Picture by Deb Rao

BW&BK; has received the following update from correspondent Deb Rao:

The Rock The Ink Festival invaded the city of Providence, RI at the Dunkin' Donut Center and Rhode Island Convention Center for a very successful three night stand through October 24 - 26. The Rock The Ink Festival celebrated the rock and roll lifestyle and tattoo life style, proving the two really go hand in hand, as music lovers flocked to the Festival to check out the music and at the same time get a tattoo.

The event featured some of the top names in local and national talent including headlining acts on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on October 24th, GODSMACK with a sold out performance on October 25th and capped off the event on October 26 with VH - 1 star Bret Michaels.

The festival featured well-known tattoo artist Ami James of Miami Ink, Daytona Hardcore Tattoo, plus a huge variety of tattoo companies from around the country. The Rock The Ink Festival also featured a signing at the Yamaha Booth with the Rock of Love girls including Jessica, Destiny, Kristy Jo and Lacey, who informed us that her band NOCTURNE is headed into the studio to record a new release.

Bret Michaels capped off the event with his solo band performing an hour long set, which included all of the POISON hits and new material from his solo album Rock My World. Bret's solo band features Bret Michaels on vocals and guitar, Pete Evick on guitar, Robi Wylde on keyboards, Dirty Ray on bass, and Lucky Chucky on drums.

Big John from Rock of Love fame introduced the band as they opened the night with the Poison hit, 'Talk Dirty To Me'. Bret Michaels and company also performed two hits from his latest solo album, Rock My World including 'Bittersweet', and the hit from the Rock of Love show, 'Go That Far', as the enthusiastic crowd sang along to every word.

Bret Michaels also performed an acoustic version of 'Something To Believe In' on acoustic guitar and dedicated that song to the Troops in Iraq, who are fighting for our freedom. The band also perform three covers including, 'Sweet Home Alabama', 'Knockin On Heaven's Door' and 'Your Mama Don't Dance'.

Bret commented: "'Knockin On Heaven's Door' was the first song that I learned to play when I was six years old and also that was the age I discovered I had diabetes. I have been giving myself four shots a day ever since then. This is the fourth show in a row this week. The band just performed in Tennessee, The Pensacola Fair, Ocala, FL, and now Providence, RI. It is an honor to be here tonight on the last night of Rock The Ink. I want to thank the Rock of Love girls for being here tonight. We just wrapped up shooting the upcoming season for Rock of Love 3, which begins on January 4th."

The audience really enjoyed seeing the softer side of Bret, as the Poison front man crooned, 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn'. Bret Michaels ended the show with 'Fallen Angel', and returned to the stage for the encore, 'Nothing But A Good Time'.

Complete setlist: 'Talk Dirty To Me', 'Look What The Cat Dragged In', 'Something To Believe In', 'Knockin On Heaven's Door', 'Sweet Home Alabama', 'Bittersweet', 'Your Mama Don't Dance', 'Go That Far', 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn', 'Fallen Angel', 'Nothing But A Good Time'.