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Robert James Ritchie (born January 17,
1971), best known as Kid Rock, is an American rapper, singer and rock
musician most notable for his albums along side his rap/hard
rock/country band, Twisted Brown Trucker.
****
Background information
Birth name Robert James Ritchie
Born January 17, 1971
Origin Romeo, Michigan
Genre(s) Rock
Rapcore
Hard rock
Country
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, Rapping, Guitar,
Synthesizer, Organ, Turntables
Years active 1990 to Present
Label(s) Atlantic, Jive,
Associated
acts Joe C., Eminem, Uncle Kracker
****
Early years
Robert James Ritchie was born in Romeo,
Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
Growing up, Ritchie and his father, a
well-to-do car dealer in the area, frequently disagreed over young
Ritchie's lifestyle choices. Following a lawn mower accident that
resulted in his brother, Billy, losing a leg, his father shifted the
burden of holding down the house and all the reponsibilty of his brother
on to young Robert (as related by the song My Oedipus Complex), and his
paternal grandmother, Soka Marinovich (born in Islam Latinski near
Policnik, Croatia). This led to increased friction between the two.
Ritchie eventually left home and moved to
the housing projects in Mount Clemens, Michigan, where he took his
turntables to basement parties hoping for a chance to play. Bo Wisdom,
of Groove Time Production, offered him an opportunity to spin for the
crowd; and their enthusiasm for the young DJ led Wisdom to dub him with
a moniker after watching "that white kid rock."
After working with Groove Time Productions
and the Beastcrew laying down demos, Jive Records offered him a contract
at the age of 17. Against his parents' wishes, he signed the deal. Later
he became part of the Straight From The Underground Tour with several
heavyweights of rap including Ice Cube, Too $hort, D-Nice, and Yo-Yo.
In 1990, Kid Rock released the album Grits
Sandwiches for Breakfast. The first single, "Yo Da Lin In The Valley",
was mostly ignored by radio as it dealt largely with cunnilingus. The
FCC later levied a US$23,700 fine on New York University for airing it.
[citation needed]
The success and subsequent ridicule of
Vanilla Ice made Jive nervous about Kid Rock, and the label eventually
dropped him from their roster. He was later picked up by an indie record
label, Continuum, recording The Polyfuze Method in 1993. The album saw
some college radio success at Central Michigan University, and its first
single, "Back From The Dead", became a Top 20 Hot Rap Track. The second
single, "U Don't Know Me", flopped, and after 1994's Fire It Up EP,
Continuum dropped him from the label.
In 1992, he had a collaboration with the
Insane Clown Posse on the song "Is That You?!" from their debut
full-length album Carnival of Carnage. Kid was paid $600 for his
appearance on the record, which was $100 more than they paid his rival,
Esham, to appear on the album.
Kid Rock started his own label, Top Dog,
and from July 1994 through March 1995, released monthly demo tapes
called The Bootleg Series. In 1995, he took a job as a janitor at
Whiterooms Studios in order to pay studio fees. In the process, he
released the local classic "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp", of which he sold
100,000 copies out of his own basement. This success led him to once
again push for a major label record deal.
In 1995, he played in Anthony Dick's garage
on the campus of Baldwin-Wallace College. He wanted to crash at Mr.
Dick's house, but Bob Wirtz told him to leave.
On March 30, 1997, he performed a special
showcase concert to attract major label attention; the only label that
showed up was Atlantic Records. A re-release of The Polyfuze Method with
three bonus tracks was first available at this show. Following the
performance, record executives said they loved him but expressed doubts
about the strength of the material. Kid Rock returned to the studio and
cut two additional demos, "I Got One For Ya" and "Somebody's Gotta Feel
This", which finally clinched the record deal (for $100,000).
Mainstream success
In 1997, Kid Rock added Jason Krause and
Stefanie Eulinberg to his band, joining Kenny Olson, Jimmie Bones, Uncle
Kracker, Mike Bradford, and Joe C. In August 1998, he released Devil
Without a Cause behind the single "Welcome 2 The Party" and went on the
Vans Warped Tour.
"Welcome 2 The Party" was ignored by
audiences and Devil sat on the shelves collecting dust for eight months.
