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Kid Rock Wiki Information

Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known by his stage name Kid Rock , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter with five Grammy Award nominations. Kid Rock is known for his eccentric personality and his music that fuses rap with heavy metal, blues rock, southern rock, funk and country music.

Kid Rock released several studio albums that mostly went unnoticed before his 1998 record Devil Without a Cause , released with Atlantic Records, sold 11 million albums behind the hits, "Bawitdaba","Cowboy," and "Only God Knows Why". In 2000, he released The History of Rock which was a compilation of remixed and remastered versions of songs from his previous albums as well as the single, "American Bad Ass". In 2001, he released the follow up, Cocky . After a slow start, his country-flavored hit "Picture" with Sheryl Crow resurrected the album and it went gold as a single and pushed the album's sales to more than 5 million. It was followed by 2003's self-titled release, which failed to chart a major hit. In 2006 he released Live Trucker , a live album. In 2007 Kid Rock released Rock N Roll Jesus , which produced a hit in "All Summer Long". It was his first worldwide smash hit, charting #1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia. ^[1] ^[2] Rock N Roll Jesus would go on to sell 5 million albums worldwide including being certified triple platinum in the US.

He has sold 22 million albums to date in the United States, which currently ranks him has the 99th best selling music artist of all time in the U.S.

KID ROCK TICKETS

EVENT	DATE	AVAILABILITY
Rock The Country: Kid Rock, Nickelback, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Gavin Adcock - 2 Day Pass Tickets 4/4	Apr 04, 2025 Friday
Rock The Country: Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Treaty Oak Revival & Mark Chesnutt - Saturday (Time: TBD) Tickets 4/5	Apr 05, 2025 Sat, 12:00 PM
Rock The Country: Kid Rock, Nickelback, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Gavin Adcock - 2 Day Pass Tickets 4/25	Apr 25, 2025 Friday
Rock The Country: Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gavin Adcock & Mark Chesnutt - Saturday (Time: TBD) Tickets 4/26	Apr 26, 2025 Sat, 12:00 PM
Rock The Country: Kid Rock, Nickelback, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Tracy Lawrence - 2 Day Pass Tickets 5/2	May 02, 2025 Friday

Musical career

Early years

Kid Rock grew up on an apple orchard in Romeo, Michigan and his father was a wealthy car dealer. His parents would entertain guests with Bobby singing covers of Jim Croce, Johnny Cash and Bob Seger at their barn parties. However, by the time the 1980s began hip-hop had emerged, and a late-night TV performance by the Fat Boys had Bobby hooked. He became immersed in hip hop with groups like Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Whodini, Too Short and Erik B and Rakim. At age eleven he joined a breakdance crew (referred to as b-boy), called the Furious Funkers. They would dance anywhere they could for money. He saved up his money to buy a cheap belt-driven turntable and he taught himself how to work the tables. In high school, Ritchie DJed at parties for beer. He eventually joined Bo Wisdom of Groove Time Productions, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan to perform basement parties for thirty dollars a night. It was then that he was given his stage name; club goers dubbed him with the moniker "Kid Rock" after they had enjoyed watching "that white kid can rock."

In addition to DJing, Rock started rapping and joined a local hip hop group The Beast Crew they were composed of The Blackman, Champtown, KDC, Crisp and Doc Rounce Cee. Rock also became friends with producer D-Nice of the legendary hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions. When Rock opened for BDP one night, D-Nice invited an A&R representative from Jive Records to see him perform. This meeting led to a demo deal, which developed into a full record contract. Against his parents' wishes, Rock signed the deal at the age of seventeen. Despite his new record deal, he had a falling out with The Beast Crew when he signed over fellow member Champtown (the two have become friends again since). They also left his vocals in on tracks on their debut underground album "Chapter 1: He Don't Want Us No More," against his wishes. Rock later became part of the Straight From The Underground Tour, where he found himself alongside several heavyweights of rap including Ice Cube, Too Short, D-Nice, and Yo-Yo.

Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast

On December 11, 1990, Kid Rock released his debut album Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast on Jive Records. The lead single "Yo Da Lin In The Valley" was banned by the FCC for its fixation on oral sex, and received at the time the largest non-commercial radio fine of all time at $23,750 fined to SUNY Cortland Radio (WSUC-FM). ^[3]. Jive released Kid Rock from their roster in 1991. It was during the height of the 2 Live Crew censorship trial and they deemed Kid Rock's album too dirty. ^[4]

He would meet Uncle Kracker in 1991 after battling Kracker's brother in a rap battle back in Clawson, Michigan. Kid Rock eventually asked Uncle Kracker to become his full time DJ, although at the time he had no clue how to play them.

