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Kid Rock: What I've Learned

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    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

BornFree4's picture

You are truly an amazing person. When I hear any negative comments abot you... I get really pissed because it is always by someone who doesn't even have a clue what the fuck they are talking about....Just got off the cruise with you and had a blast and I believe you did also. lol Now that is a party!!! I look forward to yelling Kid for many years to come... Love you Vicki
missy gay's picture

WELL SAID!!!!!
VTKidRocker's picture

I wish I had the cash! Having a 50th birthday party on Memorial Day weekend, camping at the state park all weekend. My daughter reads this with me and says "How awesome if Kid Rock showed up at your birthday campout! Consider yourself invited Bob!
renesavanna's picture

I've been a fan since struggling in an apt. with a deadbeat roommate, fresh out of school trying to make a career for myself. Now, 2 marriages later, a beautiful toddler, built- from- the -ground -up dreamhouse a kick-ass career and a ton of Rockstar partying, I am still a fan. The only difference is when I come home from a Kid Rock show I turn back into Mommy, just still humming the tunes in my head :-)
Jennie's picture

That's whats so great about you - you're down to earth, here I am, take it or leave it. Gotta love that outlook on life!
rebelheart's picture

Oh my goodness. Now I love you even more! I cannot wait to see you in Hershey on July 10th. Now I know why they call it the "Sweetest Place on Earth"
Angela_NS's picture

Everything else I love!
Angela_NS's picture

I disagree with you. Kid is not dumb name at all. In fact, it may be why I was attracted to you in the first place. My Dad's nickname was "The Kid". He was a boxer, and his name was Terry "The Kid" Nolan. It even made his obituary. He was 57 years old, and people still called him that. Be proud of the name ;)
Essie Rosselli's picture

Any name with the word "Rock" in it can't be bad! Kid Rock works!!! And, I think it's great you don't lie to Jr. It's the best lesson you could teach him. Much respect, Rock!
guinivere62's picture

Well it"s nice to see you can be so open about your life, I guess that go's along with being famous and having way to much money. If I announced my feelings like that they would of taken my kids and put me on some kind of probation in the shitty town I live in. Kudos to you I'm glad to see that someone is able to have an opinion.
kidrocket99's picture

Can I get two middle fingers for the price of one? Let me know when there's a 2 4 1 sale! At my age of 44 people call me Kid or even Kido. I'd say that if it continues till I'm 80 then what else can ya ask for? Hey, when they stop I'll be really going through mid-Kid crisis! I'll still be say'in Kid Rock, Kid Rock, Kid Rock till I'm all old and shit, if I make it that far! You go boy with your Badass self!
Terri Hammerel Conser's picture

It cost me $89 for him to play at my B-Day cause im coming to Chicago to see him in concert for my B-Day and im bringing my B-Day Bash from Minnesota with me!!! gonna be 49!!!! can't wait.Love ya Bobby!!
Cutes 57's picture

We have all had our 'wish I could do that over again moments' but......to thine own self be true and you are. Love your sense of humor. Your Peoria concert was a real workout. Hard to stay seated at such a rockin concert. Hope you come this way again. Love the sound of your voice, has that hint of onryness to it and that's so sexy!!!
Anna_4's picture

I'm in... how much cash do you need to play at my birthday party????????????
Larry_4's picture

All I can say is "Dude you rock", keep it up.
Margo C's picture

Some of this shit is pretty damn funny!!
karen_134's picture

Honey I think you are the best singer,and you have good looks and you are avery good man,I love you and cant wait to see you at summerfest in July.My birthday is the 11th of July how much for a private party for me?that would be the best Birthday party ever and I'll be 40.Love Ya!you are a good man
Stehno's picture

This is great, I love it. I'm curious like Cindy, how much do you charge for a Birthday Party? :-)
Annette Vivona's picture

"with every blink, and every drink, you seem to get more pretty".......
knudude's picture

Kid, I think your son is lucky not to have a Rock Star for a dad, But to have a dad that doesn't Bull Shit him. I think you are the greatest, and I love your music. Keep Rockin my world!..........
josee pin's picture

Love it!!!!
6919ashley's picture

Great article! You rock in my eyes no matter what. Love your music and heart. Happy 420!
Marie_10's picture

IN MY OPINION...YOU TOP YOURSELF EVERY FUCKIN' DAY. BEING YOUR FAN IS A BLAST. LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!!!
Brenda Crow McDougal's picture

Brenda and Monica say you are the koolest guy. I have all the respect in the world for you because I know you are a wonderful father. My husband got killed in a car wreck in 1997 an my daughter monica was 2 and a half and remembers everthing. She will be 18 next feb 5 an my birthday is feb 23 so you concert in little rock arkansas was in between us I though that was to kool. Thank you for coming here we both love your music. The song about your son you released oh about 2 years ago made me cry first time monica told me to listen to it because it said alot about our lives as well. I never remarried because she come first in my life. Hope some day swe can meet you in person. Take care and Lov an God Bless All!!! Brenda Crow McDougal in Arkansas
Cindy_74's picture

So how much is it for you to play at a "Private Party"?
thundrr's picture

i was at your ucf - orlando concert... and you rocked it.. you are the best at what you do
thundrr's picture

i was at your ucf - orlando concert... and you rocked it.. you are the best at what you do
slowmyroll's picture

You are definitely the Coolest Rocker out there. How much would it be to get you to play at a charity event? I work at a shelter for abused women and we are always looking for ways to make money to stay open. The last year has been real hard due to the cuts in grants and donations are down. I would love to know how to get in touch with singers to see if they would put on a concert for us. Local bands did it for us the other year and it was great. My e-mail is auntnet5@yahoo.com. Work e-mail is shelter@newdirectionscenter.org.
ajay's picture

Interesting interview right there. Honestly i think there is a lot more to Bob then just old Kid Rock. I think a lot of that is a job and he has gotten pretty accustomed to it. I know he has to maintain a certain image and all for his career, but i always say i would like to sit down and talk to Kid Rock about lyrics. I wanna talk to Bob too. I think Bob is probably as interesting as Kid Rock. Living the life like Kid Rock gets old quick. It also is probably a lot shorter then the one Bob will have. Least if he takes after his grandparents that is. BTW the concert of his this summer that i will probably see is on my nephew's birthday. He will be 17. He is finishing up his Junior year in high school. I may not have kids but i got some great nephews and nieces. I have bratted them up from my end as much as i could over the years too.
Johannamac's picture

Well said. Great interview!

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