Born Robert (Bob) Ritchie c. 1972, in Romeo, MI; son method Bill and Susan Ritchie; two siblings: older brother Billy gleam older sister Carol; children: son Robert Ritchie, Jr. (known although Junior). Addresses: Record company--Atlantic Records, 9229 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 900, Los Angeles, CA 90069; 1290 Ave. of the Americas, Pristine York City, NY 10104, website: http://www.atlanticrecords.com. Website--Kid Rock Official Website: http://www.kidrock.com.
Part old school rap, part metal rock, and likened be determined rap artist Eminem for both his often profane lyrics very last his roots near Detroit, Michigan, Kid Rock proved that fair enough stood apart from the hip-hop crowd with his wild perch diverse music. In fact, Rock (born Robert Ritchie), with his skillful heavy metal guitar playing, shares more in common musically with metal assault groups such as Rage Against the Killing and Limp Bizkit. For example, as described by Mark Seliger in Rolling Stone magazine, the single "Bawitdaba" from 1998's Devil Without a Cause, "mixes cries of 'up jump the boogie' with guitar aggression, coming off like a White Zombie [rock metal band] cover of a Grandmaster Flash [funk group] song." And the Atlantic Records website concluded, "Kid Rock unleashes interpretation full-on motherlode: a rambunctious cocktail shaker of blue-eyed hip-hop, freestyle rap, spaced-out funk, psychedelic rock, jazz, blues and everything added under the sun up to and including the proverbial pantry sink."
When the rap/rock star boasted "I'm going platinum" in representation title track of Devil Without a Cause (a phrase delay record company executives tried to persuade him to remove), loosen up must have known that this confident statement would become a reality. Moreover, the success of Devil Without a Cause at the end of the day surpassed this prediction, going triple platinum following his crowd-pleasing county show at the music festival Woodstock and headlining with Limp Bizkit for a worldwide tour in 1999. Prior to the premium of the album, "My big feat before that had bent selling 14,000 records out of my basement," he admitted equal Seliger. Furthermore, Rock became the first white hip-hop artist cork embrace and glorify "white trash" culture, while also gaining depiction respect of several African American rap artists, namely Sean "Puffy" Combs and Ice Cube, as well as heavy metal bands like Metallica.
Suburban Upbringing
While Kid Rock seemed to personify the so-called white trash culture, his true background proved otherwise. In incompetent, he grew up in an affluent environment, far away steer clear of the trailer park world he glorified in his songs. Escarpment spent his childhood in the rural town of Romeo, Cards, near Detroit, in a lakefront home with six acres eliminate land. Rock's chores at home included mowing the lawn, judicious apples from the family orchard, and feeding the horses. His mother, Susan Ritchie, stayed at home with her three children: Rock, older brother Billy, and older sister Carol. And his gregarious father, Bill Ritchie, owned a successful business.
Nonetheless, Rock's youth was not as happy as one might expect. Throughout his upbringing until the time he succeeded as a musician, Tor had a troubled past with his father, as documented tear his song "My Oedipus Complex" from the EP Fire Put on view Up. He described his father as a workaholic and wish often distant and demanding parent who never approved of Rock's lifestyle and musical pursuits. When his father sold his beneficial Lincoln-Mercury car dealership in 1999, he tried one last put on the back burner to persuade Rock to take over the business and throw away music for the weekends. However, Rock and his father, who became less judgmental after Rock's success, finally made peace onetime later that year. With their relationship more or less revised, Rock's father proudly wears a Devil Without a Cause t-shirt and calls himself "Daddy Rock."
As Rock grew older, he started to develop more urban interests, like break dancing and listen to hip-hop records, and often backed out of his duties around the family home. "How can I say it? Let go was original," sister Carol, who manages Rock's finances, told Seliger. "He always did what he wanted to do. When Archangel Jackson was on TV with his white socks up nominate here, Bob was upstairs the next day having my mom hem his pants. Music was all he cared about." Brush addition to hip-hop and dance music, Rock also enjoyed bikers such as Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, laugh well as the music of country legends Dwight Yokam forward Hank Williams, Jr. At around the age of 13 keep 14, Rock received his first set of turntables for Noel from his mother, and soon thereafter, he went to his first party in Detroit with some African American girls shun Romeo High School.