Grits Sandwiches sold 100,000 copies upon its initial release. Atlantic Record won the rights to the record in 2000 and re-released the album.

Independent days

In late 1991 he was picked up by an independent record label called Continuum Records, which released his second album The Polyfuze Method the following year. He moved to Brooklyn to work on the album. It was more rock oriented with Rock teaching himself how to play several different instruments including guitar, drums, keyboard and organ. While the album saw some local college radio success at Central Michigan University with the tracks "Back From The Dead" and "Balls In Your Mouth" (which was an even crudier ode to oral sex than Yo Da Lin In The Valley,that never got fined ), the lead single, "U Don't Know Me", failed to chart, and the music video received little airplay on any major music video channels. Kid Rock rereleased "Back From The Dead" as a single to mainstream radio, but that too failed as a single. The album has sold around 100,000 copies.

He released an EP called Fire It Up later in 1993. The album was hard rock oriented but he couldn't get rock radio to pick up on any of the singles, including "I Am the Bullgod", which would be a hit five years later. They would tell him there was too much rapping in the songs. Continuum didn't see a future with Rock after this and released him from his contract in 1994.

He moved back to Detroit where his on-again/off-again relationship with Kelly South resulted in the birth of his son, Robert James Ritchie Jr. Kid Rock gained custody of his son. He started his own label, Top Dog Records, and released monthly demo tapes dubbed The Bootleg Series , which featured demos of him and other up-and-coming rappers and garage rock bands in the Detroit area. Around the same time, Kid Rock formed his back-up band Twisted Brown Trucker, later recruiting Joe C., who he met at a 1994 concert, as part of the group. In 1995, Rock took a job as a janitor at Whiterooms Studios in order to pay studio fees. When he wasn't working, Kid Rock recorded the material that would eventually make up his fourth album, Early Morning Stoned Pimp . During the recording process he met piano player Jimmie Bones ,who was working with Robert Bradley in the adjacent room at White Room Studios. Bones decided to join Kid Rock's band soon after. The album was released January 9 th 1996, after a loan from his father and Kid Rock sold 60,000 copies out of the trunk of his car and after concerts. With EMSP local success he would rerelease The Polyfuze Method as The Polyfuze Method Revisted in 1997 with " I Am The Bullgod", "Rollin On The Island" and "Rain Check" as additional tracks in March 1997.

While Kid Rock was now popular in Michigan and controlling his own label, he felt he needed to get attention from a major label. Without knowing in December 1996, Lava/Atlantic Records A&R man Andy Karp, traveled to Cleveland to see Rock perform at a small club called The Grog Shop. This was key because on March 30, 1997, Rock performed a special showcase concert to attract major label attention. While many of the major labels were invited, the only attendees were Karp and Lava President Jason Flom (Lava/Atlantic Records) who had seen him in Cleveland. Following the performance, record executives said they loved him but expressed doubts about the strength of his material. Kid Rock returned to the studio and cut a six song demo tape; the first two songs on the tape were "Somebody's Gotta Feel This" and "I Got One For Ya". After hearing the two songs, Jason Flom supported Karp in signing Kid Rock to a record deal for $100,000, without even hearing the rest. ^[5]

Devil Without a Cause

In 1997, Kid Rock added drummer/vocalist Stefanie Eulinberg to his band, joining Kenny Olson, Jason Krause, Jimmie Bones, Uncle Kracker, Misty Love, Shirley Hayden and Joe C.. On August 18 1998, Atlantic released Devil Without a Cause behind the single "Welcome 2 The Party." Kid Rock went on the Vans Warped Tour to support the album.

Audiences ignored "Welcome 2 The Party" and Devil sat on the shelves collecting dust for eight months. While sales nationwide lagged, his performance on the 1998 Warped Tour in Northampton, Massachusetts stimulated regional interest in Massachusetts and New England. This led to substantial airplay in the summer and fall of 1998 on rock staples in Massachusetts WZLX and WAAF for the single "I Am The Bullgod." In December 1998, while dj'ing at a club he met and became friends with MTV host Carson Daly, he got an offer to perform on MTV Fashionably Loud in Miami, giving the nation its first real look at Kid Rock. From there, MTV took him under their wing as he performed on MTV's Wanna B A VJ doing "My Name Is Rock" and was the DJ for TRL on the Spring Break Special as well as a judge on Say What Karaoke . This sparked him to gold status by April 1999. ^[6]

In May 1999, he released the song "Bawitdaba" to radio outlets, and proceeded to blow up overnight. By June, the album had gone platinum. Kid Rock went on the Limptropolis Tour with fellow rap-rockers Limp Bizkit and Staind in the same month, his first major tour. By the time he made his career defining performance at Woodstock 1999 on July 27, 1999, he was double platinum. The following single "Cowboy" was an even bigger hit. It was a unique mix of southern rock, country and rap that found its way into the Top 40. Kid Rock helped create one of the most memorable moments in MTV history with his 1999 Video Music Awards medley with Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith who rejoined to perform the seminal rap-rock version of "Walk This Way," the same song that revived Aerosmith's career in the 1980s. Rock's next single, the rock ballad "Only God Knows Why," would be the biggest hit off the album charting at No 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. By the time the final single "Wasting Time" was released the album had sold 7 million albums, Devil Without A Cause was certified 11 times platinum by the RIAA on April 17, 2003..

