Kid Rock is no stranger to Nashville and he obviously loves country music, so he's constantly asked why he doesn't do a whole album of country tunes. The Detroit native says the possibility of his becoming a country star is hindered by, among other things, his rock 'n roll lifestyle.
"I enjoy music too much to narrow it down and say I'm just going to do a country album," Kid tells The Boot with a grin. "Plus, the artists have to do so much stuff in country, and I'm a lazy butt. I don't want to have to sign autographs and go talk to radio about your single. You can't play your show and get off the stage at 11 and then go have a good time and then get up and go to radio to ask them to play your songs the next morning. I don't knock it, but I'm not sure I want to do that!"
One of the things the singer does know he wants to do is tour with friend Sheryl Crow. The two have a duet that is currently crossing genres at radio. 'Collide,' with its accompanying video shot in Nashville, is their second musical pairing. The first was the Top 10 hit 'Picture,' released in 2002. 'Collide' from Kid Rock's album 'Born Free,' also features rock icon Bob Seger on piano.
Kid and Sheryl begin their tour in July, and while they'll each do their own shows, they'll also perform their duets and possibly some additional music.
"The thing with me and Sheryl, we do our songs and then she likes to rock as much as I do," the singer explains. "We don't need to rehearse, we can just pick a song and go out there and see where it goes. I know for sure we'll do that whether it's good or not. That's the element people want to see -- heart and real music -- when they come to a show."
Kid Rock, born Bob Ritchie, reflects on his positive reception in Nashville, saying, "I think people are more surprised that they like me when they meet me. I came down here with an open heart, and I've had people tell me, 'I was surprised that I like you'."
He laughs when asked his reaction to the combination of Jason Aldean and hip-hop star Ludacris at the recent CMT Awards show.
"[Either], you're welcome, or it's another reason to hate me," he says. Continuing in a more serious manner, he adds, "Nowadays, country has opened its arms and said, 'Hey, if it's good, embrace it.' There are artists who could float between country or rock, and country is blazing the trail of being open-minded. It would be not about the pretty people, not the songwriter, or who could sing the best, but the person who has the real heart.
"I mean, country and hip-hop are not that far apart in spirit. When you break it down, it's all blues music. Country has been good in my lifetime about opening up to a lot of genres, the way rock 'n roll used to be. The Beatles' 'Day Tripper' and the Rolling Stones' 'Honky Tonk Women' were country tunes."
Kid Rock and Sheryl kick off their tour on July 2 in Cincinnati, Ohio, followed by Milwaukee, Wis., on July 3. The tour continues into September, with both having individual dates scattered throughout.
SOURCE: Vernell Hackett / TheBoot.com
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