The Stench of Anger Surrounds Me

Sometimes I feel like I'm functioning on auto pilot. When this happens I become completely withdrawn, stale, stinky stagnant water. I would like to say that all things in my little bubble function at top notch. But that would just be untrue. Things happen and not always happy - good and shiny. My current mood for example is dark with rumbles and lighting bolts, plants are withering when I walk by. My vice? Thrashing music, angry music with tortured artist that somehow know exactly how to describe what I'm feeling. And that got me thinking....about how much I love KID ROCK.

To explain this story properly. I am a Generation Xer. I remember vividly when MTV rocked our culture. I was a junkie, couldn't get enough of the dance moves, the stories, the mini movies. When the video for Thriller was aired for the first time. Holy BLEEEEEP. It was during this time when MTV had their first music video awards in 1984 and I watched live as Madonna slithered across the stage to "Like A Virgin". It was awesome. When I saw RUN DMC play with Aerosmith to Walk This Way it was a religious experience at best. Bringing 70's Rock and joining it to early 80's rap. Mind blowing.

So it should come as no surprise in 1999 when I was laying in bed watching the MTV awards and this guy dressed in black is rapping away...hmmm OK no idea who he is. Then Run DMC enters the stage and you start to have this little quiver of something amazing is about to happen. And then the Vegas girls come out with their white feathery things and there stands Kid Rock pimped out with red parachute pants. They start to sing Bawitdaba and your skin gets prickly. What? Are they actually rapping to Southern Fried?? I'm laying in bed screaming for Geoff to come upstairs. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!!! He arrives just in time to see Aerosmith or Steve Tylor and Joe Perry to come on stage. All 3 sing Walk This Way and you think no matter how old you get nothing will compare musically to what you are witnessing. You are in awe and even when you write about it 10 years later you still get chills. This is when I fell in love with Kid Rock.

I was almost 30. Is it appropriate for a thirty something person to be blaring Devil Without A Cause from their car stereo? I didn't care. I played this album endlessly over and over and over. It made Geoff  love Kid Rock....Geoff was diggin rap music!! Kid Rock got the aggression out. Made you feel better. Made you want to play the album again.

There are some people that may be of the opinion that Kid Rock sold out doing country. I think he's a musical genius. He honored his idols and payed tribute to them. And as much as these people portray them selves as bad asses they dig music. Alice Cooper is a perfect example. Hank Williams Jr. brought Kid Rock to Nashville and suddenly the southern fried / rock-a-billy hard edge and hard core country music lovers were embracing the white rapper from Michigan. Not everyone in Nashville knew what was happening, but a few did! When I heard Luckenbach Texas with Kenny Chesney it gave me shivers. First of all the original Outlaw Country Boys sang this beautifully. But these guys brought it to a different level. You never met a Mother bleeeeep Like Me. [the video for this song made me laugh out loud] You're right but I would love to....some day. 

And then I heard AMEN...and it made me cry. Because it says it all. Its real. You feel it everyday. And while life may kick you in the pants I suppose things could be a lot worse. And the real reason for my dark - foul and smelly mood. I hate people that lie to satisfy some sickness within them and makes them feel better about their own failures. I know I know...don't let it get to you. But it does get to me. On my way home I listen to Only God Knows Why ....I crank it. I scream these words.....

maybe i forgot all the things I miss
Oh somehow I know there's more to life
than this, I said it too many times
and i still stand firm you get what
you put in and people get what they
deserve, still i ain't seen mine
No I ain't seen mine
I've been giving just ain't been gettin'
I've been walking down that line
So I think I'll keep walking
with my head held high
i'll keep moving on and only God
knows why 

I'll close with the same words that Kid Rock closed with at the CMT awards..."I'd like to leave on this note right here: As a music lover, if it looks good, you'll see it. If it sounds good, you'll hear it. If it's marketed right, you'll buy it. But if it's real, you'll feel it." 

p.s. he was born two days before me.....[i'm such a looooooooooooser] and I share the same birthday as Janis Joplin...in case you were wondering.