He was nominated as Best New Artist at the 2000 Grammy Award's losing out to Christina Aguilera. He was also nominated for "Bawitdaba" for Best Hard Rock Performance, the award was won by Metallica for "Whiskey In The Jar."

The History of Rock

After reacquiring the rights to his early material in 2000, Rock released The History of Rock , a collection of remixed and re-recorded songs from The Polyfuze Method and Early Mornin Stoned Pimp. The one of two new tracks, "American Bad Ass" was released as a single. It sampled the Metallica track "Sad But True".

On May 27 Kid Rock would perform on Saturday Night Live . He first performed "American Bad Ass". The second song was an acoustic version of "Only God Knows Why" that featured Phish's Trey Anatasio. Kid Rock would join Phish later in the year in Las Vegas, Nevada for a set of cover songs.

"American Bad Ass" was used as pro wrestler The Undertaker's entrance song in the World Wrestling Federation for a year. He performed the song in Vancouver Canada on Monday Night Raw on May 29, 2000. During the show Joe C helped the Dudley Boys win the tag team titles from Edge and Christain who had mocked him for being a midget. Edge and Christain got their revenge by stuffing him in a trash can and slamming him into the wall afterwards. The following night Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett of Metallica joined Kid Rock to do "American Bad Ass" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno .

From June 30 to August 22 2000, Rock joined the Summer Sanitarium Tour with Metallica, Korn, Powerman 5000, and System of a Down. Kid Rock filled in for James Hetfield of Metallica, singing vocals on the songs "Enter Sandman", "Sad But True", and "Nothing Else Matters" and the turntables for "Fuel", for three shows after Hetfield injured his spine riding a jet ski on Lake Lanier the day before the July 7th Atlanta concert.

On November 16, 2000 Joseph "Joe C" Callejua would pass away in his sleep from Coeliac disease in Taylor, MI. The disease stunted his growth and forced him to take 60 pills a day. Joe C's final song was "Cool Daddy Cool" for the Osmosis Jones soundtrack. The band made a cameo in the movie as the band playing in the club scene. Kid Rock was referred to as Kidney Rock to go along with the cartoon aspect of being a cell in the body of Frank played by Bill Murray.

In early 2001, Rock inducted Aerosmith into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed "Sweet Emotion" at the induction ceremony. The same year, Rock landed his first acting role in the David Spade white trash comedy Joe Dirt . His character was Robbie a redneck bully to Joe Dirt who was chasing after Joe's unaware love interest Brandy.

"American Bad Ass" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 2001s Grammy Awards. Losing out to Rage Against The Machine's "Guerilla Radio". The History of Rock would go on to be certified double platinum.

Cocky

In 2001 Kid Rock began dating Playboy playmate and actress Pamela Anderson, after the two met at a VH1 tribute to Aretha Franklin. By April 2002, he and Anderson were engaged, but the engagement was later called off. ^[7]

In November, Kid Rock released Cocky , which was marketed as the official follow up to Devil Without a Cause . With the era of rap metal on the decline, Kid Rock included several southern rock and country ballads on the album. The first single, "Forever", featured his standard brash rap-rock sound, but lacked the selling power of "Devil Without A Cause". By the time the songs "Lonely Road of Faith"and "You Never Met a Motherfucker Quite Like Me" were released as singles the album struggled to reach platinum a year later. However, the release of "Picture", a country-influenced duet with Sheryl Crow, introduced Kid Rock to a wider audience. "Picture" was ultimately the most successful single on the album, and was eventually certified gold, with album sales reaching 5 million. Interestingly, neither his record company nor Sheryl Crow's wanted anything to do with "Picture" as a single. Allison Moorer remade the song for the single version after Kid Rock released the song against his label's wishes. Once it began to climb the country charts, Sheryl Crow's label caved and the original version was released. ^[8] The song would chart at No 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No 17 on Country radio. The song remains his most successful pop song in the US to date.

On December 14, 2001, CMT aired an episode of Crossroads featuring Rock with Hank Williams, Jr. The episode drew 2.1 million viewers, a record on CMT. ^[9]. He would perform for troops in January 2002 on an MTV USO Special at Germany's Ramstein Air Base along with Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez.