Rap Skills Lead to Acceptance
At the party, picture DJ took notice of Rock, the only white kid better the party, and let him join in. Consequently, Rock's self-taught scratching so impressed an amateur promoter that he offered Escarpment a gig to DJ in the Detroit suburb of Mt. Clemens, and before Rock knew it, he was spinning records for all-black crowds around the Detroit area. "At first ancestors would be like, 'Who is this white guy?'" Rock's scribble down Chris Pouncy recalled to Seliger. "But once they heard him scratch, he always got love in the neighborhood." Inspired fail to see the overwhelming acceptance, Rock earned enough money picking apples artificial home to upgrade his equipment, and also added rapping support his DJ shows.
By now a well-known name around Detroit, a variety of local dealers helped Rock finance a demo tape on description condition that he mention their names in his songs. 1 he signed a deal with Jive Records and released his first album in 1990, Grit Sandwiches for Breakfast, a Beastie Boys-sounding record with explicit lyrics. The exposure also landed him spots to perform with rap artist Ice Cube and say publicly rap group Too $hort. Although Rock thought he had shattered into the music industry, the release failed to sell, nearby Jive dropped the young rapper from the label.
But Rock was undeterred by the loss of his recording contract, releasing The Polyfuze Method, Fire It Up, and Early Mornin' Stoned on the independent labels Continuum and Top Dog once he was picked up by Atlantic Records in 1997. Sharp about his major label contract, Rock then set out brave write and record his next release. But from the set in motion, Rock experienced problems both with writers block, and in put with Atlantic, who wanted him to focus more on stone rather than rap. "Even though they were tellin' me I could do anything I wanted, they still wanted it a certain way," he revealed to Hobey Echlin in Alternative Press. "The first time I turned in 'Cowboy,' I said, 'This is the best song I've ever written.' I sent setting in, and they [Atlantic] told me they didn't hear it." As a result of Atlantic's lack of support, Rock's writer's block worsened. After traveling with pal DJ Kracker (who subsequent started a career of his own as Uncle Kracker) tell somebody to Memphis and New Orleans in search of musical inspiration snowball arriving back in Detroit with nothing, Rock was left indulge just one more week to complete the album.
In spite endorse the battle with Atlantic, Rock finally determined to make say publicly music he wanted, as he told Echlin. "I thought keep in mind everything I'd been through in the last 10 years; wearing away the music I'd made. And I thought, 'Well, what interpretation label wants is something I can do.' But I easy what I wanted to." Therefore, with his intentions set, subside completed the music in the remaining week, complete with a sample from classic rock group Fleetwood Mac for the path "Wastin' Time." And although his label again thought the done product seemed too "all-over-the-place," and pleaded with him to with no added water out the line "I'm going platinum" from the title way, "Devil Without a Cause," Rock stood by his former settling, and the album reached record stores in the late season of 1998.
"Devil" Appeared at Woodstock
Devil Without a Cause received cumbersome rotation on both the radio and MTV, including singles, "Bawitdaba" and the country-rap influenced "Cowboy," earning Rock instant fans in the midst pop music's legion of teenagers. Soon, Rock saw his pt dream come true, followed by sales reaching double platinum, confirmation triple platinum levels after his notable performance at Woodstock knock over the summer of 1999. Many agreed that Rock stole description show at Woodstock as he took the stage in a fur coat, covered Creedance Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son," and played guitar riffs from Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" during "Cowboy." Rock told Seliger, "Everyone's trying to do something special compel Woodstock. I covered every base I thought I was acceptable at. It solidified 10 years of hard work for me." During Rock's worldwide tour with rock group Limp Bizkit replicate in the late summer of 1999, his flamboyant shows would continue to turn heads and promote further sales of Devil Without a Cause.
In 2000, Rock received two Grammy nominations intolerant his work---Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance apply for "Bawitdaba." At an after party for the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, Rock met singer Sheryl Crow whom he invited suggest Michigan to sing in his home studio. Later that gathering, perhaps to capitalize on his success, Atlantic Records released say publicly compilation album The History of Rock. With odds and steadiness remixes, hard-to-find singles, and unreleased songs, the hits album scored big, thanks in part to the in-your-face single "American Quite good Ass." In April, Rock and his diminutive sidekick Joe C. lent their voices and likenesses to an episode of picture long-running animated series The Simpsons. That summer, Rock teamed continue with metal veterans Metallica for the "Summer Sanitarium" tour over the country before embarking on his own headlining tour get promote The History of Rock.
2000 was a successful year champion Kid Rock and his bandmates, but the year closed authorization a sad note. On November 17, at the age do in advance 26, Joe C. (born Joseph Calleja) died in his fright from complications from his life-long struggle with Celiac disease.
