Wednesday night attracted thousands of fans, many of them donning bandannas and cowboy hats like the Poison rock icon always does.

Michaels, who was born in Butler in 1963, brought the heat, but not because it was a humid night. Fireballs, smoke and a guitar with flames painted on it were all part of the show.

Those in the crowd raised their hands and waved lit cellphones and lighters throughout the concert. Many eagerly snapped photographs.

Michaels paid homage to his hometown and thanked family and friends for being there.

“It's good to be home!” he said.

The audience roared with approval.

During the concert, officials honored him with a key to the city from Butler Mayor Tom Donaldson, and a proclamation making the day Bret Michaels Day from Butler County Commissioner Bill McCarrier.

“He hasn't forgotten his hometown,” McCarrier said.

“I will wear my Butler flag here on out,” Michaels said. With the symbolic key, he added “Now we can go to any bar we want and party all night long!”

Michaels also played in honor of veterans, switching from a red bandanna to a black custom made cowboy hat with red, white and blue bling. Not long after, he brought his father, Wally Sychak, a Navy veteran, to the stage.

“Without him, I got nothing,” he said. “Come up here, pops!”

The set mixed some of his classic Poison hits, like “Talk Dirty to Me,” “Unskinny Bop” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” with more recent songs, including a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Sweet Home Alabama,” which is featured on his most recent album.

A few lucky fans got to hug the star and get a few quick photographs with Michaels before he took the stage.Brittany Overly with her aunt, Donna Mitchell, stood in front of his RV, still shaking moments after the surreal experience. The two won meet-and-greet tickets with the singer.“He hugged us and told us we were beautiful,” said Overly of West Sunbury. “Made our day.”Overly said she's been a Bret Michaels fan since she “was in diapers.”Mitchell said, “I had a mad crush on him since I was in high school.”Nancy Stewart and Danielle Hoffman, longtime friends from Sarver, were in awe.“I tried to make this happen in Kittanning four years ago,” Stewart said.She had gotten the bandanna Michaels wore from that show but didn't get it signed by him until Wednesday night.“He's very sweet. Very down to earth. Love him,” she said.Friends Michele Bateman, Alicia Lucas, Devin McElhattan and Erica Lucas of Delmont were ecstatic to have a chance to meet Michaels.“I'm probably going to pass out, and he's going to have to resuscitate me,” said Lucas, 20.Her shirt read “Keep Calm and Love Bret Michaels.”

Her sister, Erica, hoped he would sign her stomach so she could get it tattooed. They know him from his former VH1 reality show, “Rock of Love.”Other hard core fans began filtering in hours before the show started.Sisters-in-law Birdie Wiley and Carla Johnston of Ellwood City wore matching Bret Michaels T-shirts with a pink camo print. They both also had pink cowboy hats.“When he's playing close, we like to see him,” Johnston said.Deb Turner of Townville, which is about 70 miles north of Butler, stood at the front row of the stage since 5 p.m. That was four hours before Michaels was scheduled to take the stage.“His music is embedded in her head,” Turner said, pointing to her 15-year-old daughter, Killian, “Because I made her listen to it all the time.”The mother-daughter duo came to the show with Killian's friend, Hannah White, also of Townville. She said Michaels' Big Butler Fair appearance marks her 10th time seeing him in concert.They weren't the only group that had mothers sharing musical tastes with their children.Sisters Kristina Frain, 16, and Emma Frain, 9, of Apollo, said they heard all of his songs because of their mother.“I want them to experience good music,” said Tanya Frain. “I think it's awesome that he's doing this for the local fans, bringing it back home.”

Ben Roenigk, vice president of the fair, said that about 6,000 to 7,000 people attended the concert, and he said it likely was a record attendance for a Wednesday night at the fair. He also said vendors sold about $21,000 worth of beer.“The concert was great,” Roenigk said.He said there were no traffic or parking problems, and that there were no fights or other incidents.<BR></BR><BR></BR>

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Danielle Hoffman of Sarver cozies up for a photograph with Bret Michaels at a meet-and-greet before the rock star’s concert Wednesday at the Big Butler Fair.

Thousands listen to the opening act while waiting to hearBret Michaels perform as the sun goes down Wednesday.Michaels went on to play Poison classics like “Every RoseHas Its Thorn” along with more recent songs, including acover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Sweet Home Alabama,” which is featured on his most recent album.

Bret Michaels accepts a key from Butler Mayor Tom Donaldson and a proclamation about Bret Michaels Day Wednesday from Butler County Commissioner Bill McCarrier, on stage at the Big Butler Fair.

Michaels brings his father, Wally Sychak, to the stage.