© Jeremy Deputat on all photos.
Kid Rock covers the July issue of Men's Journal, and in it he talks about his lifestyle, turning 40, and his commitment to Detroit.Some highlights from the Rock story:On his Kid Rock Chillin' the Most Cruise: "I didn't know what to expect. I said it was either going to be the best time of my life or the absolute worst. And it was the best. It was one of the best times I've ever had. An absolute riot."On his taste in movies: Rock isn't a fan of "the Hilary Swank movie where you walk out of there with tears and just feel terrible. I can't handle it. I just want to see somebody fall off a ladder, the boy and girl go home to a big pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and feel great about myself. I don't want any drama in my life — not even in a (expletive) movie. Not even when it's… What's fake? Is it fiction? Even if it's fiction, I don't want it. I just want to be happy and have fun."On cleaning up his lifestyle, to a point: "Whatever your thing is, if it's pills, cocaine, smoking weed, when you slow that down — which I've done a lot of — you've got to relearn how to drink. That's the (expletive) hardest part. You used to be able to go all night. Finding that balance has been interesting. I still black out here and there, but nothing too serious."On partying in Malibu: The story makes reference to celebrity parties at his Malibu house with invitees that include Sean Penn, Scarlett Johansson, Mary J. Blige and Zac Efron.On working out with surfer Laird Hamilton: "Laird's running the show. He's the guy yelling at you the whole time. (Chris Chelios) won't work out with him because he yells at him too much. He leaves me alone a little bit because he knows I'm the skinny kid in the rock band, but he's real fun to work out with."On helping Detroit: "You don't want Kid Rock making public policy. Well, some people might. I just see where I can help out, which is to inspire and raise funds and things like that."On his image in Detroit: "I really care about what people think of me in this town, because my son is here, my family is here, my roots are here. I don't (care) anywhere else, but here I'm very conscious of it."The issue hits newsstands Friday.Photo Credit: Men's Journal / MensJournal.comSOURCE: Adam Graham / Detroit News Pop Music Writer
Kid Rock donated a total of $50,000 Monday to five Detroit area charities, fulfilling a promise the musician made to support his hometown.Rock announced the donation earlier this month during the Detroit NAACP branch's annual fundraising dinner. Some had criticized Rock, who received the group's Great Expectations Award, for displaying the Confederate flag during on-stage performances.During his acceptance speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Rock said his use of the flag had nothing to do with how he feels about blacks, and he pulled out the checks and said he would give them to the five groups. He officially handed over the money during an afternoon ceremony at Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's office.After Bing praised Rock's generosity and turned the proceedings over to him, the musician stepped to the podium, looked around and asked: "What am I supposed to do?"Bing laughed and quickly said: "You can write some more checks if you want to.""I can do that!" Rock said.The money donated Monday will support city recreation centers, a conservancy on Belle Isle, a youth theater group, a youth training agency and Habitat for Humanity.Rock, who was born Robert Ritchie and grew up in Macomb County, Mich., is known for dabbling in a variety of musical styles, from hip-hop and hard rock to country and Southern rock. He counts as his biggest hits, "Picture," "All Summer Long," "Bawitdaba" and "Born Free."The 40-year-old also is known for his philanthropy and love of the Detroit area. At Monday's event, he sported a baseball cap featuring the logo of his "Made in Detroit" apparel line."I'm just happy I could do it. I've been blessed and very successful," Rock said. "This city and its surrounding areas have given me a lot."Asked how the kids at the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit reacted when they heard about Rock's gift, founder and chief executive Rick Sperling, said "they were over the moon."Judith Jackson, president and chief executive of YouthVille Detroit, was equally pleased with her group's gift and thankful for its benefactor."It means an awful lot," she said. "It's tough for all nonprofits right now."Bing used the occasion to point out that Detroiters of all different socio-economic backgrounds, not just well-off rock stars, have the ability to give back to their community."We need more people like this who just care about people," Bing said. "All of us aren't blessed with the kind of resources he has, but we have to respect and appreciate people who have the resources and are willing to share it."Rock hinted that more donations could be on the way."This is just the start," he said.Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio / Associated Press SOURCE: Mike Householder / Associated Press
