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Kid Rock: What I've Learned

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  • WebCrew's picture
    Kid Rock: What I've Learned
    Posted by
    April 20, 2011

    Kid Rock quotes: Here is an interview with Kid Rock talking to 'Esquire' on sex, drugs, fatherhood, and the real meaning of rock 'n' roll.

    The article is published in the May 2011 music issue of 'Esquire,' on sale now!

    We had a big old tabletop stereo. I used to envision that when I closed the top and played the record that the guys were in there playing, rocking out.

    One thing I found out for sure in life is, don't hang out with assholes. Surround yourself with good people. Whether they're the best or not, people are capable of learning if they've got good hearts and they're good souls.

    My theory on Hollywood is that there's a lot of pretty, pretty girls that go out there with a lot of dreams. And whenever you got a lot of pretty girls in one spot, it attracts every fucking idiot from all four corners of the world. Every douchebag, scumbag, scumsucker shows up and sets up shop and tries to figure out how to roll people.

    Two of my grandparents died in a car crash. Sucks, 'cause they would have lived to a hundred. Square-dancing fools.

    Detroit: Cars and rock 'n' roll. Not a bad combo.

    It's the worst name in the world. The only person that had a dumber name than me was the Fresh Prince. Hey, it sounded like a cool rap name when I was sixteen. But it stuck, and now it's me. I'll be an eighty-year-old man — "call me the Kid."

    I throw my hat on, put my clown suit on — it does allow me to get away with murder in a lot of ways. You fucking say something so outrageous, and people just go, "Aw, it's fucking Kid Rock."

    I'll play your fucking birthday party you come up with the cash.

    Kenny Chesney called me. We were talking about a tour or something. He texted me real early in the morning. It must have been six in the morning. And I texted him back. And he asked me, "Were you up all night?" I said, "No, no, I'm getting up for my son." He said, "Holy shit, don't worry, I'm not going to tell anybody you were up this early, because it'll ruin your image." I go, "You can't ruin my image." Make no mistake: Bob Ritchie's up early in the morning taking pictures of his son on the first day of his senior year. Kid Rock is passed out in a hotel room somewhere with four scantily clad women.

    You know you got the devil on this shoulder and you got the angel on this shoulder? When I'm on the road, this motherfucker never says nothing.

    Whatever you read, I'm all that. You can make me out to be a great single father who lives in a small town and helps his community, or you can make me out to be some drug-raging beat-your-ass-in-the-Waffle-House fucking rock star. I'm all that.

    The Waffle House will be a cloud hanging over me forever. But not the worst cloud. Could have been worse. What if we were in a fucking Ruth's Chris? That would have hurt my image.

    The vigorous workout I do onstage helps a lot.

    The music gets you feeling good, you start cracking some drinks, pretty soon there's some girls there and the music, it sets your soul on fire. It does me, anyway.

    When Junior was young, it was Christmastime, I had a gig the night before, and I was shit-faced, just beyond. Drugs and alcohol. I passed out in my bathroom, dead weight. My son comes in, he's like, "Grandma, something's wrong with Dad!" So my mom tries to get me to make this big excuse up: "Tell him you came home and you were tired and this that and the other." I'm sitting there at breakfast and I say, "Your dad got trashed last night." I'm going to sit here and lie to this kid? He's like seven. I'm like, "Big concert, party afterward, I drank too much and passed out. I'm not proud of it, but that's what happens when you do that."

    It's tough, man. You throw a party for fifteen thousand people every night. And then it's kind of like you're not supposed to participate in it. That doesn't sit well with me. I don't mind throwing the party. But motherfucker, I want to party, too.

    I see friends who are in different genres of music and they say they're so burnt playing the same stuff every night. That's why you see a country act wanting to go out and play an old classic rock song. But what cracks me up is that they all want to be Jimmy Buffett. I can't figure that out.

    I know I'm not the best. I'm not the best singer, I'm not the best songwriter, I'm not the best player. But I know that what I fucking do, I'm the best at.

    People ask all the time, "What would you be doing if you weren't Kid Rock?" It's simple: I'd be broke Kid Rock.