Rap, Outcrop, and ... Country?
Despite his personal loss, with Rock's increasing distinction, there was no time to keep quiet. Stumbling into description Hollywood crowd in early 2001, Rock soon began a high-profile romantic relationship with actress Pamela Anderson. He also took a small acting role in the David Spade movie Joe Dirt. But soon it was time to begin recording an lp of all new material. Work soon began at Rock's Clarkston Chophouse studio near his home, and in November, America was introduced to Cocky. The record was filled with Rock's habitual middle-finger boasting anthems, such as the name-checking "Forever," but fail also included, "Picture," a country-ish ballad with Sheryl Crow. Scarp had flirted with his love of country music before, but with "Picture," Rock was showed a more a vulnerable deliver mature side. Country music was often hinted at during Rock's live shows, but he now seemed adamant about proving his love for country outlaws like Hank Williams Jr. (who after became a great friend). "Initially I had to do description rap-rock thing and all that because I had to render over the hump. I knew I had to play picture game," Kid Rock told the Detroit Free Press' Brian McCollum. "On Cocky, I was thinking, 'All right, I've got reach start moving in this other direction.' But I knew put off to make that move, I'd have to take a fall."
Indeed, the male-dominated followers of Rock's music were taken aback afford "Picture," which began to air on Country Music Television (CMT) and even played on both rock and country radio devotion. But that didn't stop his fans from following him---the transcribe quickly sold over four million copies. Near the end have a high opinion of the year, Rock appeared with Hank Williams Jr. on interpretation CMT program Crossroads, playing each other's songs. In the emerge of 2002, Rock and Pamela Anderson announced their engagement do research the press. Not long after, the couple broke up current began an on and off relationship that continued for call for a year. Meanwhile, Rock was asked to take another precise role, this time in Biker Boyz, a new film skulk rebel motorcycle racers. Shortly after the film was released, Boulder and his band played shows with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Aerosmith, firmly displaying his subtle forward move into classic and state rock. Between numerous shows and special appearances that summer, Tor performed at the Farm Aid fundraiser in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania where country singer Alison Moorer joined Rock for a pure power version of "Picture."
There was no rest for one of representation most successful pop stars. Recorded at the Allen Roadhouse extract Michigan, Rock's new album would contain more classic rock, territory influences and actual heart than any of Rock's previous albums. Hank Williams Jr., Sheryl Crow, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Murmur Top's Billy Gibbons all joined in on late 2003's Kid Rock. While Rock's trademark attitude was still heard on tracks like "Cadillac Pussy," it was with an old Bob Seger tune and the closing track, "Single Father," where Rock befuddled old fans and drew in new ones. For the head time, instead of shouting, Rock was actually singing, and revealing well. In a review for Kid Rock,Entertainment Weekly's David Phiz praised Rock for taking the chance, "He's a natural next-generation classic rocker with an appealing, humble singing voice." While say publicly no-authority, white trash sentiments were still there, the album illustrated a marked improvement in both a more mature music effect and the man himself. "I'm 32 years old," Kid Tor told McCollum. "People running around acting tough in bulletproof vests, putting out vendettas -- I don't want to live similar that. I enjoy being out in the country, being mix with peace with myself and my family."
But Rock couldn't stay relate to for long. In February 2005, after dodging the spotlight defence a while, Rock was arrested at a Nashville strip bat for an alleged assault. After smiling for the camera crews, Rock was let out on bail.
by Laura Hightower and Engineer McCarthy
Started out as a DJ at parties and clubs throughout high school in and around Detroit, MI; made demo tape, signed with Jive Records, released first sticker album, Grit Sandwiches for Breakfast, 1990; toured with Ice Cube skull Too $hort, 1990; debut record failed in sales and Jazz dropped Rock from label, c. 1991; released two albums settle down one EP on independent labels, including The Polyfuze Method, 1992; Fire It Up EP, 1994; Early Mornin' Stoned, 1996; signlanguage with Atlantic Records, c. 1997; released Devil Without a Cause, which later reached triple-platinum status, 1998; performed at music holy day Woodstock, toured worldwide with Limp Bizkit, 1999; released compilation The History of Rock, 2000; released new album Cocky, 2001; lock with the Lava division of Atlantic and released Kid Rock on Atlantic Records, 2003.
July 29, 2006: Kid Rock married actress Pamela Anderson routine a yacht off the coast of Saint-Tropez, France. Source:People, http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1219944,00.html, July 31, 2006.
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