Nahhh Coop. You know better. We have to wait until the end of the first week of August to look at what the company did in sales 6 months ago before we can even think about looking at the single best beer launch in the past two decades.

And besides, sales from six months ago is far more important than the Israeli shipments and exponential demand for Kid Rock Beer the company is undergoing now, and for the foreseeable future.

But we'll be ready. I'm already preparing what I'm going to tell folks a year from now about what this company just filed in an SEC filing 12 months from today. You know, tell them what an awesome investment it will be if they get in then. I know. I know. Everybody will stone me for not telling them a year ago. I will be following behind a hundred other guys that said buy over the next 12 months.

But you know me! I will have to tell them DKAM wasn't a true buy until the sales were confirmed by SEC filings a year from now. I had to let history be my guide before I told them it was a screaming buy at 20 times the price!

Boooooyah!

You got it right on the button. A 20 cent close.

LIQR is done.

390 kegs per day being produced on an "all keg" basis until 8/15. Then a mixture. $23,000 in production per day. Goes to $27,000 on 8/15. $2,350,000 - $2,500,000 in quarterly production/shipped. $9.5-$10 million first year distributor shipments just for Michigan Brewing.

WoW! What a beautiful sunset....

Peekaboo! Here are the locations that served Badass Beer in Detroit over the weekend. The last 9 have more product today and are still serving it now....and from here forward. Please don't call and bother these people. They have no desire to talk to any of you on how the beer is selling.

1) Comerica Park

2) Cheli’s Chili Bar

3) Elwood Bar and Grill

4) Detroit Pub

5) Old Shillelagh

6) Coach’s Corner

7) Hockeytown Café

8) Town Pump

9) Bookies

10)Harry’s Bar

It was way more than 300 kegs gang. The 300 was Comerica. The 50 kegs or so was Chelis. Add more.

Elwood's huh? Now where have I heard that name?

This is all happening so fast now, the manipulators can't even keep up!

Go figure. All part of the big game huh!

Rallying a city...rallying a state...rallying a nation. Will be on the radio this week. Written and performed by Kid Rock.

Watch. I would bet it goes to #1.

Wow! You're good.

Maybe he'll just go ahead and buy it.

He loves the brand for sure.

Especially the "Rheingold Girls"

:)

No, all we know is the six states that are slated for initial distribution. I'm still waiting to see who and how involved this National Sales Team is with the beer.

I think the bug was planted though after this weekend that Kid will mention Badass Beer everywhere on the "Official Launch."

Right now, the move is on to get a huge news blowout in for the NYS Fair in Syracuse. September 5. That is "Official Launch Weekend" and Kid is the main attraction for all the shows.

Over 500,000 people will attend and the concert will easily do 40-50K. The Summer Rock 'n Rebels Tour will be done. This show will be all about Kid and all about Badass Beer.

I'm busting hump to get the beer in there for the fair and for Kid's concert.

Later.

Well, if anyone cares to look back since everyone wants to "use history as their guide"....then you only have to look as far as the launch of Trump Vodka in October of 2006. It was December when it started to move, and that was then followed up by news the company was delaying earnings because sales were up over 200% for the company.

Only difference now is the lines are 100 times longer for Badass than for Trump. Kid drinks his beer and Donald doesn't drink. Kid is one of the top celebrity icons in the country and Donald is not. The price is one fifth of what it was then. Sales are projected to be much greater than was for Trump.

So, it's easy to see why the street would miss this opportunity.

They haven't been shown where the buy button is, how real money is made in the market, and how to buy an investment before everyone else figures out it's a momentum trade.

They're waiting for it to be 10 times the price. I for one live to buy stocks that everyone else has already made millions on/ I just love buying the shares they are selling.

Skill, it doesn't matter, Move on. The distributor demand in MI is already off the charts. It doesn't matter what BM said at MBC 5 months ago. The facility can do 744K cases, and that has been retooled to 1 million cases and 24 hour shifts. They have 12 outsourcing breweries to choose from, of which Drinks already has relationships in one way, shape, or form with 5 of them.

Hey, here's a nice one. Plenty of room to handle all of it. Close to home and serves the military too.

Huh...ya never know! :)

http://anheuser-busch.com/breweryNewark.html

"Dogg"one it! More great footage from the Blazed and Confused Tour! Every city is selling out!

Pretty neat review...

