Kid Rock Returning To Detroit After Publicly Talking Trash On City
Sometimes, you just can't quit where you came from. A lot of people return to their hometowns after SWEARING they'd never return. Most of us have done it, which means we likely have something in common with Kid Rock.
After talking a little dirt on Detroit recently, Rock has decided that, indeed, when you tour the country, you have to hit the 21st largest city in the country... even if it might be a bit uncomfortable to return.
Rock announced his "No More Snowflakes Summer Concert Tour" on Monday, which will be fitting for Michigan in the Summer. But, it's likely that's not the "snowflakes" he's talking about.
Rock is pretty vocal about his political alignment, and regularly makes it known in his music, social media posts, and public appearances.
The tour will feature different guest artists as openers throughout the trek, but the Detroit date, in particular, will have Grand Funk Railroad opening for him, whom he played with last year. Specifically, that show will be July 14th at Little Caesar's Arena.
But Kid Rock has stirred the pot with Detroit (and the rest of Michigan), a number of times. Most memorable was a video caught by TMZ, of him outside his "Big Ass Honky Tonk" restaurant in Nashville, TN, trash talking Oprah Winfrey.
"I'm not a bad guy. I'm just an honest guy that says, 'Hey, I don't like Oprah Winfrey or Joy Behar.' Sorry, mom. They're like, 'Hey, you're a F---g racist.' And I'm like, 'You're f---g weird.' You call your people, I'll call mine."
Rock was noticeably slurring his words, and drunk in the video. Not long after it aired, Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit - where Kid Rock opened its doors with six sold-out shows in 2017 - announced they would be parting ways with Rock and his restaurants in their establishment.
They said he...
..."voluntarily decided not to renew his licensing agreement. As our venues are open, inviting, inclusive, and respectful to all, we look forward to bringing on an exciting new concept that aligns with our community and company values."
"I appreciate all who have patronized our place (his restaurant in Detroit) and still have much love for the City of Detroit and the people/organizations that I have helped there for years, black, white, whatever, but learned long ago, go where you're celebrated, not tolerated... I guess the millions of dollars I pumped into that town was not enough."
Not long after this happened, his Detroit mansion went on sale, and Rock now calls Nashville home.
He has performed in Michigan since his falling out with Detroit and Little Caesar's Arena - a few shows in Grand Rapids last year - But has yet to return to his original home city.
In fact, during his last performances there, protestors picketed outside, against his political views. Rock is also not well received in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He recorded his music video for "Born Free" at Pictured Rocks in Munising, and his song "All Summer Long" has multiple UP references, but he has yet to ever play a show up North.
In fact, petitions have been put online to keep him from playing in the UP.
But nonetheless, Rock is returning to Detroit, and you can catch him with Grand Funk Railroad on July 14th.
Hopefully, this show goes better than the one last July in North Dakota, where fans literally rebelled, and stormed the stage after weather cancelled his performance.