NEW YORK – Kid Rock considers his sixth studio album, “Rock N Roll Jesus,” a make- or-break record for him. When he first broke onto the national scene in 1998, the Detroit native sold 12 million records with his album, “Devil Without a Cause.” With the success came fame and fortune and more hit records.
But these days, Rock is known more for his made-for-tabloids antics than for his music. As anyone who keeps up with pop culture knows, he married Pamela Anderson last year, a union that ended quickly and disastrously. He recently accused her of being a manipulator, and Anderson has already remarried.
In addition, Rock recently punched Anderson’s ex, Tommy Lee, at the MTV Music Video Awards, once again making himself tabloid fodder.
Now, the 36-year-old artist says it’s time to get back to his career. Rock sat down with The Associated Press to talk about his new music, his fears and surviving heartbreak.
Q: In the past, your music has not been genre-specific. Does this album follow that same formula?
A: In my previous albums I have always touched on different genres whether it has been hip-hop, country and the rock element.
On this one I just feel more comfortable in my own skin than I have ever felt as an artist, songwriter, as a father, just as a human being. This is the record that everything has come together on. The songwriting has really stepped up, the playing, the singing and all those genres that I’ve stepped in and been like a creative chameleon. It really kind of shines in this record in a great way.
Q: Are you afraid that your tabloid headlines will overshadow your music?
A: There is no question. I think it has in the last few years, definitely. The personal antics have overshadowed the music.
I never wanted that but I knew what I was getting into when I got into everything I got into. The stove was hot and I wanted to touch it. I touched it and it burnt the hell out of me. I’m thankful that I proved myself in music which is my first love, my first passion before I got involved in this media, whatever you want to call it. I am hoping to bring it back to the music now.
Q: When you make headlines for doing bad things, such as hitting Tommy Lee, are you worried that your son is going to imitate you?
A: No. I’m not worried about headlines affecting my family, especially my son. He knows who I am. Whatever these things he is reading, he has a different perspective than the rest of the world, just as a lot of my friends do. You can only go so far with a headline and there are two sides to every story, so I am not worried about it.
Q: Do you regret marrying Pam Anderson?
A: No. I fell in love. It was a great thing to be in love. I was a complete idiot in love. I always say getting married was a ball. I had a blast getting married. Loved it so much I got married six or seven times or whatever it was. Being married sucked. Maybe for some people it is not meant to be.
Q: How much of the album was inspired by your failed relationship?
A: The best formula for revenge is success. It kind of made sense to me. As much as you don’t want to say you are a vengeful person, when someone drags your name through the mud and plays press games and puts things out there like that, you are kind of like, all right. US Weekly will be gone next week, the songs I am writing won’t.
Q: What constitutes success for you on this album?
A: I wouldn’t be honest with myself if I said that it wouldn’t hurt if this album didn’t sell. It would. It would be painful because I think it is my best album to date.
Of course I want people to show up to the concerts and I am sure for that to decline would be a difficult thing. I am scared of being broke and famous. I think that would be the biggest curse … that really scares the hell out of me. That helps me to make myself better and always try to improve as a songwriter and singer so I don’t ever have to face that.