I just returned from the concert in Detroit. Yes, I flew 1,600 miles to see KR in his hometown. Now by chance this is the 5th show I have seen. All the others, he just happened to be in the town I was in and we went. KC last Feb w/ Dicky Betts and Rev Run. I saw him in N’Awlins when he kicked off the Rebel tour w Rev Run and Lynryd Skynrd. Then July 1st in Dallas and the 4th in KC w/LS. This was billed as kid friendly and it wasn’t. But gave me the opportunity to teach my 11 year old about the First Amendment.Plus what other 10 year will be able to say she saw KR and LS? My kids a rocker. Making sure of that. No tech or bubble gum pop for her. I had the opportunity to go to the Detroit show at the last min. This man and the TBT are the GREATEST BAND OF THE 21ST CENTURY. Kid Rock is best live. First, I was anxious about the negatives that we hear about Detroit, but I LOVE DETROIT. Everyone was friendly and helpful. So Detroit, y’all are great. After talking to some people at the hotel, I was amazed at how Detroit truly respects and loves this man. His Bad Ass Beer delivers. This was by far the best show with his energy. He was in a playful mood. It was amazing to turn around and see the whole stadium full. Amazing. Ty Stone was great. Cypress Hill…I was looking forward to them but was unimpressed. Their sound sucked…….little too old to have your ass hang out. Alice in Chains……More than I had hoped. W DuVall rocked it. (I lived in Seattle and dated a guitarist who later pitched a tent in one the band members yard and stayed there to “jam”. I ended up with one of their couches. The memories). So I was expecting to be disapponted and it was the opposite. Can’t wait for their new album. Kid Rock and the TBT. Amazing. Amazing. My only complaint. Mr. Ritchie you are a brilliant musician, wish you didn’t sample other’s songs and played more of your songs. Your’s are just as noteworthy. Well worth the money, time and effort to see this band in their hometown. I have some great shots that I will try to upload here, the KRC or Youtube. To all the Detroit people who sat in sect A w/me…thanks so much for your friendliness, good times and the memories I will have forever!!!!!!! To Kid Rock and the TBT thanks for a great show.

Oh yeah, another one of these big giant posters happened to land on the wall indicating that the name of the beer has been changed and the Beer is being presented by KID ROCK.

I hate when that happens! :)

LMAO! Even the press forgot how to bash. They are even telling stories, and then making them better the next day!

Saturday, July 18, 2009 .
Lines long as Kid Rock's beer debuts

Adam Graham / Detroit News Pop Music Writer
Detroit -- Kid Rock's Friday night show at Comerica Park was not just a massive concert event. It also was the soft launch of Kid Rock's new appropriately titled Badass Beer.

Lines for the Webberville-brewed lager were two or three times longer than other concession lines along the Comerica Park concourse, and reviews were mostly positive.

"It's delicious!" said Elizabeth Hussey, 25, of Shelby Township, after her first sip. She praised its "lean aftertaste" and "crisp, summery" savoriness. "It's not heavy in your mouth; it's light on your palate," she said, comparing it to a Sam Adams summer lager.

"I like it, it's a workin' man's beer," said Scott Carignan, 34, of Chesterfield Township.

But not so for Bill Watson, 59, of New Baltimore. "We're here for Kid Rock, so of course we had to get a Kid Rock beer," he said. But after a few sips, he wasn't blown away. Would he pick up some from the store? "Probably not," he said.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090718/ENT04/907180356/Lines-long-as-Kid-Rock-s-beer-debuts?imw=Y

Friday, July 17, 2009
New beer rocks fans
Adam Graham / Detroit News Pop Music Writer
Detroit -- Kid Rock's Friday night show at Comerica Park was not just a massive concert event. It also acted as the soft launch of Kid Rock's new beer -- because why wouldn't Kid Rock have his own beer? -- appropriately titled Badass Beer.

Lines for the Webberville-brewed lager were two or three times longer than other concession lines along the Comerica Park concourse, and reviews were mostly positive.

"It's delicious!" said Elizabeth Hussey, 25, of Shelby Township, after her first sip. She praised its "lean aftertaste" and "crisp, summery" savoriness. "It's not heavy in your mouth, it's light on your palate," she said, comparing it to a Sam Adams summer lager. More to the point, "it's definitely not Bud," she said. (In her eyes, that's a good thing.)

"I like it, it's a workin' man's beer," said Scott Carignan, 34, of Chesterfield Township. He said he'd gladly pick up a sixer if he saw one at the store.
But not so for Bill Watson, 59, of New Baltimore. "We're here for Kid Rock, so of course we had to get a Kid Rock beer," he said. But after a few sips, he wasn't blown . Would he pick up some from the store? "Probably not," he said.