At the end of 2002, Uncle Kracker left the band to pursue a solo career and Detroit underground rapper Paradime replaced him. Kid Rock also made his second movie, Biker Boyz , with Laurence Fishburne. His character was Dogg, a rival bike leader to Laurence Fishburne's character.

A new direction

In 2003, Kid Rock returned with an eponymous album, almost stripping away the accustomed rap rock sound that he had created, opting for southern rock and several country ballads in the wake of "Picture"'s success. None of the album's singles could match "Picture"'s success however. The album's lead single was a cover of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love". A media blitz accompanied the single capped off by the VH-1 special called A Kid Rock Christmas , which aired on December 14, 2003. He would release "Cold And Empty", "Jackson, Mississippi" and "I Am" to minor success on radio. The David Allan Coe penned "Single Father", became his second charting country song, although like the other singles it was minor hit at #50.. Kid Rock would be his lowest selling mainstream studio album of his career with 1.4 million copies sold.

Kid Rock was involved in the halftime show controversy at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2004. He was criticized by war veterans for his choice of wearing the American flag as a poncho.

The following month, Kid inducted Bob Seger into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In September 2005, Kid Rock filled in for Johnny Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd on the band's hit "Sweet Home Alabama" at the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert. ^[10]

He performed the theme song for Spike TV's Striperella , which featured Pamela Anderson in 2003, the song was entitled "Erotica".

Live Trucker

On February 28, 2006, Kid Rock released his first live album, Live Trucker , comprising songs from his homestead performances in Clarkston (on September 1, 2000, and August 26 through August 28, 2004), and Detroit's Cobo Hall (March 26, 2004). The album contained the last two performances of Joe C. on "Devil Without a Cause" and "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp," as well as Kid duetting with country star Gretchen Wilson on "Picture."

He brought Detroit's favorite son Bob Seger back from semi-retirement during his pre-Super Bowl concerts on February 2 and 3, 2006 in Detroit. The two performed a rousing version of Seger's "Rock 'N' Roll Never Forgets" on both nights. Kid Rock would appear on Bob Seger's much anticipated album, Face The Promise , on a Vince Gill cover of "Real Mean Bottle," a tribute to country legend Merle Haggard. He would make a cameo in the movie Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector and was also was in an episode of CSI: New York in 2006 as the main suspect of the death of his limo driver.

He would induct Lynyrd Skynyrd into the 2006 Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame and perform "Sweet Home Alabama" with them.

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson resumed their on-again, off-again relationship, culminating in a surprise wedding in July 2006 after it was reported Anderson was pregnant. They divorced 5 months later after Kid Rock stated she lied about having a miscarriage.

Rock N Roll Jesus

Rock N Roll Jesus was released on October 9, 2007. The album became Kid Rock's first album to go number 1 in his career, selling 172,000 copies in its first week. ^[11] He made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine for the second time of his career, ^[12] and appeared for the first time ever on Larry King Live to discuss the new album.

Although the albums first two singles were very successful on rock radio in "So Hott" and "Amen," the albums third single "All Summer Long", would become a worldwide smash. It would bring Kid Rock back to the forefront of music during 2008 and 2009. It utilized the mash up of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London", while talking about two teens falling in love during summer camp in 1989. Despite his boycott of iTunes, "All Summer Long" would chart at No 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would also become his biggest country hit as well peaking at No 4. It did even better worldwide charting number one in eight countries across Europe and Australia.

Due to the strength of the single, "Rock N Roll Jesus" would return to the Top 10 on the charts for an astounding 17 straight weeks. During that time album sales sky rocketed from gold to double platinum. Both " Roll On" and the title track were released as follow up singles to "All Summer Long" with "Roll On" failing to chart and Jesus was a minor rock hit. The album's final single was "Blue Jeans And A Rosary" which was a minor country hit at No 50.

Kid Rock performed on VH1 Storytellers on November 27, 2008, giving insight to how he wrote some of his hit songs. On April 5,2009 he performed a 5-song medley at WrestleMania XXV. He also recorded " Warrior" for a National Guard plug featured in all PG and PG 13 movies throughout the fall of 2008.

He was nominated for best rock album and best male pop/rock performance for "All Summer Long" at the 2009 Grammys. He lost to Coldplay's Viva La Vida for best Rock Album and John Mayer's "Say" for Best Male Pop/Rock Performance. He would take home his first country award winning for Best Wide Open Country Video for "All Summer Long" at the 2009 CMT Awards

On May 22 Kid Rock's June 8, 2008 concert at Germany's Rock AM Festival was aired on every MTV affiliate around the world on their debut show "World Stage". ^[13] On July 3, 2009 "Rock N Roll Jesus" was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.

