Michaels books 'Marathon' concert dates

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. recording star Bret Michaels has signed to perform at four Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series events this year, the show's producers said Friday.

The first of his dates is March 27 at the Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

"This is the perfect marriage of running and post-race entertainment," Scott Dickey, president of Competitor Group, which owns the series, said in a statement. "Never in the 14-year history of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series has there been a finish line concert that generated more excitement and as much enthusiasm as Bret Michaels did in Las Vegas (last year.)"

The Dallas event kicks off the four-concert tour headlined by Michaels, along with post-race shows scheduled for Philadelphia Sept. 18, Los Angeles Oct. 30 and one other event to be announced.

"The Rock 'n' Roll Marathons are a great time, they support tremendous causes and the crowd is pumped up from running," Michaels said. "You can feel the energy and feel the love; everyone is bonded and united from the race. I'm really looking forward to performing and can't wait to get out there and put on a great show."

The 47-year-old musician and reality TV personality underwent surgery last month to repair a congenital hole in his heart that was discovered last year after he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and emergency appendectomy.