Kegs of the beer carried a sticker that read "Badass American Lager," and read in various spots "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Born in Michigan, made in America." The labels were also adorned with the large eagle logo Kid Rock has across his back.

agraham@detnews.com (313) 222-2284

Ummmmm...

Only you can prevent forest fires.

(By the way, great job on that very thing people!)

http://musiccitytv.com/2009/07/17/kid-rock-launches-american-badass-beer/

AboutStore – Support Michigan Beer!Muskrat Mashers
HomeKid Rock beer debuts tonight
July 17, 2009

Kid Rock rolls out his beer tonight
BY MELANIE D. SCOTT • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • July 17, 2009

When Kid Rock takes the stage tonight at Comerica Park for the first of two Detroit shows, his music won’t be the only thing featured — so will his new beer.After a year of planning, Kid Rock’s American Badass Beer will be available for purchase for the first time and organizers hope concertgoers enjoy it… (click here to read more)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From what I hear, the beer is exclusive to concert goers this evening. Kegs to be delivered next week, so expect to see it on tap soon. Hopefully someone in Monroe will carry it as I’m anxious to try it – not so much for the “Kid Rock” label, but because one of my favorite Michigan Breweries brewed it (Michigan Brewing Co.). I do think it’s a cool thing he had a local brewery make his beer. Budweiser would have probably jumped on the idea.. (I’m picturing “Bad Frog” beer in my head right now).. Anyhow, when it comes to Monroe, I’ll post something here.

Posted in Beer Event, Beer News

2 Responses to “Kid Rock beer debuts tonight”
Gary said:

July 18th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

I went to the concert last night so I had to try a BadAss. I thought it was better than I was expecting. It kind of reminded me of a filtered Oberon.

I had another pleasant find with with Forans/GT on Woodward. You should check it out sometime. They feature Michigan Microbrews:

http://www.foransirishpub.com/

Fred said:

July 19th, 2009 at 8:59 am

A group of six of us went to the concert friday and after drinking bud light at the pre-concert festivities we all tried the badass beer at the concert. Definitely more flavor than the bud, lots of corn in flavor and aroma,malty sweetness,low hops. 4 out of our 6 liked it.

Imagine what happens when this beer....gets hard?

:)

Better stand back baby! No telling how big this thing is going to get!

Actually...it was 300 kegs to Comerica Park, and 100 kegs sent to Chelis. That was added when they opted to get in on the deal Kid made with Chris Chelios. I'm not sure if 100 kegs made it there or if just 50 went to Chelis. Still trying to find out to be certain.

37200 16 oz. beers went out on 300 kegs at Comerica. 595,200 oz total.

If another 100 kegs went out for the two day block party, then add 12400 to that number on 100 kegs.

So, basically 50000 beers were sold.

From the first night, Kid does do it right...and our BadAss front and center.

Kid Rock, Alice In Chains, Skynyrd Rock Detroit
Jerry Cantrell, William DuVall, Sean Kinney and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains performs at Comerica Park on July 18, 2009 in Detroit. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)

July 19, 2009 01:49 PM ET

Gary Graff, Detroit
A pair of home town stadium concerts over the weekend gave Kid Rock and a couple of his support acts an opportunity to showcase new material for the 40,000 fans who attended each show.

In Rock's case it was a reflective song called "In Times Like These" that he performed as the first encore on Saturday and Sunday at Comerica Park, the usual home of the Detroit Tigers. Explaining that he usually doesn't play new work until it's been released, Rock told the crowd he felt this was "an important song" inspired by the tough economic times the country, and especially his home state of Michigan, were experiencing. "It's the truth, and we hope it's more inspirational than anything," Rock said before performing an acoustic version of the song, whose lyrics contain sentiments such as "I heard them say they're shutting Detroit down/But I won't leave 'cause this is my home town" and "Even though it's bittersweet and brings us to our knees/It makes us who were are in times like these."

Rock was planning to follow-up 2007's triple-platinum "Rock N Roll Jesus" this fall but, as previously reported, has decided to take the project to producer Rick Rubin, which will likely mean a 2010 release. The two are currently reviewing what Rock has in hand, including collaborations with rapper Lil Wayne and T.I., and plan to start recording after Rock and his Twisted Brown Trucker band wrap up their summer tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Rock also rolled out a variety of covers during the homestand, including the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice," Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" (accompanied by video screen images of a selection of deceased music heroes), the Jackson 5's "ABC" in tribute to Michael Jackson, snippets of the Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" and Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People" incorporated into other songs, and Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," which closed each night's show. The concerts were filmed and recorded, but Rock told Billboard.com that he has not made any definite plans for any sort of official release.