A chance meeting at a New York nightclub with MTV VJ Carson Daly led to
a video of "I Am The Bullgod" to MTV and with Carson's support, it
became a moderate hit.
After two notable live performances at
MTV's Fashionably Loud and Wanna B A VJ, Kid released the single,
"Bawitdaba", to renewed interest and sales. He performed "Walk This Way"
with Aerosmith and Run DMC at MTV's 1999 VMA's, as well as at Woodstock
1999 and the Grammy Awards. He released three more singles from the
album: "Cowboy", "Only God Knows Why", and "Wasting Time". Devil Without
A Cause eventually sold 11 million copies.
In 2000, after acquiring the rights to his
early material, he released The History Of Rock, a collection of remixed
or re-recorded songs. The only new track, "American Bad Ass", sampled
the Metallica track "Sad But True" and was later used as professional
wrestler The Undertaker's entrance song in World Wrestling
Entertainment.
Later that year, he joined the rock band
Phish on stage for several songs at a concert in Las Vegas. At the end
of 2000, Joe C died of celiac disease.
In 2001, Kid Rock released Cocky, which was
marketed as the official follow up to Devil Without a Cause. Despite
featuring new songs, the album did not reach the same level of success,
mainly due to the decline of nu metal and fan rejection of the fusion of
country music into many of the tracks. However, the release of
"Picture", a country influenced duet with Sheryl Crow, introduced Rock
to a new audience and was ultimately the most successful single on the
album. Rock has since gained country music acclaim for such notable
performances as his performance of "Luckenbach, Texas" on the Waylon
Jennings tribute album I've Always Been Crazy; and his appearance on
Country Music Television's Crossroads episode with Hank Williams, Jr.
In 2003, Kid Rock returned with a
self-titled album which delved even deeper into country music, although
the first single was a cover of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love".
VH1 aired A VH1 Kid Rock Christmas on
December 14, 2003. Rock performed classic tracks along with several new
tunes, and along with Hank Williams, Jr., Shooter Jennings and Jesse
James, they prepared Christmas (was actually Thanksgiving) dinner for
Dre Dmato, Lee Ann Rimes, and Kid's parents. He later added a second
country hit with "Single Father" in 2004.
Kid Rock made cameo appearances in the
music videos for Gretchen Wilson's songs, "Redneck Woman" and "All
Jacked Up".
On February 28, 2006, Kid Rock released his
first live album, Live Trucker, comprising songs from his homestands of
Clarkston (on September 1, 2000, and August 26 through August 28, 2004),
and Detroit's Cobo Hall (March 26, 2004). The album contained the last
two performances of Joe C on "Devil Without A Cause" and "Early Mornin'
Stoned Pimp", as well as dueting withGretchen Wilson on "Picture". Other
highlights included "Only God Knows Why", the medley of "Somebody's
Gotta Feel This" and "Fist Of Rage", and a thrash metal take on Led
Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love".
Kid Rock today
Kid Rock's talent can be illustrated by the
fact he is credited on his albums for not only vocals (which are
eclectic alone, as he raps, and sings rock, metal, and country), but
guitar (steel, rhythm, electric and acoustic), bass, percussion, mixing,
mellotron, keyboard, backing vocals, slide guitar, scratching,
programming, producer, and even banjo. He is famous for his high-energy
personality on and off stage. Kid Rock's music has changed and evolved
considerably over time.
Kid Rock and Twisted Brown Trucker (see
below) will release a live DVD of their performance at the Palace of
Auburn Hills, Michigan on May 12/May 13, 2006 by the end of 2006.
A new studio album from Kid Rock is in the
works and is set for release in February 2007. In a recent interview
with Real Detroit Weekly, Rock said he is attempting to create "a
timeless rock-n-roll record" so there will be no rap or country on it.
Rock also said the record will be produced by Rick Rubin, and will
feature the J. Geils Band's Peter Wolf; the album has been rumored to
have a tribute song to New Orleans from the outcome of Hurricane Katrina
with Fats Domino on vocals.