"More than anything, I'm delighted he lived this long."— Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!"I first met Bob back in the early '90s, he was down at White Room Studios ... He would get studio time in exchange for being the janitor, which meant sweeping up and scrubbing out the toilet. Bob brought a turntable and a crate of records up to the Bear's Den in Berkley and jammed with the Howling Diablos, he showed up every week after that and we always had a great time making music."— Tino Gross, Howling Diablos"He's a rock star to the core, for sure, but he's also a really sweet guy and a great rep for Detroit. "— Erin Cummings, Detroit 1-8-7 actress"In 1996, we were sitting in his basement listening to records. He put on Folsom Prison Blues ... we were like wtf?? He said 'See, country is just like rap. They sing about shooting guns, getting wasted and beating the shit out of dudes!'— Mark EP, DJ and producer"Not only has he become the biggest thing in Detroit, he has become one of the biggest names on the planet. And most importantly, he has not forgotten where he came from. He has been a loyal friend over the years and a staunch supporter of the 'D.' I appreciate all the shows he did at the Emerald for me, and I am proud to say I know him."— Joe Nieporte"It was probably 1999 ... Bob was technically a studio intern, but he spent most of the time working on his own music. Anyway, he was working on a song, and a bunch of us at the studio were giving him shit about it: 'Who wants to hear a song about a cowboy?!' In hindsight, I guess a lot of people would."— Al Sutton, Kid Rock's longtime recording engineer and owner of Rustbelt Studios"We were backstage after one of his shows, and there's probably about eight people hanging out, including a group of girls. And in this group is one girl, it was clear she wanted attention. She keeps going 'Rock star, Rock star, I'm bored.' Now, this is 10 minutes after Rock just got off stage. Rock looks at her and asks, 'You like to be entertained?' And she says, 'Yes, Rock star, I'm bored.' And Rock, in his perfect Kid Rock voice says, 'You didn't see the show?' Everyone started dying, his timing and delivery was perfect.— JB Carlin, director of the "Picture" video"When he told me that Axl Rose called him and invited him to New York to Axl's show, knowing that I'm a huge Axl Rose fan, Rock said 'I got a seat on the jet. You want to go?' We ended up hanging out for three days straight, leaving the clubs at 11 in the morning."— Mikey Eckstein, Embarco Management"A work ethic that defies reason; talent beyond description; and a damn good guy."— Arthur Penhallow Jr., Punch Enterprises"Lots of hanging out around the crib making amazing music and partying my ass off ... thoroughly peppered with private jets to Nashville to hang with Hank and weekends in NYC to roll with Axl. For a kid that just came from flipping burgers, this was the most magical time in my life."— Ty Stone, musician"The first time I ever saw Bob perform was on MTV for 1999's Woodstock. I was 14. Not only did he leave my jaw on the floor with his swagger and stage presence, but it was one of the first times I heard something new from my generation that made me excited for music's future."— Shannon Curfman, singerPhoto Credit: Real Detroit WeeklySOURCE: RealDetroitWeekly.com
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Performing a benefit concert with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night (May 12) at the Fox Theatre, according to Kid Rock was "the best drunk move I ever made," have received the call while he was enjoying some post-show libation backstage in Louisville during the spring of 2011.
On paper it certainly looked a little...screwy.
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Posted byMay 14, 2012
'Michigan Live' has posted great photos of Kid Rock performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on May 12, 2012 in Detroit. View the gallery at Photos.MLive.com.
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Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio / Associated Press
Worlds collided at the Fox Theatre on Saturday night.
Fans in tuxedos mixed with fans in jeans and T-shirts. Beethoven ran up against "Bawitdaba." And Leonard Slatkin, the music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, went head-to-head with Kid Rock, as Rock conducted his own version of the DSO, his Twisted Brown Trucker band.
It was all part of Rock's fundraiser for the DSO, the idea for which was hatched more than a year ago.
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Photo Credit: Brandy Baker / Detroit News
The Detroit Symphony's fundraiser concert with Kid Rock on Saturday night at the Fox Theater rocked the house and generated $1 million for the DSO.
Shortly after 8 p.m., Rock hit the stage at the Fox dressed in a tuxedo and wearing a fedora for his performance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. DSO conductor Leonard Slatkin, in a nod to Rock, sported his own fedora.
Read the full article at DetroitNews.com.
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'The Daily Tribune' has posted a great article on Kid Rock's collaboration with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and how it all came about. Here are highlights from it:
“I thought it would be something different, to play with an orchestra,” explains Rock (real name Bob Ritchie), 41. “I want to do stuff that does fit and I want to do stuff that absolutely doesn’t fit and ... do stuff differently. It’s not going to be how people have seen me before at all, in any regard.
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