ARTIST HIGHLIGHT: KID ROCK
Detroit’s rock and roll bad boy, Kid Rock, is tearing up the soundwaves and the Billboard charts this summer with the rapidly growing popularity of his hit CD, Rock and Roll Jesus. The now double-platinum CD debuted at #1 almost one year ago, following it’s much anticipated release, but found new life this summer with the release of the summer anthem, “All Summer Long,” and once again cracked the Top 5 on Billboard charts.
“All Summer Long,” which samples the classic songs of music legends Warren Zevon (“Werewolves of London”) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Sweet Home Alabama”), quickly became the rock anthem of the summer both in the US and overseas. Capitalizing on the popularity of the song, Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd have teamed up for several concert dates, giving southern-rock fans something to smile about. The crossover appeal of Kid Rock is evident in the other music legends set to join the rocker during various legs of his tour, including Rev Run (of Run DMC), Peter Wolf (formerly of the J. Geil’s Band), and Dickey Betts.
Of the smash hit, “All Summer Long,” Kid says, ““I knew the track was solid — it’s got two of the best songs of all time mashed up together… it’s got great melodies, so really, my work was done…I knew people would hear it and know I wrote it. They’d know it was real, and there’d be that connection. And that’s what’s missing in music today. I think people don’t believe half the sh– they hear some rapper or some pop girl singing about … but with me, they do. And that’s why people have reacted the way they have to the song.”
Not exactly known as someone who follows the rules, Kid Rock turned the digital music industry on its head this year, when he refused to sell his music on iTunes, and instead chose to sell his music the old fashioned way- in record stores, and as a complete CD (rather than allowing digital sales of singles online). Though many warned against this choice, the artist’s popularity and unique rock/soul/rap/country style won over fans who purchased his CD in record numbers, proving that music artists can still sell actual CDs. Sure it was a gamble for the artist, but it paid off.
The artist explains his recent success, despite the naysayers who told him selling his CD in stores wouldn’t work. He says, “I keep saying I wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. I just knew I had a great song that flew in the face of everything you hear on the radio or in pop music. Basically, all pop music is now just bad rap songs, or like, Mariah Carey or girl pop, so this song is really a breath of fresh air. People wanted to tell me how to release it, or that I was making a huge mistake by choosing to ignore iTunes and all that, but I’ve always known I can say ‘F— you’ to the best of ‘em, and I have done just that, many times before. And I’m sure I’ll do it many times again.”
Kid’s popularity kept the artist busy this summer, as his music was in heavy rotation and he was in high demand. Kid Rock has either made appearances or will appear on David Letterman, Good Morning America, MTV’s VMAs, Fashion Rocks and Ellen.
Our favorite tracks from the CD? Old school rock-n-roll girls will love “All Summer Long,” while sentimental types should check out “Roll On” and “When U Love Someone.” Country gals and anyone going through a recent break-up will appreciate “Half Your Age,” a see-ya tune rumored to be written for Kid’s ex, Pamela Anderson. Fans of classic Kid Rock will appreciate the harder tunes, “Don’t Tell Me U Love Me” and the loud (and very raunchy!) “Sugar.”
Catch Kid Rock in concert near you:
8/22/08 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden, NJ*
8/22/08 Good Morning America New York, NY*
8/23/08 Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts Mansfield, MA*
8/25/08 Moison Amphiteatre Toronto, Ontario*
8/28/08 Miller Park Milwaukee, WI
8/30/08 PNC Bank Arts Holmdel, NJ*
8/31/08 New England Dodge Music Center Hartford, CT*
9/6/08 Rock Jam Grand Junction, CO
9/9/08 Star Theater Spokane, WA
9/10/08 Puyallup, Fair Puyallup, WA
9/12/08 TBD Portland, OR
9/13/08 Konocti Harbor Kelseyville, CA
9/16/08 Rabobank Theatre Bakersfield, CA
9/17/08 Pala Casino San Diego, CA
9/19/08 Fantasy Springs Special Events Center Indio, CA
9/20/08 The Pearl Concert Theater Las Vegas, NV
9/23/08 Valencia Amphitheater Tucson, AZ
9/25/08 Gibson Amphitheatre Los Angeles, CA
9/27/08 Aquarius Outdoor Amphitheater Laughlin, NV
9/28/08 Dodge Theatre Phoenix, AZ
For more on Kid Rock, visit these sites:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592838/20080814/kid_rock.jhtml
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/06/kid-rock-boycot.html
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