Twisted Brown Trucker
Twisted Brown Trucker is Bob Ritchie's band
formed in 1994, with Bob Ebeling in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Current members
Kenny Tudrick (lead guitar)
Jason Krause (electric guitar, acoustic
guitar)
Jimmie Bones (keyboard, organ, piano,
clavinet, Wurlitzer, harp, Jew's harp)
Stefanie Eulinberg (drums, vocals)
Aaron Julison (bass, vocals)
Paradime (turntables, vocals)
Karen Newman, Lauren Creamer, Thornetta
Davis, Misty Love (vocals)
Former members
Uncle Kracker (turntables, vocals
1990-2002)
Bob Ebeling (drums 1993-1997)
Kenny Olson (lead guitar 1994-2005)
Joe C (Vocals-died in 2000)
Mike Bradford (bass guitar 1999-2001)
Lonnie Moxley (bass guitar 1995-1997)
Bobby East (lead guitar, bass guitar, slide
guitar 2001-2005)
Chris Labroux (drums 1997)
Smith Curry (steel guitar, dobro 2005)
Personal life
Kid Rock has one son, Robert James Ritchie
Jr., born June 14, 1993 to Kelley South Russell; a Detroit auto worker.
In the fall of 2001 Kid Rock began dating actress and model Pamela
Anderson. In April 2002 they announced their engagement, but during the
fall of 2003 Kid Rock and Anderson broke up. During the break up with
Anderson, he briefly dated Conchita Leeflang. However on July 18, 2006
Anderson announced that the pair were engaged again. The couple wed in
St. Tropez on July 29, 2006, though this was not considered legal by
French authorities. The couple had two additional weddings later,
including one in Detroit. On November 27, 2006 Pamela Anderson filed for
divorce once again, citing irreconcilable differences.
Kid Rock currently resides in Clarkston,
Michigan.
Discography
Studio albums
Release Date Album Title Billboard Peak
RIAA Cert.
November 11, 2003 Kid Rock 8 2x Platinum
November 20, 2001 Cocky 3 5x Platinum
May 30, 2000 The History of Rock 3 3x
Platinum
August 18, 1998 Devil Without a Cause 4 11x
Platinum
May 30, 1997 The Polyfuze Method
Revisited
January 9, 1996 Early Morning Stoned Pimp
March 23, 1993 The Polyfuze Method
December 11, 1990 Grits Sandwiches for
Breakfast
Live albums
Release Date Album Title Billboard Peak
February 28, 2006 Live Trucker 10
Singles
Year Song US Hot 100 U.S. Mainstream Rock
US Modern Rock Hot Country Singles & Tracks Adult Contemporary Album
2004 "I Am" 28 Kid Rock
2004 "Jackson, Mississippi" 14 Kid Rock
2004 "Single Father" 50 Kid Rock
2003 "Feel Like Makin' Love" 33 Kid
Rock
2002 "Picture" (with Sheryl Crow) 4 21 2
Cocky
2002 "Lonely Road of Faith" 15 Cocky
2002 "You Never Met a Mother f*cker Quite
Like Me" 32 Cocky
2001 "Forever" 18 21 Cocky
2000 "American Bad Ass" 20 33 The
History of Rock
2000 "Only God Knows Why" 19 5 13 23 Devil
Without a Cause
2000 "Wasting Time" 35 Devil Without a
Cause
1999 "Bawitdaba" 11 10 Devil Without a
Cause
1999 "Cowboy" 82 10 5 Devil Without a
Cause
1999 "I Am The Bullgod" 31 Devil
Without a Cause
Other releases
Fire It Up! (EP, January 1, 1994)
The Polyfuze Method Revisited (May 30,
1997)
Other singles
"Yo Da Lin In The Valley" (Grits Sandwiches
For Breakfast)
"Prodigal Son" (The Polyfuze Method)
"Back From The Dead" (The Polyfuze Method)
"My Oedipus Complex" (The Polyfuze Method)
"U Don't Know Me" (The Polyfuze Method)
"Welcome 2 The Party (Ode 2 The Old
School)" (Devil Without A Cause)
"Heaven" w/ Uncle Kracker and Paradime
"Naked Women And Beer" w/ Hank Williams,
Jr.
"New Skin" w/ Methods Of Mayhem
"The F-Word" w/ Hank Williams, Jr.
