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Kid Rock: "I think I did every drug known to mankind, smoked crack, boozed, dropped acid, you name it... I was such an idiot.... I'm still having fun... I just have it in check now." 
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Known for laying rap over rock-oriented electric guitar riffs rather than traditional hip-hop tracks and beats, Kid Rock’s previous releases, on various labels such as Jive, Continuum, and his own Top Dog Records, brought him respect among the rap community, but failed to achieve commercial success, despite touring with artists like Ice Cube, Yo Yo and Too Short. Following Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast in 1990, Kid Rock released The Polyfuze Method in 1993 and Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp in 1996. But he hit the big time with 1998’s Devil Without a Cause, became famous “overnight,” and proved that large audiences were ready for his modern crossover, an infectious blend of rock, hip-hop and country, served up with a dynamic stage show. |
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NYROCK: |
You're not exactly a new comer, but all of a sudden things seemed to happen for you. Why do you think it happened now? 10 years is quite a while.... |
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KID ROCK: |
Why does anything ever happen? Some things happen and some don't. Maybe the time is right now... But to be honest, I think part of the problem was that my former record companies tried to model me into another sleek Vanilla Ice clone. And that's just not me. I always believed it would happen and stuck to my guns. |
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NYROCK: |
It sounds like people tried to discourage you. |
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KID ROCK: |
A lot of people told me that I'm committing musical suicide with my sound. They believed you can't mix rock, country, and rap, and that crossover is dead. I always knew it would work. And it will always work as long as you're really into it and like what you're doing. |
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NYROCK: |
You seem to know what you're doing, an invitation to Woodstock, performing at the MTV Awards.... |
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KID ROCK: |
They were the biggest parties and I always go to the biggest parties. They were at least the biggest parties I've been invited to so far this year. I'm still hoping for something bigger, better, louder, a real Millennium bash, but it seems to be a bit slow, so I have to make my own parties. |
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NYROCK: |
Speaking of parties, didn't you celebrate your record contract with Atlantic by partying in prison? |
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KID ROCK: |
Not prison, just a country jail, not the real thing, sorry. |
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NYROCK: |
And how did it happen? Everyone talks about it but no one knows any details.... |
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KID ROCK: |
I signed the contract and headed back to Mt. Clemens [outside of Detroit where Rock spent his formative years] to brag a bit. We went into a local bar and got drunk as fast as we could, then things got out of hand. We were all drunk and somehow a fight started. The cops showed up and arrested us. Same old story, nothing really exciting. I don't even know how it started. I think I was flirting a bit hard with the wrong girl. She had a boyfriend who didn't like it. So we ended in jail. And you know what? We were so drunk that we just didn't care. We kept on partying.
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NYROCK: |
Considering that your tour in America went so well, it's a surprise that you went through the additional stress of a European tour. |
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KID ROCK: |
I know that I wouldn't need to do it, but I want to. Well, in America people know us. We've got it made there, but in Europe people don't know us. We've got to win them over and that's a challenge. You've got to work hard for your success and you've got to have a steady presence. That's the secret. So I'll be collecting my frequent flyer miles and go back and forth all the time. Bands who're not putting in an effort won't make it 'cause they're lazy bastards and they don't deserve it anyway. |
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NYROCK: |
Do you find Europe very different from America? |
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KID ROCK: |
Europe and America are very different. The tour buses are a lot better back home, but, on the other hand, [in Europe] I can just wander off and look around and nobody really knows me. If I'd do that anywhere back home I'd get mobbed within minutes. There are always a couple of screaming girls who want my hat or something else, like everybody wants a piece of me. It's definitely very different than it is back home. |
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NYROCK: |
Do you think it's because you're in the early stages of your career in Europe or do you think the mentality is different in general? |
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KID ROCK: |
Europeans don't seem to have the groupie mentality. In America, there are nude girls in the audience. At every show there are nude girls in the audience. I haven't seen that here… Oh hey, maybe that's a disadvantage. Ha ha ha! But honestly, it's pretty weird; there are girls who'd do absolutely everything just to get a backstage pass. I don't know what it is, but really, when you're on national TV in America the girls love you. They all want you! And I'm not complaining! |
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NYROCK: |
I thought you were involved with Midori.... |
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KID ROCK: |
That's history. We're finished. I've had it with her. |
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NYROCK: |
Wow, most guys wouldn't break up with a porn star – or did she expect too much? |
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KID ROCK: |
Ha ha ha, come on it wasn't that. She was a great fucker, but a complete psycho. |
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NYROCK: |
At least you're not heart broken. |
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KID ROCK: |
I don't think that I could have a steady girlfriend right now. I mean, I wouldn't have much time for her anyway and if you look at all the girls – woweee! I don't carry sand with me when I go to the beach. Ha ha ha! |
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NYROCK: |
There are a lot of rumors flying around. Everyone seems to know something about your habits. Some say that you have a thing for, errr, substances. |
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KID ROCK: |
My past is a bit checkered. It's not that I'm Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes now, but I've got my priorities in order. I did have a rough time. I was such an idiot. I did everything, every drug, got up in the mornings and popped drugs. I think I did every drug known to mankind, smoked crack, boozed, dropped acid, you name it. I'm glad that I got out of it, a lot of my friends from that time didn't. I experienced everything and got out of it. It's important that I got out of it, because otherwise I wouldn't be here now. I'm still having a party. I'm still having fun, if you know what I mean. I just have it in check now. |
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NYROCK: |
I noticed at the Rock Am Ring festival [Germany, one of Europe's biggest festivals] you played in the rather small New Talent Forum, but the audience looked like the Who's Who of the music business. Metallica, Cypress Hill, Monster Magnet, Biohazard and members of Suede were cueing up.... |
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KID ROCK: |
Metallica started 20 minutes later just to be able to catch our gig. Great for our egos. How could it not be great? The majority of the audience was already waiting in front of the main stage for Metallica, while Metallica was watching us. I think they wanted to use the chance to watch our performance in peace and quiet. In the States, that's just not possible anymore. |
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NYROCK: |
How long do you think it will take for you to conquer Europe, and how long do you think you'll stay in the music business? |
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KID ROCK: |
I haven't got a clue. I never said I wanted to be around for a long time. I always said I wanted to be here for a good time. October 1999 |
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More Kid Rock: - Winner of Detroit Music Awards, Apr. 2000 - Concert Review Related artists: - Eminem - Korn - Limp Bizkit More NY Rock banter: - Music News - Movies - Sports - Newz - Soft Porn Central - Indie Reviews - NY Rock Confidential - TRUE! Cartoons Other Features: - Join our mailing list - Contact us - Send this page to a friend |