    The problem I got is when people are like, Fuck Kid Rock, he's a piece of shit, white-trash whatever. I'm like, You wouldn't say that to me in a fucking bar. You'll get your fucking wig peeled back. So don't sit behind your computer and type it.

    I've paid for more pianos in hotel lobbies than you can imagine.

    One middle-finger "fuck you" is fun. Two is funner.

    I don't do hookers, man. I'm in a rock band.

    SOURCE: Tom Junod / Esquire

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WebCrew's picture
on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 11:56am

Kid Rock quotes: Here is an interview with Kid Rock talking to 'Esquire' on sex, drugs, fatherhood, and the real meaning of rock 'n' roll.

The article is published in the May 2011 music issue of 'Esquire,' on sale now!

We had a big old tabletop stereo. I used to envision that when I closed the top and played the record that the guys were in there playing, rocking out.

One thing I found out for sure in life is, don't hang out with assholes. Surround yourself with good people. Whether they're the best or not, people are capable of learning if they've got good hearts and they're good souls.

My theory on Hollywood is that there's a lot of pretty, pretty girls that go out there with a lot of dreams. And whenever you got a lot of pretty girls in one spot, it attracts every fucking idiot from all four corners of the world. Every douchebag, scumbag, scumsucker shows up and sets up shop and tries to figure out how to roll people.

Two of my grandparents died in a car crash. Sucks, 'cause they would have lived to a hundred. Square-dancing fools.

Detroit: Cars and rock 'n' roll. Not a bad combo.

It's the worst name in the world. The only person that had a dumber name than me was the Fresh Prince. Hey, it sounded like a cool rap name when I was sixteen. But it stuck, and now it's me. I'll be an eighty-year-old man — "call me the Kid."

I throw my hat on, put my clown suit on — it does allow me to get away with murder in a lot of ways. You fucking say something so outrageous, and people just go, "Aw, it's fucking Kid Rock."

I'll play your fucking birthday party you come up with the cash.

Kenny Chesney called me. We were talking about a tour or something. He texted me real early in the morning. It must have been six in the morning. And I texted him back. And he asked me, "Were you up all night?" I said, "No, no, I'm getting up for my son." He said, "Holy shit, don't worry, I'm not going to tell anybody you were up this early, because it'll ruin your image." I go, "You can't ruin my image." Make no mistake: Bob Ritchie's up early in the morning taking pictures of his son on the first day of his senior year. Kid Rock is passed out in a hotel room somewhere with four scantily clad women.

You know you got the devil on this shoulder and you got the angel on this shoulder? When I'm on the road, this motherfucker never says nothing.

Whatever you read, I'm all that. You can make me out to be a great single father who lives in a small town and helps his community, or you can make me out to be some drug-raging beat-your-ass-in-the-Waffle-House fucking rock star. I'm all that.

The Waffle House will be a cloud hanging over me forever. But not the worst cloud. Could have been worse. What if we were in a fucking Ruth's Chris? That would have hurt my image.

The vigorous workout I do onstage helps a lot.

The music gets you feeling good, you start cracking some drinks, pretty soon there's some girls there and the music, it sets your soul on fire. It does me, anyway.

When Junior was young, it was Christmastime, I had a gig the night before, and I was shit-faced, just beyond. Drugs and alcohol. I passed out in my bathroom, dead weight. My son comes in, he's like, "Grandma, something's wrong with Dad!" So my mom tries to get me to make this big excuse up: "Tell him you came home and you were tired and this that and the other." I'm sitting there at breakfast and I say, "Your dad got trashed last night." I'm going to sit here and lie to this kid? He's like seven. I'm like, "Big concert, party afterward, I drank too much and passed out. I'm not proud of it, but that's what happens when you do that."

It's tough, man. You throw a party for fifteen thousand people every night. And then it's kind of like you're not supposed to participate in it. That doesn't sit well with me. I don't mind throwing the party. But motherfucker, I want to party, too.

I see friends who are in different genres of music and they say they're so burnt playing the same stuff every night. That's why you see a country act wanting to go out and play an old classic rock song. But what cracks me up is that they all want to be Jimmy Buffett. I can't figure that out.