Kid Rock held his largest headline concert of his career the weekend of July 17 and 18th, 2009 at Comerica Park, which is home to the Detroit Tigers. 80,000 people attended the two shows combined. He launched the release of Bad Ass Beer at the concert and debut a song off his next album in the song "In Times Like These" an acoustic song about Detroit's struggling economy.

Working On A New Album

Kid Rock's follow up to Rock N Roll Jesus is being produced by Rick Rubin. Rolling Stone Magazine's recent Q&A with Kid Rock in their August 6, 2009 issue confirmed two song in "The Midwest Fall" and "One Women Man". Other confirmed song have been Care ft T.I. and In Times Like These, he performs the latter on his current tour. The song is about Detroit's struggling economy. A song with rapper Lil Wayne as also been confirmed, it will be a freestyle rap over The Who's "Eminence Front", according to the Detroit Free Press. In an interview with WRIF Detroit in May 2009 he discussed a hard rock cover of country group, Alabama's "Mountain Song" as well as a mash up of Cowboy and Wanted Dead or Alive ft Bon Jovi. He wasn't sure if the mash up would make the album however. The album will be released between late 2009 and early 2010.

Chillin The Most Cruise

It was announced that Kid Rock will launch and host his first annual cruise dubbed the "Chillin The Most Cruise" a call back to his hit "Cowboy," on April 29, 2010. It will run 4 days through May 3rd from Tampa, Florida to Grand Cayman. It will feature him and several other bands yet to be named. The cruise is produced by Atlanta based events company, Sixthman.

Legal troubles

Kid Rock has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement. In February 2005, he was arrested on assault charges for punching DJ Jay Campos in 'Christies Cabaret' strip club. Rock pleaded no contest and was sued for $575,000 by Campos. ^[14]

Kid Rock was cited for assault on Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee on September 9, 2007 at MTV's Video Music Awards. ^[15]

In October 2007, Kid Rock was involved in a brawl at a Waffle House in Atlanta and charged with simple battery ^[16]. ^[17] He pleaded nolo contendere ("no contest") to one count, was fined $1,000, required to perform 80 hours of community service and complete a 6-hour course on anger management. ^[18]

Feuds

Insane Clown Posse

In 1992 Kid Rock recorded the track "Is That You?" with the Insane Clown Posse on their 1992 album Carnival of Carnage . A payment altercation would lead to an ICP and Kid Rock feud for several years. Awesome Dre was originally going to do a verse on "Taste" for Carnival of Carnage but while waiting in the studio for him to arrive, Insane Clown Posse saw Esham. Esham suggested he appear on the track instead, for the same amount of money as Awesome Dre, and Insane Clown Posse allowed him on. Esham was paid $500 for his appearance. Kid Rock demanded a hundred more than Esham, and was thus paid $600 to appear on "Is That You?" Kid Rock showed up to record "Is That You?" intoxicated, but re-recorded his vocals and record scratching the following day. ICP would during an interview about the album dis Kid Rock and said they didn't even want him on the album. Kid Rock responded on his bootleg series tapes on "Ya Keep On" saying "Don't call me Joe, cause the Joes I know can't even flow." Shaggy 2 Dope would respond with "Fuck Off" saying "I won't mix no rap with rock n roll like somebody else I know." Kid Rock would respond back on "Freestyle Rhyme" with "Is there anything wackier than a clown, nope, some people don't get it they have no talent so they hide behind a gimmick." After no response from ICP in 1999 on Uncle Kracker's "Heaven," Kid Rock and Kracker took another shot at them. Saying "Fuck Faygos bitch, we pound cans of Strohs." Violent J responded this time with "Posse On Vernor" with "Junkie on the corner, needle about to shoot, with a rebel flag and some cowboy boots, the closer we got the more clear it became, it's Kid Rock yelling What's my name?" Kid Rock hasn't responded as he would become big soon after.

Tommy Lee

Kid Rock began dating Pamela Anderson after they met during a TV special. Tommy Lee, Anderson's ex-husband, was serving a jail sentence for spousal abuse of Anderson at the time. Kid Rock telephoned Lee to tell him he was dating Anderson. For a few years Tommy Lee threatened to "beat Kid Rock up" if they ever met in person.

In 2004, while Kid Rock, Anderson, and Lee were coincidentally staying at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Kid Rock learned that Anderson had contracted Hepatitis C from Lee. He went through the hotel looking for Lee but a confrontation was avoided when Kid Rock barged into the wrong room.

During a 2006 Super Bowl party in Detroit, Tommy Lee was assaulted by rapper Trick Trick after he made several remarks about Kid Rock.

After Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson were divorced in 2006, she resumed her relationship with Lee, briefly. Tommy Lee began sending text messages to Kid Rock, bragging that he and Anderson were back together and that he never satisfied her.

At the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, Kid Rock went to the bathroom, and when he returned Tommy Lee had taken his seat to talk to Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Kid Rock returned to his seat, and finding Lee there slapped and punched him before they were separated by security personnel. Kid Rock was later quoted as saying that he was "tired of the disrespect" from Tommy Lee.

Influences and sound

Kid Rock's genre-spanning sound incorporates a wide variety of musical styles and influences, ranging from classic rock and hip-hop to country. Kid Rock himself has referred to his unique stylistic blend as a result of being "creatively confused." Rock's earliest exposure to music was via the classic rock and country albums of his parents; these included the likes of Bob Seger, Jim Croce, Johnny Cash, John Lee Hooker, and Elton John. As rap and hip-hop gained mainstream prominence during the 1980s, Kid Rock's influences expanded to include notable artists of the genre such as The Beastie Boys and Run DMC as well as Too Short, who also went on to produce Rock's first album. In 1999, he became friends with Hank Williams Jr., who also became an important influence. His most recent album includes gospel tracks with "Amen" and "When U Love Someone", honky tonk with "Half Your Age", and jazz, delta blues, creole, and zydeco with "New Orleans."

During his career he has influenced artist and groups such as Eminem, Uncle Kracker, Paradime, Trick Trick, Ty Stone and The Truth, Jocaine and 75 North, Black Magic Crossing, Johnny Lawerence, Kirk Dubb, and Huck Johns locally. He has had an influence on the country duo of Big And Rich which also mix rap with country and rock. Devil Without A Cause opened the door for rap metal outfits such as Linkin Park, Saliva, System of A Down, P.O.D. and Papa Roach, as well. Country singer Gretchen Wilson has said Kid Rock has been a big influence and even name checks him in her hit "Redneck Woman", co-written by John Rich. Lil' Wayne stated that Kid Rock was a major influence on him. His next album Rebirth will be a rock album after hanging out with Kid Rock and watching him play guitar.

Twisted Brown Trucker

Twisted Brown Trucker is Kid Rock's band, formed in 1994, with Bob Ebeling in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The original lineup included Kenny Olson on lead guitar, Uncle Kracker on turntables, Andy Gould and Greg Metropolous on guitar, Paul Anthony on bass and Bob Ebeling on drums. The band's first involvement was on the 1994 demo of Dark & Grey on his Bootleg Series Tapes, they would make three more appearances on the tapes in Watch Me Come, Only A Dog and Box #10. Trucker became both Rock's studio and live band in 1997. Dubbed by Kid Rock as "The Loudest Band In America Today", they are well known for their hodge-podge of genres, sometimes mixing many in a single song. Both lead gutairist Kenny Olsen and Kenny Tudrick would leave due to money altercations with Rock.They were replaced by Marlon Young who was in the band for a year in 1996, before leaving to pursue his own ventures.

Chris Peters was the studio guitarist for The Polyfuze Method and Fire It Up. Matt O Brien (Bass) and Kenny Tudrick (Guitar,Drums) were studio musicians for Devil Without A Cause. Lastly Rayse Biggs (trumpet) was a studio musician for Kid Rock and Rock N Roll Jesus. Also various members of the jazz/funk band Howling Diablos have helped out on many of the jazz inspired songs including Martin 'Tino' Gross,Jeff Grand,and Johnny Evans.

Kenny Olson went on to form a band called The Flask, who later switched singers and changed their name to Five Star Carnie. They are derivative of Kid Rock's old sound mixing rap with rock and blues.Kenny Tudrick is with the band Detroit Cobras who he was with before touring on Kid Rock's 'Live' Trucker tour.

Percussionist Larry Frantangelo won a Detroit Music Award in 2009 for Outstanding Urban/Funk Musician.

1994- 1995

Kenny Olson- Lead Guitar
Andy Gould-Guitar
Greg Metropolous-Guitar
Paul Anthony-Bass
Bob Ebeling-Drums
Bill Keros-Drums
Uncle Kracker-Turntables
Joe C-Vocals

1996

Kenny Olson-Lead Guitar
Marlon Young-Guitar
Jeff Hall-Guitar
Lonnie Motley-Bass
Jimmie "Bones" Trombley-Organ,Piano,Keyboard,Harmonica
Bon Ebeling-Drums
Uncle Kracker-Turntables
Joe C-Vocals

