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Kid Rock

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Kid Rock (real name Robert James Ritchie) is an American rapper, singer and rock musician. He was born January 17, 1971 in Romeo, Michigan.

Contents

Early years

Kid Rock was born Robert James Ritchie in the suburbs of Romeo, Michigan. Growing up, Richie and his father, a well-to-do car dealer in the area, frequently disagreed over the young Ritchie's lifestyle choices. Following a lawn mower accident that resulted in his brother, Billy, losing a leg, his father shifted the burden of holding down the house and all the reponsibilty of his brother on to the young Robert (thus evidenced by the song "My Oedipus Complex"). This led to increased friction between the two.

Richie eventually left home and moved to the housing projects in Mount Clemens, Michigan, where he took his Sears brand turntables to the basement parties hoping for a chance to play. Bo Wisdom of Groove Time Production offered him an opportunity to spin for the crowd; their enthusiasm for the young DJ led Wisdom to dub him with his new moniker, after watching "that kid rock."

After working with Groove Time Productions and the Beastcrew laying down some demos, Jive Records offered him a contract at the relatively young age of 17. Against his parents' wishes he signed the deal, and later was part of the "Straight From The Underground Tour" with several heavyweights of rap including Ice Cube, Too $hort, D-Nice, Yo-Yo.

In 1990 he released the album "Grits Sandwiches For Breakfast." Its first single, "Yo Da Lin In The Valley," was largely ignored by radio as it dealt largely with cunnilingus. Central Michigan University was later levied a $23,700 fine for airing it by the FCC.

The success and subsequent public ridicule of Vanilla Ice made Jive nervous about Kid Rock and the label eventually dropped Rock from their roster. He was later picked up by indie record label, Continuum, and recorded "The Polyfuze Method" in 1993. It saw some college radio success at Central Michigan University, and its first single, "Back From The Dead", became a Top 20 Hot Rap Track. The second single "U Don't Know Me" flopped and after 1994's "Fire It Up" EP, Contiuum dropped him from the label. 1993 also saw his collaboration with the Insane Clown Posse on the song "Is That You?!" from their debut full-length album Carnival of Carnage.

Kid started his own label, Top Dog, and from July 1994 through March 1995, released monthly demo tapes called "The Bootleg Series." In 1995, he took a job as a janitor at Whiterooms Studios largely in order to pay studio fees. In the process, he released the local classic "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp," which he sold 100,000 copies of out of his own basement. This success lead him to once again push for a major label record deal.

On March 30, 1997, he performed a special showcase concert to attract major label attention; the only label that showed up was Atlantic Records. Following the performance, record executives said they loved him but expressed doubts about the strength of the material. Kid Rock returned to the studio and cut two additional demos, "I Got One For Ya" and "Somebody's Gotta Feel This" which secured the record deal (for $100,000).

Mainstream success

In 1997 he added Jason Krause and Stephanie Eulinberg to his band, joining Kenny Olson, Jimmie Bones, Uncle Kracker, Mike Bradford, and Joe C. In August of 1998 he released Devil Without a Cause behind the single "Welcome 2 The Party" and went on the Vans Warped Tour.

"Welcome 2 The Party" was ignored by audiences and "Devil" sat on the shelves collecting dust for 8 months. A chance meeting at a New York nightclub with MTV VJ Carson Daly led to a video of "I Am The Bullgod" to MTV and with Carson's support, it became a moderate hit.

After two notable live performances at MTV's "Fashionably Loud" and "Wanna B A VJ," Kid released the single "Bawitdaba" to renewed interest and sales. Performances with Aerosmith and Run DMC at MTV's, '99 VMA's and high profile perforances at Woodstock 1999 and the Grammy Awards. He released three more singles from the album: "Cowboy", "Only God Knows Why", and "Wasting Time." Devil Without A Cause would eventually sell 11 millions copies.

In 2000, after acquiring the rights to his early material, he released The History Of Rock, a collection of remixed or re-recorded songs. The only new track, "American Bad Ass", sampled the Metallica track "Sad But True," and was later used as The Undertaker's entrance song in the World Wrestling Federation. Later that year, he joined rock band Phish onstage for several songs at a concert in Las Vegas. At the end of 2000, Joe C died of Celiac Disease.

In 2001, Kid Rock released Cocky, which was marketed as the official follow up to Devil Without a Cause. Despite featuring all new songs, the album did not reach the same level of success, mainly due to the decline of rap metal and fan rejection of the fusion of country music into many of the tracks. However, the release of "Picture," a country influenced duet with Sheryl Crow, introduced Rock to a new audience and was ultimately the most successful single on the album. Rock has since gained country music acclaim for such notable performances his performance of "Luckenbach, Texas" on the Waylon Jennings tribute album I've Always Been Crazy; and his appearance on Country Music Television's Crossroads episode with Hank Williams, Jr.