"Gimmie Back My Bullets" w/ Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" w/
Nickelback
"Luckenbach, Texas" w/ Kenny Chesney
"Spank" w/ Kenny Wayne Sheppard
"Son Of Detroit" (Live Trucker)
"Bawitdaba" (Live Trucker)
"Cowboy" (Live Trucker)
"Picture" (with Gretchen Wilson) (Live
Trucker)
"Rock N Roll Pain Train" (Live Trucker)
"Early Mornin Stoned Pimp" (Live Trucker)
"Only God Knows Why" (Live Trucker)
"Real Mean Bottle" w/ Bob Seger
"Honky Tonk Woman" w/ Jerry Lee Lewis
Other appearances
1989 Doc Rounce Cee "And The Groove Time
Posse" (scratches)
1990 Double E MC Twinns "Sex On The Brain"
(producer,performer)
1991 "Yo Da Lin In The Valley" 12" vinyl
1991 "X Rated Raps" (Yo Da Lin In The
Valley))
1991 Beastcrew's Chapter 1 album
(performer)
1992 Insane Clown Posse's Carnival Of
Carnage (performer)
1992 "Back From The Dead" single
1993 "U Don't Know Me" single
1994-1995 Bootleg Series Demo Tapes
(cassette)
1994 Harm's Way "Cut Corners (EP)"
(producer,performer)
1994 Harm's Way "Chiato Diablo"
(producer,performer)
1997 Road Rash 3 Soundtrack ("Somebody's
Gotta Feel This")
1996 Detroit Rock City Soundtrack
("Westside aka Paid")
1998 The Howling Diablos' Its My Party EP
(It's My Party Live)
1999 Eminem's Slim Shady LP (scratches on
"Just Don't Give A f*ck")
1999 Deep Porn Soundtrack" ("f*ck My Ass")
2000 Maximum Kid Rock
2000 Devil Knows My Name DVD
2000 Star Profile
2000 Motorcity Motormouth DVD
2000 Ready To Rumble Soundtrack ("Bawitdaba
Lower Than You Remix")
2000 WCW Mayhem The Music ("Blast aka
Shotgun Blast")
2000 Uncle Kracker's Double Wide ("Heaven")
2000 The Crow: Salvation soundtrack ("Warm
Winter")
2000 Run DMC's Crown Royal ("School Of
Old")
2000 Methods Of Mayhem self-titled ("New
Skin")
2000 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
soundtrack ("Kyle's Momma Is A Big Fat Bitch")
2000 Hank Williams Jr's Stormy ("Naked
Women And Beer")
2000 A Tribute To Kid Rock
2000 Robert Bradley's Black Water Surprise
("Higher")
2000 Sun Records Recording ("Drinkin Wine
Spo Dee Dee")
2000 Any Given Sunday ("f*ck That")
2000 Murder 1's American Junkie ("No Women,
No Cry")
2000 The Simpsons: Kill The Alligator And
Run (guest voice)
2001 Osmosis Jones soundtrack ("Cool Daddy
Cool")
2001 Road Trip soundtrack ("Early Mornin
Stoned Pimp")
2001 Hank Jr. Ameria Club Recordings ("The
F-Word")
2001 Willie Nelson's The Great Divide
("Last Stand In Open Country")
2002 Uncle Kracker's No Stranger To Shame
(producer)
2002 "WWE Forceable Entry" ("Legs" - Stacy
Kiebler)
2003 A Tribute To Weylon Jennings ("Luckenbach,
Texas")
2003 Charlie's Angels soundtrack
(performer)
2003 Lynyrd Skynyrd's Vicious Cycle ("Gimmie
Back My Bullets")
2004 Uncle Kracker's 72 And Sunny
(producer)
2004 Willie Nelson's Angels And Outlaws DVD
("Shotgun Willy"/"Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On")
2005 Sheryl Crow's Best Of ("Picture")
2005 Allison Moorer's Show ("Bully Jones")
2005 R. L. Burnside's A Bothered Mind ("My
Name Is Robert Too")
2005 Kenny Wayne Sheppard's A Place You're
In ("Spank")
2005 A Tribute To Kid Rock And His Roots
2005 Paradime's 11 Steps Down ("Foul Mouff")
2005 Gretchen Wilson's All Jacked Up Target
Exclusive CD ("Other Side Of Me")
****
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Date Article Copied:
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