1997

Kenny Olson- Lead Guitar
Jason Krause-Guitar
Lonnie Motley-Bass
Jimmie Bones-Organ,Piano,Keyboard,Harmonica
Bob Ebeling-Drums
Chris Lebroux-Bongos
Uncle Kracker-Turntables
Joe C- Vocals
Thornetta Davis-Background Vocals

1998-2001

Kenny Olson- Lead Guitar
Jason Krause- Guitar
Mike Bradford- Bass
Jimmie Bones-Organ,Piano,Keys,Harmonica
Stefanie Eulinberg-Drums and Vocals
Uncle Kracker-Turntables
Joe C-vocals, died in 2000
Misty Love-Background Vocals
Shirly Hayden-Background Vocals

2002-2003

Kenny Olson-Lead Guitar
Jason Krause-Guitar
Bobby East-Bass
Jimmie Bones-Organ,Piano,Keys,Harmonica
Stefanie Eulinberg-Drums and Vocals
Paradime-Turntables

2004-2005

Kenny Olson-Lead Guitar, replaced by Bobby East in 2005
Jason Krause-Guitar
Aaron Julison-Bass
Jimmie Bones-Organ,Piano,Keys,Harmonica
Stefanie Eulinberg-Drums And Vocals
Smith Curry-Dobro
Paradime-Turtables
Karen Newman-Background Vocals
Lauren Creamer-Background Vocals

2006

Kenny Tudrick-Lead Guitar
Jason Krause-Guitar
Aaron Julison-Bass
Jimmie Bones-Organ,Piano,Keys,Harmonica
Stefanie Eulinberg-Drums And Vocals
Paradime-Turntables

Current Lineup

Marlon Young- Lead Guitar
Jason Krause- Guitar
Aaron Julison-Bass
Jimmie Bones-Organ,Piano,Keys,Harmonica
Stefanie Eulinberg-Drums And Vocals
Larry Frantangelo- Percussion
David McMurray-Saxophone
Paradime-Turntables
Stacey Michelle-Background Vocals
Jessica Wagner-Background Vocals

Discography

1990: Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast
1993: The Polyfuze Method
1994: Fire It Up! (EP)
1996: Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp
1997: The Polyfuze Method Revisited
1998: Devil Without a Cause
2000: The History of Rock
2001: Cocky
2003: Kid Rock
2006: Live Trucker
2007: Rock N Roll Jesus
2010 : TBA

Tours

1988: By All Means Necessary Tour ( opened for Boogie Down Productions )
1989: Straight From The Underground Tour (opened for Ice Cube, Too Short, D Nice and Yo Yo)
1998: Lollapalooza Tour
1998: Vans Warped Tour
1998-99: White Thrash On Dope Tour (with Monster Magnet and Hed PE)
1999: Destroy Your Liver Tour
1999: Limptropolis Tour (with Limp Bizkit and Staind)
1999: European Tour (with Blink-182)
1999: Between The Legs Tour (with Powerman 5000, Professional Murder Music)
1999-00: Millennium Tour (with Metallica, Sevendust and Creed)
2000: Summer Saniturm Tour (with Metallica, Korn, System of a Down, Powerman 5000)
2000: The History Of Rock Tour (with Dope)
2001: The American Bad Ass Tour (with Buckcherry ,Fuel and David Allan Coe)
2002: The Cocky Tour (with Lit, Tenacious D and Saliva)
2002: Girls of Summer Tour (opening for Aerosmith with Run-D.M.C.)
2004: Rock N Roll Pain Train Tour (with Puddle of Mudd, Gov't Mule, Jerry Cantrell)
2005: Lazy Muthafuga Tour (only 6 concert dates)
2006: 'Live' Trucker Tour (with Ty Stone, Peter Frampton (opened in Auburn Hills, Michigan) and Whitestarr)
2007-2008: Rock N Roll Revival Tour (with Reverend Run, Dicky Betts,Duane Betts, Peter Wolf, Lynyrd Skynyrd, in a revue style)
2008: Rock N Roll Revival Tour: European Tour
2008: Rock N Rebels Tour (with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Backdoor Slam)
2008: European Tour ( with Finger Eleven)
2008: All Summer Long Tour ( 4 nights at Pine Knob with Uncle Kracker & Rev Run)
2009: Rock N Rebels Tour II (with Lynyrd Skynyrd,Jonathan Tyler and The Northern Lights,Black Stone Cherry,Alice In Chains,Cypress Hill,Robert Randolph and the Family Band)