In 2003, Kid Rock returned with a self-titled album which delved even deeper into country music; however, the first single was a cover of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love". VH-1 Aired A Vh-1 Kid Rock Christmas on December 14,2003. Rock performed classic tracks along with several new tunes, and along with Hank Williams Jr, Shooter Jennings and Jesse James prepared Christmas (was actually Thanksgiving) dinner for Dre Dmato, Lee Ann Rimes, and Kid's parents. He later added a second country hit with Single Father in 2004.

Kid Rock made cameo appearances in two of Gretchen Wilson's music videos for the songs "Redneck Woman" and "All Jacked Up".

On February 28, 2006, Kid Rock released his first live album, Live Trucker, comprising songs from his homestands of Clarkston (9/1/00, 8/26/04, 8/27/04, 8/28/04) and Detroit's Cobo Hall (3/26/04). The album contained the last two performances of Joe C on "Devil Without A Cause" and "Early Mornin Stoned Pimp" as well has Gretchen Wilson dueting on "Picture". Other highlight included "Only God Knows Why," the medley "Somebodys Gotta Feel This-Fist Of Rage", and a thrash metal take on Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love.

Kid Rock today

Kid Rock's talent can be illustrated by the fact he is credited on his albums for not only vocals, but guitar (steel, rhythm, electric and acoustic), bass, percussion, mixing, mellotron, keyboard, backing vocals, slide guitar, scratching, programming, producer, and even banjo. He is famous for his high-energy personality on and off stage. Kid Rock's music has changed and evolved considerably over time, which has caused him to lose and gain millions of fans.

Kid Rock And Twisted Brown Trucker will release a live DVD of their performance at the Palace of Auburn Hills on May 12 and May 13, 2006 by the end of 2006.

A new studio album from Kid Rock is in the works and is set for release in early 2007. In a recent interview with Real Detroit Weekly, Rock said he is attempting to create "a timeless rock-n-roll record" so there will be no rap or country on it; Rock also said the record will be produced by Rick Rubin and will feature the J. Geils Band's Peter Wolfe [1].

Kid Rock appeared in an episode of CSI: NY called All Access as himself, which aired on CBS on April 26, 2006. In the episode, Kid Rock is questioned by investigators as the last person to see his limo driver alive.

Twisted Brown Trucker

Formed in 1994, Twisted Brown Trucker (TBT) is Kid Rock's band.

Current members

Former members

See also

Personal life

Kid Rock has one son, Robert James Ritchie Jr., born June 14, 1993 to Kelly South, a Detroit auto worker. In the fall of 2001 Kid Rock began dating actress and model Pamela Anderson. In April 2002 they announced their engagement, but during the fall of 2003 Kid Rock and Anderson broke up.

Kid Rock is known for outspoken political views. He has been a supporter of U.S. President George W. Bush. He was scheduled to perform at a pre-inauguration youth concert for President Bush, but the profanity and sexual innuendo in his lyrics caused the Bush campaign to reconsider. The fact that Rock's lyrics for "Pimp of the Nation" mention "pimpin' Barbara Bush," either the President's mother or daughter, did not help either.

The California pornography company Red Light District claims to have acquired a 1999 sex tape in which Kid Rock and Creed frontman Scott Stapp engage in sex acts with four groupies. They plan to release the tape in 2006. Counsel for Kid Rock and Scott Stapp have obtained a temporary injunction to prevent the video from being distributed online. Rock's attorneys are seeking to convert the TRO into a Permanent Injunction, thereby assuring that the tape never sees the light of day.

Discography

Albums

Grits Sandwiches For Breakfast (December 11, 1990) The Polyfuze Method (March 23, 1993) Fire It Up! (EP, January 1, 1994)

Early Mornin Stoned Pimp (January 9, 1996)

The Polyfuze Method Revisited (May 30, 1997)

Devil Without a Cause (8/18/1998, 11 million units sold in US)

The History of Rock (5/25/2000, 3 million units sold in US) Cocky (11/20/2001, 5 million units sold in US, Picture Certified Gold Single) Kid Rock (11/11/2003, 2 million units sold in US) Live Trucker (2/28/2006 -200 K Units Sold In US) "TBA-DVD" (Due Fall Of 2006)

"TBA-CD" (Due Winter Of 2007)

Other singles

Other appearances

External links

 

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