I know I'm not the best. I'm not the best singer, I'm not the best songwriter, I'm not the best player. But I know that what I fucking do, I'm the best at.

People ask all the time, "What would you be doing if you weren't Kid Rock?" It's simple: I'd be broke Kid Rock.

The problem I got is when people are like, Fuck Kid Rock, he's a piece of shit, white-trash whatever. I'm like, You wouldn't say that to me in a fucking bar. You'll get your fucking wig peeled back. So don't sit behind your computer and type it.

I've paid for more pianos in hotel lobbies than you can imagine.

One middle-finger "fuck you" is fun. Two is funner.

I don't do hookers, man. I'm in a rock band.

SOURCE: Tom Junod / Esquire

Comments

Nate_9's picture

Wonderful quotes and so true. :-) Loving that. You're so down to earth Bob and always true to yourself and others. That's what really counts in this world. Being true and don't do that false smile and surround yourself with false friends. You're a great man and great rockstar and great father and great family man. I love it that you always put your family and your son first. Because that really counts. Wishing you and your family a happy easter, a busy Easter Bunny and some great chocolate eggs.
Sherrie aka Lily's picture

You just Can't buy cool !!!!!!!
Lisa_320's picture

genuine~
Michelle_68's picture

Amen Kid. I can tell by the people you surround yourself with that you're not superficial, but you are probably the only one out there brother! It's not about what you look like, but who you are at your core.
SherZ's picture

KooL
kokapelli57's picture

Love u to come and rock Tulsa again - it'd be a dream come true ;o)
DEBRA ANN KELLY's picture

I WANNA SEE YA WHEN U COME TO TH PAVILLION IN TH WOODLANDS TEXAS, I HEAR THAT SHERYL CROW WILL BE SINGIN W/ YA SEE YA SOON LUV DEBBIE I LOVE YR STORY, I'VE BEEN THERE DUDE
Carmen_2's picture

Now thats crazy...I just looked at his concert schedule and he's playing on my Birthday in Bristow, VA just a few miles away. Unbaleeevable. Guess I'll be finding out real quick how much he charges for that Birthday Shindig as soon as the tix go on sale. Too Friggn' Cool.
April_10's picture

"I'll play your fucking birthday party you come up with the cash." How much, Mr. Rock? lol
Carmen_2's picture

I just want to know what he charges for a Birthday Shindig? Seriously. Would be the coolest eva up here in these VA hills:)
DEBRA ANN KELLY's picture

WOW BOB, I LUV YA MORE.WE R ALL GROWING UP : ) I HAVE 5 BOYS & THEY R ALL GROWN & OUT OF THE HOUSE NOW!! WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT NOW, BUT WE CHOOSE TO HANG AROUND THE FARM AND RIDE MY NEW MULE & WE CAN STILL HAVE A GOOD OL TIME. I AM 52 NOW!!!! STAY TH SWEETHEART THAT I KNOW U ARE!!! LOVE YA MAN , I'LL ALWAYS LUV UR MUSIC
angel of love's picture

WELCOME TO MONTREAL ON THE 30 MAY FOR ROCK THE BIG BARN WITH ME. I WILL BE THERE AND SHOW YOU HOW QUEBEC GIRL CAN MAKING THE PARTY!! A TRIP FOREVER IN YOUR SOUL!!! IT'S A PROMISE...FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME IN YOUR MEMORY!! WELCOME TO CENTER BELL!!! I GOT MY TICKET...I GOT MY DRESS , MY HOT SHOES...I'M READY....AND YOU???
Felice Wyatt's picture

Best read yet of your interviews. So real it is almost unbelievable. Keep rockin it. Oh, how much do you charge to play a birthday party??? LOL
Nixx Bieber's picture

Awesome read. Thanks for PRE sharing this article with us! If you want your Kid to be honest, you ve got to tell the truth and not bend your own home made rules! My son told me few times, i am banned to have wine for a while, cause I got quite sick the next day and i also told him the truth, that I drank to much it was fun, but thats the reason now, why I am sick as a dog... Hey and I wouldnt get tired of seeing your show every single night! rock on and you are awesome as you are, so just keep up what ever you are doing! :-)
Clara_4's picture

