Kid Rock, who's real name
is Robert James Ritchie, struggled to achieve the notariety that he's currently
attained. Many may have thought his first album was Devil Without a Cause
in 1998, though he'd put out two albums and two singles before that.
His
first album was released in 1990 entitled Grits Sandwiches For Breakfast,
which was released by the then tiny Jive Records, before Britney, Backstreet
Boys, and *NSYNC came along. The record included songs that Kid dedicated
to oral sex, a continued theme on all of his albums. Perhaps his difficulty
in landing mainstream success was do to his explicit lyrics, as his second
album, The Polyfuze Method, included yet another blow job inspired
anthem Balls In Your Mouth. The album was released on Continuum
after he had troubles with Jive. He later tried to release
Fire it Up,
though this time again he had problems with his label and Continuum Records
did nothing to promote it, causing the album to flop. In early 1996, Kid
Rock dropped Early Morning Stoned Pimp, al album which combined funk, rap,
soul and rock. Then, in 1998, Kid Rock released his most celebrated album
to date, Devil Without a Cause on a new label, Lava Records, which
featured the mega hits Bawitdaba and Cowboy. The album also
featured a track with Eminem entitled F*ck Off. Kid's newest offering
came in the new millennium, and we're guessing his latest label Atlantic
would be too afraid to mix with Kid Rock's album creating formula now as
he's their main meal ticket. This year his smash The History of Rock
climbed to the top of the charts. As the title suggests, the album covers
Kid's greatest hits, as well as the new American Bad Ass.
Bob Ritchie was born in Romeo,
Michigan on January 17th, 1972. Kid Rock was raised in a churchgoing
household though his parents also liked to party, and Kid seemed to embrace
the latter. Kid ran away from home at 17 and got in various innocent trouble
with baby-sitters and the like, though he lived in the middle of nowhere
so he otherwise was a good kid. He grew up listening to a mix of Jim Croce,
Bob Segar, Hank Williams Jr., Van Halen, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. His teenage
years in Mt. Clemens Michigan with Barn Parties, Trans Am cars all seemed
to suggest Kid was a typical redneck, although he mixed that vibe with
hip-hop and breakdancing, listening to Run DMC and Whodini. In fact, Kid
was a member of the local breakdancing crew the Furious Funkers. It's that
mix of influence that has helped create the sound he has today.
Kid Rock also has a child
out of wedlock, and is currently in a custody battle with the boy's mother,
Kelley South, who claims the child is supposed to be in her guardianship
while he's on tour, which her lawyer claims hasn't always been happening.
Kid also has been linked with celebrity groupie Carmen Electra, as well
as Midori, Jodi Watley's porn star sister. Kid is noted for his use of
adult film stars when he performs (nude when he can get away with it),
as Kobe Tai and Jenna Jameson have danced on stage while Kid does his thing.
Jenna though was singled out a the Grammy's in March when The Academy of
Recording Arts & Sciences banned her from appearing, though letting
lesser known porno queens perform, prompting Joy King, v.p. of Wicked Pictures
to say "The fact that a few lesser-known porn stars will be allowed to
appear is a disturbing hypocrisy." In Devil Without a Cause, porno
stars Houston, Claudia Chase and Coral Sands were on the cover with Kid
Rock for the vinyl version.
His latest relationship is
with model James King, who Kid says he met in 1998 though only the Spring
of 2000 did they start dating. Kid told Howard Stern that James is a health
nut and he's anything but, as he'll smoke and eat eggs and bacon. Kid told
Howard that he's faithful to her but groupies may find that hard to believe.
Groupie Central has two accounts of Kid which describe him saying "Kid
Rock is the filthiest, nastiest man I've ever been with" also claiming
Kid and his midget sidekick Joe C were involved in fisting and using cigars
like Bill Clinton is noted for. Both groupies claim his oral skills are
good, which considering his love for the act should be no surprise. The
site also awarded him the Sluttiest Male Celebrity at the 1999 MTV Video
Music Awards, saying "Think of Kid Rock as one big giant throbbing d**k
that's always ready to go. He's a slut and not only does he know it, he
loves it!" |
