Why the Hatred for Kid Rock? – I’ve lived in Metro Detroit / Oakland County my entire life and I can’t understand the local hatred for Kid Rock.
Why the Hatred for Kid Rock?
To me, it’s flat-out Detroit on Detroit crime to see how harsh people in his hometown can be toward him.
I’m not an uber Kid Rock fan but I know enough about him to wonder why anyone in Michigan would criticize him.
On the surface, Kid Rock’s music and over-the-top persona can be a bit of any easy target to pick at… kind of like how it’s so easy now to make fun of 80s Heavy Metal and hair bands. Even the glammiest of the 80s rock pretty boys never had to endure the ridicule that Kid Rock seems to – even in his home state.
A few weeks ago Kid found out through the grapevine that a Kid Rock superfan (Dan McGurk) with Down’s Syndrome was making the trek from Ohio with his family to visit Union Woodshop in Clarkston (one of Kid Rock’s favorite restaurants) to celebrate his birthday. Long story short, Kid decided to show up to sing Happy Birthday to Dan and shower him with some nifty Kid Rock merchandise (see video below at about 2:50). Not only did Rock show up, he stuck around for over an hour to chat with his new pal. Pretty sweet, huh? Well, some of the vitriol in the comments section surprised me. The comments were insensitive to both Kid and McGurk. Vile trolls.
A friend of mine posted the video (the birthday one) to their facebook timeline and I was stunned to see how many Metro Detroiters could have so many negative reactions to such a positive gesture. I mean, the video below is the feel-good equivalent of a video of a firefighter helping a kitten out of a tree but the Kid Rock video reaction was flooded with “he sucks!” etc etc…
[vsw id=”bUPaPnz-sc0″ source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]
Why the Hatred for Kid Rock? Kid Rock does so much for this area. He recently donated a cool $20,000 to help support a magazine to chronicle Detroit’s history. Let’s not forget how many trips he’s made to entertain the troops. You don’t need me to provide every example, you can check out his Kid Rock Foundation charity page for yourself. Kid Rock isn’t Madonna and he isn’t Magic Johnson – people who claim to support Michigan but left Michigan (and took all the money with them)! Kid Rock gives unflinchingly to Michigan causes (and national ones).
There are so many contributions Kid Rock has made that have flown under the radar. He once learned that the Milan High School Golf Team had their golf clubs stolen and, behind the scenes, called up his buddy John Daly to promptly ship enough new clubs to outfit the whole team. I remember years ago he found out some pizza delivery driver in Ohio was robbed and severely beaten. Kid Rock sent him some money while he recovered from his injuries. The funny thing was that the robbery victim wasn’t even a Kid Rock fan. Against Kid’s request, the guy went to the press to tell them what Kid had done for him and to thank him publicly for how much that Kid had helped him during a time of need. Whenever the media approaches Kid Rock about his charitable deeds like these, he usually brushes them off or he becomes flat-out agitated that he’s somehow injected in the story.
Never mind the charity.. Look what Kid Rock has done for the concert industry. Lower ticket prices and lower merchandise prices so everyone can enjoy a concert. Not only is it good PR, he’s actually changing the way some greedy promoters operate.
So, you don’t like Kid Rock’s music. Fine. I like some of his songs and have an album or two by him but I’m not a huge fan. I don’t see how anyone can knock him personally though. He does more for people around here than just about any other artist. Dislike his music or persona all you want, I’m glad he’s in our backyard. I’m glad he stayed. And thankfully, he doesn’t give a shit what these people say anways. Why the Hatred for Kid Rock?
I agree. Kid Rock has done so much for Michigan, Detroit and surrounding communities; mostly behind the scenes. People get caught up in the persona of Kid Rock, rather than the person. Just like people that say they hate his music, then I have a CD playing and they say “Oh, I like that song”. You should see their faces when I say it’s Kid Rock. He is secure enough in himself and his life to not let the negative comments get to him. Haters will hate. Their loss.
Great piece! Kid Rock has so much love for Detroit and Michigan and he wears that love on his sleeve. I have a cousin who lives in Oakland County, and while she’s not a fan of his music, in her words, “He’s good for Detroit.” If everyone showed a little more love towards their neighbors and community, what a better country this would be.