Alice in Chains, which played on Saturday's bill in its only U.S. show of the summer, debuted "A Looking in View" from "Black Gives Way to Blue," the group's first album of new material in 14 years. Prior to the show all four band members joined Virgin/EMI executives at Detroit's Fox Theatre to preview the entire album for a gathering of music industry professionals.
<!-- begin ad //--> <SCRIPT language="JavaScript">CM8ShowAd("Middle");</SCRIPT> <!-- end generated ad //-->
On Friday night, meanwhile, Lynyrd Skynyrd offered a pair of songs from its upcoming "God & Guns," which, as previously reported, is also coming out Sept. 29. The group opened its set with "Skynyrd Nation," an uptempo ode to its fans, and also performed the album's first single, "Still Unbroken," a heavy rocker that singer Johnny Van Zant dedicated to deceased Skynyrd members Leon Wilkeson, Hughie Thomasson, Billy Powell and Ean Evans and accompanied with historical photos of the group and its album covers on the video screen.


http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/kid-rock-alice-in-chains-skynyrd-rock-detroit-1003995256.story

Correct Gambler. That is my biggest fear. Bud owns the government just like big tobacco.

Wouldn't surprise me to see them lobbying for an injunction to stop Badass because too many people are driving drunk to go get more beer...you know..a safety issue. Their beer drinkers are more responsible! Or, they will argue they have drinkability and Badass is violating their patent on drinkability because people are drinking Badass.

Hey, the shorts and naysayers and competitors will make up just about anything. Look at the evidence of the day thus far.

Now here's the part I'm waiting for.

"You are nuts! Drinks could never sell that much beer! I know those are worst case scenario numbers but Drinks has also done worse than the worse case"

or

"There is no way they could make that much beer. MBC can only make up to 1 million cases a year. I know they have 12 other breweries at their disposal to outsource the demand but who would what to be a part of such a hit and lucrative sub contracting brewing agreement?"

or

"Drinks has had declining sales for the past two years. There's no way they could sell more than $5 or $10 worth in a year. That is if they ever sell any."

or

"They haven't reported earnings and number for last Feb, Mar, and April yet. We won't be able to look at what DKAM is going ot do in 12 month beer sales until 12 months from now. In the meantime, we have to focus on what the company did 6 months ago as a true measure of where this company is going."

or

"I am an idiot. I have no justifiable arguments left to hold this company back so all I can resort to now is making chit up."

At $180 million in sales with a 28% gross margin, then net sales will be $50,400,000. Net profit on those sales will be $44 million. O/S shares at 1 year out will be 28 million. Net profit will be $1.57 per share. HANS carried a P/E of 70 for 2 years while it was moving. So, a conservative PE of 30 on Nasdaq listed DKAM would put the price at...

$47.10

I'm a nice enough guy...to a point...and that ends when I'm surrounded by complete idiots.

So let's assume this sales situation once again from the other side of the equation.

Let's say that any given store sells one case a day. Remind yourselves that 34 people are in line to buy the beer now. Can any store in MI be limited to one case a day? OK, so let's do just that. Ration the entire nation to just one case a day that can be sold in any retail location. That also means that any given bar that has BADASS clearly showing on the tap that has everybody buzzing wondering what the heck it is can only sample 18 glasses a day. That's it! No more. I for one would probably drink 3. So, all that can have the beer in a bar is 6 people. That's it. No more. Of course, not a single person can buy any of the bottles that are chilled in the case either....just begging to be bought.

So, what does that do to our severely castrated sales numbers?

50000 locations X 1 case per day X 360 days per year.

That is 18 million cases.

That is $180,000,000 in sales.

Just for grins it only seems fitting to toy around with the numbers. It makes for great comedy to watch others try to prove me and the company wrong at this stage of the game.

So, 34 people SHOWN in the pic. Let's just say they ALL are deprived and forced into buying just one beer. None for their friends, or for a second glass. That's 34 X 16 oz every 10 minutes(the time to serve 34 people) X 6 for an hour X 17 hrs per day(retail buying hours) X 360 days per year X 531,000 retail locations.

9,671,166,720,000 oz. (that's trillion) of BadAss Beer sold in a year.

There are 1984 oz. in a keg

That would be 4,874,580,000 total kegs sold in a year.

If all are kegs...then sales would be $292,474,800,000

If all are in bottles...then the case sales would 63,369,540,000 and sales would be $630,369,540,000

This would be the best we could hope for I suppose as overall demand will wane slightly.

