Despite the wait, the fans -- many of them women -- were ecstatic about being in the rocker's presence.
"We need some excitement in Hagerstown," said Colleen Morales, who was enjoying a night out with Heather Naylor and Vanessa Barnhart of Hagerstown and Misti Hurd of Maugansville.
The four women stood outside Michaels' bus, finding their place in a crowded parking lot. When the women arrived, the line to get tickets was so long that it trailed over a hill in the parking lot, Morales said.
"So we went to the bar" Morales said.
Michaels was on tour with his solo act named for his reality series -- a dating show in which women compete to be his "rock of love." The show, "Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels," airs Sundays on VH1.
Fans gave mixed reviews of the women that appear on it.
"He needs to pick some better chicks," Hurd said.
Nicole Jednorski of Middletown, Md., was eager to see Michaels at a point in her life where she could better appreciate him.
Jednorski said her father worked as a bouncer at Hammerjacks concert hall in Baltimore, and he introduced her to Michaels when he appeared there in 1983. Jednorski was 3 years old at the time.
"I'm interested in seeing him acoustically, solo," Jednorski said.
Lindsay Shatzer of Hagerstown was taking advantage of hearing a member of a band that she listened to growing up.
Her boyfriend, Samuel Younker, was less interested.
"I'm just following her," Younker said.
Inside, Washington, D.C., band JunkFood was warming up the crowd with a loud performance.
Michael Malone, one of the owners of Hager Hall, said about 1,100 tickets were sold before the show. "We can do 1,500," he said.
Malone said about 100 workers in security, food and other areas were staffing the event.
"It's like New Year's Eve. Everybody has to work," Malone said.
Michaels has sold 25 million albums and is known for hits like "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." He also has produced music for performers like Stevie Nicks, according to his Web site.
He was scheduled to perform in Baltimore tonight.