Bobby is the best!!
I will Support Kid Rock til the day I die … I love his Music and most of All The way he Helps others out in time of need … Rawkkk On Kid from NC !!!
Kid Rock is a great American. Anyone who can’t see that is a moron
Hey Kid Rock you are THE MAN! You are what every rock star or performer should model themselves after. I am not a Michigan resident, but still appreciate all the things you do for ANY community. Roll on my friend!
If you can find fault with a caring loving person like Kid Rock. Well you don’t deserve the attention this is getting you or to breath my air. Idiots
Kids the nicest guy you’ll ever meet these are just haters an dumbasses.
The haters are the ones with the problems and are showing their ignoranc! !!!!
Bobby has a huge and loving heart! I am an uber fan, and this is one of the reasons why u remain a fan!
I started listening to Kidrock, and the first song I heard was cowboy .asked my nephew who is that man singing, he is really kicking ass with that Cowboy baby song, that day on I have followed him , and was at the concert when the guy got beat up … over a pizza …Then seen on the news what KId did and it brought tears to my eyes not a lone my heart I said That is one hell of a artist and he has a big heart … And Kid Rock I want to thank you for everything you do for wearing that love on your sleeve. And I want to also Thank you for supporting our troops that are serving our country that is so filled with hate ..it is people like you that bring out the love in true people , So Flip the haters u American Bad Ass…. U CARE . and U roll on with your Rebel Soul . Much Love XOXOXO ((((HUG)))♥
Agreed!! People like to hate and complain but what are THEY doing for others!! Kid Rock is AWESOME and I will always be a fan of him as a person as well as his music!
God bless him that’s why I love him & his music! #truefanforlife!
He makes my heart flutter every time I hear of the good deeds he does. He truly is a wonderful soul and that is why I love him so. <3
Great Article! Kid Rock already had my heart with his music, and he downright stole it when his kindness became extensive during the CARE tour. He personally affected my heart through his compassion for people. I will always be a proud fan and extremely grateful.
I agree wholeheartedly!! Plus, let’s consider how he has mixed so many disparate musical elements into his own unique brand of music. Part rap, part hard core, part country, part soul, part straight ahead rock’n’roll…and he does it in a way that sounds very organic and not forced at all. I got a real kick out of photographing his black-tie charity performance at Detroit’s Fox Theatre a few years back (which raised a ton of money to help the hurting DSO). Here he was doing all out versions of some of his toughest tunes….backed by the DSO!!! I mean he was rapping, in front of, basically a redneck, roughneck band alongside an orchestra of classically trained musicians!! They didn’t lighten up the arrangements at all. The violins and cellos were kicking major-ass and shredding some bows BIGTIME. You looked out in the audience, and seen guys in tuxes rocking alongside dudes in biker leather. It was AWESOME! It was what rock’n’roll is supposed to be about: Sharing a great time and inclusion for EVERYBODY!
Being from Los Angeles I really didn’t know much about Michigan. Last year I had the opportunity to visit Michigan to see a Kid Rock concert at the Pine knob venue. Besides a great show I thought Michigan was beautiful and felt that they need a good spokes person to enlighten the rest of US of how amazing it is.AKA. Bobby Shazam, Kid Rock Bob Ritchie is the man . Thank you Bob for all you do for the troops, your city and your fans. Can’t wait to chill on the boat and have Bob entertain us to the max. Glad Bob ignores the haters and lives his life to the fullest.
This is so right! He has a heart of gold! I am a huge fan
I an a long time dedicated fan & here’s a little secret. The hatred only fuels me to like him more.
He rocks The D. We love him. Nuff said.
he is a very humble man
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. The last few years he has given away turkeys too.
Kid rock fan for life
HE IS ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT AMAZING SO DOWN TO EARTH HE WAS IN PHOENIX AZ YEARS AGO GETTING HIS BIKE HE TOOK TIME OUT WITH PAM TO TALK TO MY KID AND KID AND PAM BOTH SIGNED HER SHORTS