Kid Rock Is Bringing The Heat

Here are more highlights from a phone interview Kid Rock did with 'Michigan Live' prior to his performance at the 'Allegan County Fair' on Saturday. Kid Rock said he never wanted to be a businessman just "sing songs and drive a cool car." "But I'm more in the mix than I've ever been," Kid Rock said of the business side of his career. For example, he said he thought the prices of concert T-shirts were too high. For the last few shows of his "Born Free Tour," he slashed the prices in half on some merchandise items, as will be the case at the Allegan County Fair. He said some merchandise booths have a sign reading, "F--- the economy, all shirts are half off." It's part of his own mini-campaign to make his shows more affordable for fans, something he plans to address with the powers that be. He said costs needed to be lowered, including his own take. "We don't have to rip everybody off," he said. "I know I'm overpaid." And it didn't sound like Kid Rock is paying lip-service. He said he'd also like to toss out convenience charges on ticket orders, another battle he plans to pursue in the future. "The next couple years are going to be interesting," he said, as if making a promise. Musically, Kid Rock said he's getting "mentally prepared" to record another album. "Born Free" was produced by Rick Rubin and although Kid Rock said in a Rolling Stone magazine interview that he'd like to work with the famous hitmaker again, the location of the process may be a sticking point. Kid Rock wants to record in Michigan; Rubin doesn't like the idea, Kid Rock said. "We might not be doing the next one together," he said. In the meantime, Kid Rock sounds as if he's twiddling his thumbs at home. He has plans to build a barn on his property. Actually, to "smoke cigars, drink beer and yell at contractors." Kid Rock said he's also seriously considering a tour of small clubs - in the neighborhood of 1,500 seats per venue. He's eyeballing November and December for the tour. Why? "I'm just bored. I have nothing to do right now," he said. "It's been so long since I've done that stuff ... play some obscure stuff for the long-time fans." Kid Rock said he wants to play these small gigs all over the U.S. and create a "shit storm in each town." Read the full interview of this great article at MLive.com.