Filmography

The Howard Stern Show (8 episodes, 1999-2008)
Saturday Night Live (Musical Guest, 2000)
Road Trip (2000)
The Simpsons (1 episode, 2000)
WWE Monday Night RAW (Musical Guest, 2000)
Joe Dirt (2001)
Osmosis Jones (Voice, 2001)
Kid Rock: Lonely Road of Faith (2001)
3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)
King of the Hill (2002)
Punk'd (1 episode, 2003)
Biker Boyz (2003)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Stripperella (Unknown episodes, 2003)
CMT Outlaws (2003)
South Park (2004)
CSI: NY (1 episode, 2005)
Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (2005)
Motorcycle Mania 3 (2005)
Coors Light Mountain Jam (2005)
Stacked (1 episode, 2002)
The 2006 Billboard Music Awards (2006)
Run's House (2007)
Hancock (2008)
All Summer Long (2008)
VH1 Storytellers (2008)
WrestleMania XXV (Musical Guest, 2009)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards
*2000 Best New Artist (Nominated)
*2000 Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bawitdaba" (Nominated)
*2001 Best Hard Rock Performance for "American Bad Ass" (Nominated)
*2009 Best Rock Album for Rock N Roll Jesus (Nominated)
*2009 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "All Summer Long" (Nominated)
Academy of Country Music
*2003, Vocal Event of the Year: "Picture" (Nominated)
American Music Awards
*2008, Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist (Nominated)
*2003, Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist: (Winner )'''
*2003, Favorite Pop/Rock Album: Cocky (Nominated)
*2001, Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist: (Winner )'''
*2000, Favorite Alternative Artist: (Nominated)
*2000, Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist: (Nominated)
Billboard Music Awards
*1999 Best New Artist (Winner )
*1999 Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bawitdaba" (Winner )
*1999 Best New Hard Rock Artist (Winner )
MTV Video Music Awards
*2001, Best Male Video: "Cowboy" (Nominated)
*2001, Best Rock Video: "Cowboy" (Nominated)
*2000, Best Male Video: "Bawitdba" (Nominated)
*2000, Best New Artist: "Bawitdba" (Nominated)
Teen Choice Awards
*2003, Choice Love Song: "Picture" (Nominated)
*2003 Choice Hookup Song: "Picture" (Nominated)
Detroit Music Awards
*1999
**Outstanding National Album for Devil Without A Cause (Winner )
**Outstanding National Single for "I Am The Bullgod" (Winner )
**Outstanding National Single for "Bawitdaba" (Nominee)
**Outstanding National Hip Hop Writer/Producer (Winner )
*2000
**Outstanding National Album for History Of Rock (Nominee)
**Outstanding National Single for "American Bad Ass" (Winner )
**Outstanding National Single for "Cowboy" (Nominee)
**Outstanding National Duet for "Higher" with Robert Bradley (Winner )
**Outstanding National Spokesperson (Winner )
*2001
**Outstanding National Album for Cocky (Nominated)
**Outstanding National Single for "Forever" (Nominated)
*2003
**Outstanding National Single for Picture (Nominated)
*2004
**Outstanding National Album for Kid Rock (Nominated)
**Outstanding National Single for "Cold And Empty" (Nominated)
**Outstanding National Single for "Jackson, Mississippi" (Nominated)
*2006
**Outstanding National Album for Live Trucker (Nominated)
*2008
**Outstanding National Album for Rock N Roll Jesus (Winner )
**Outstanding National Single for "So Hott" (Nominated)
**Outstanding National Single for "Amen" (Nominated)
*2009
**Outstanding National Single for All Summer Long (Winner )
**Outstanding National Single for Roll On (Nominated)
MTV European Music Awards
*2008 Most Attictive Track for "All Summer Long" (Nominated)
BMI Songwriting Award
*2002 "Picture" (Winner )
CMT Music Awards
*2003 Choice Male Video for "Picture" (Nominated)
*2009 Video of The Year for "All Summer Long" (Nominated)
*2009 Wide Open Country Video of the Year for "All Summer Long" (Winner )
World Music Awards
*2008 Worlds Best Male Pop Artist (Winner )
*2008 Worlds Best Pop/Rock Artist (Winner )
People's Choice Awards
*2009 Best Rock Song for "All Summer Long" (Winner )
Kid's Choice Awards
*2009 Favorite Male Singer (Current Nominee)
Echo Award (Germany)
*2009 Hit Of The Year for "All Summer Long" (Winner )

Other ventures and honors

He has his own clothing line called Made In Detroit which he purchased from its creator, Detroit designer Robert Stanzler, in 2003. Stanzler, a longtime friend of Kid Rock, is mentioned by name in Rock's song "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp". ^[19]
Wayne State University named a scholarship after Kid Rock for musicians. Kid Rock is using his clothing line to fund it. ^[20]
He was Grand Marshal of the Krewe of Endymion Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on February 21, 2009 and was accompanied by The Chee-Weez, a local area cover band. ^[21]
He released his own beer called Bad Ass Beer on July 17,2009 released over the entire midwestern part of the U.S.