I like honesty even if its not always what you want to hear.I dont really hear much bad stuff about you and what I do hear I fugure is probably stretched into worse than what it actually was.Who of us is perfect?I dont know anyone one who is.I have heard you are a wonderful father and that is what really impresses me the most.If you are a good parent you cant really be that bad.I have wondered what it is like for your son having Kid Rock for a dad.Is he the envy of all his friends or does it make things difficult for him sometimes?I really like your music.Best wishes in everything you do.
bjcmo's picture

Love the honesty!!! 4/20 Happy St. Fatty's Day!
Felice Wyatt's picture

The best read yet. So Honest it almost is unbelievable. What a beautiful soul!!! Keep Rockin it. Oh how much to play a birthday party??? LOL
sherralldavidson's picture

so true , so true sounds like KID ROCK to me . love how he puts it to the point and no fucking around about how he feels , i'm blunt like that my damn self , always have been , if you don't want the truth don't ask . raised 4 kids same way , funny thoigh , you can't tell i have had kids , i don't look my age so i feel very blessed for all that god has made me . Love you KID ROCK !!!!! KEEPING IT REAL !!!!!!!!
Sonia316's picture

Awesome quotes...thanks for sharing!
Annette Vivona's picture

You're just SO FUCKING REAL, MAN!! YOU makes me wish I was born in Michigan...And I'm a proud NY'er......
Dana_42's picture

Love it!!!!
Ceejay's picture

Best writing ever!!! From your mouth to God's ears and us in between. Thanks for sharing. Love it! God Bless You....
Kendra Bryson's picture

Love it Kid thanks for the honesty.... your the real deal my friend the real deal Peace ;)
PKL's picture

some people base a impression on a image Ive been taught to really pay attention to someone by saying nothing...has worked out well for 47 years...Nervoiusness also played a ROLL , REV rolling your eyes isn't gonna change this. Bob and I spoke. he said have a nice time and I think I responded I will try. at this juncture that was approapriate and good.
KidRockLover45's picture

Thanks for being Honest and being, The One and Only~~~Kid Rock!!!
amy pardue's picture

BEST THING IS HE LOVES HIS SON DID NOT LIE TO HIM COOL ASS I AM A WILD ON MY SELF BUT MY JUNIOR FIRST AND FRONT IN MY WORLD SECOND HE USES THE WORD FUCK VERY WELL UTUB HAS A CLIP THE WORD FUCK LMAO EVERY TIME I POST IT HE USES IT GREAT AND THIRD LOVE I WOULD PEEL THEIR HEAD OF IN A BAR GO KID AND LOVE THE WONDERFULL THINGS HE DOES 4 KIDS AND THE TROOP BUT LOVE HIS CONCERT WHAY GREAT HE GETS IT GOING YOU GET PUMPING JUMPING BETTER THAN A GYMM WORK OUT THATS WHY HE SO HOT WHOOP WHOOP KING OF POP HE IS AND IF I WEAR 10 YRS YOUNGER I THINK I COULD MOVE MISS CREW RIGHT OUT THE DOOR I WAS A HOTTY AFEW BACK HE JUST THE VERY BEST COOLASS BADASS KING OF ROCK YRP A HUDG FAN I AM
EVink's picture

Love it! See you in London in May Bob!
Brenda Green's picture

Mr. Rock, I just recently got interested in your music. Sounds dumb I know but I will be 50 in July and mostly listen to oldies and country. I heard your song Roll On and it brought me to purchase a few of your CD's. I wish you all the best in your career, your life and with your Son. May he grow up to be as good of a man as you seem to be. Brenda Green Brunswick, Ga
Suzi_6's picture

THAT is classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!!
Westcoastgirl's picture

Good reading! I like Kid's attitude and humor. And, I agree - don't hang out with assholes. You can tell alot about a person by the company they keep. See ya in San Diego, August 2nd!

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