Perhaps that may be a shade high? OK, how much so?

Anybody? In other words...you don't have a clue.

So, try to wittle! Where you going to go? Oh! I know! Compare it to Bud and Coors even though BadAss was outselling them at Comerica 10:3, or more than 3 to 1.

So, let's average the numbers above out to $350,000,000,000 in total sales on a keg/case ratio.

Now let's then say BadAss only gets in 10% of the total retail locations available in the US. Then go to the bare minimum of 1% total penetration in those same locations. (This means that actual demand is only 1% of what we are currently witnessing)

That is 1/100 of the maximum amount that could be sold.

Now we're down to $3.5 billion in sales. So, how do we wittle some more? Why would we?

If we take the picture below which is CLEARLY PROVING SUBSTANTIAL CONSUMER DEMAND for Kid Rock's BadAss Beer on a "SOFT LAUNCH" and play it out nationwide...then everyone that wants this company, and this beer to fail, and consequently keep everyone from investing in this stock....must convince THE ENTIRE NATION that what is really happening versus what will ultimately happen is 1/100,000 of what is actually occurring. If this thinking can ultimately weigh out that a handful of people can convince and deprive an entire nation from this beer, then...

Sales just went up well over 100%.

If they are at all unsuccessful...and can only prove the beer to actually have 1/10000 of what it is actually doing...then sales will be $35 million...and just went up over 1000%.

I'm more inclined to think we have a $billion brand on our hands.

Boys and girls...we have another HANS.

Deal with it.

Oh yeah, and Kid Rock played a little music tonight for a couple of his friends...

Who's on first? How many outs?

And yes, it does say............

"BADASS AMERICAN LAGER"

Chew on that for awhile.

From this picture, we can extrapolate some things that might prove beneficial.

The picture was taken from above. For obvious safety reasons, plus to make sure that BADASS was included in the picture, we do not see everyone who is standing in line to get beer.

Of those that were included, we count 34 individuals. There is no evidence of a rest room sign, nor a change machine, nor any candy or food being offered by this particular kiosk. Therefore, it is impossible to assume they are standing in line for any other purpose than to purchase BADASS Beer. There is of course the possibility any one of these people might simply be waiting all this time to ask for a Kid Rock autograph, or for directions to the Kid Rock concert, or where their section is that they are sitting in.

When you factor in 15 kiosks like this, there is every reason to suggest 510 people were standing in line at any given time at the Kid Rock concert to get BADASS Beer. 510 people, out of 40000, in a singular line to buy BADASS Beer, overall other products being offered at Comerica Park for consumption. (Don't forget, from the picture that one person is buying beers for several people)

Now, you can add to this the same exact reaction at Chelis. As representative samples of the ONLY two locations, Chelis and Comerica Park, that are known to be serving BADASS Beer during the two day Kid Rock weekend, then we can also determine there is significant demand for this product.

15 kiosks, and the resulting BADASS Beer lines, take up a total of 4500 sq. ft., and was sold for a total of 14 hours. There are over 3 million square miles in the US to consume beer and 531,000 retail beer selling locations. It is safe then to assume that given blue laws, distributor interest, outsourcing interest, intense consumer demand, Kid's popularity, average distance from consumer to retailer, the economic forecast, and the mass hypnosis being parlayed into "the beer will never happen", then we can conclude first year sales for the beer will be.....

$140,876,236,504.00 :)

Oh wait...nevermind...The CEO has e mails to answer on when the next shareholder letter and conference call are going to happen. Or answering why Kid's name isn't on the beer. Or who owns what name and for how long and what percentage and how hard the wind will blow during the sales year.

Oh well...would have been a great company otherwise.

And I suppose Elwood never bothered to send a pic. Wait, that means he would have had to take his thumb out his arse to take the lens cap off the camera. Nevermind, we got it covered...



(This would be BADASS Beer being sold to the American people. While we cannot assume that the fluid contained in the plastic cups at Comerica Park are in fact BADASS Beer, we have every right to believe so since it does not appear these people are standing in line to use the bathroom)

50 Cent Chronicles on FUSE HD right now. Awesome!

But for most of you...I would imagine you're tuned in to "Marijuana Inc" on CNBC.

Go Drinks!

"Chelios has been all smiles for two days. He buying stock next week in Drinks"

AND ANOTHER TEXT...OMG!!!!!!!!!

"Kid's pumping it people are stealin the signage it's insane ! Were selling out at all the bars out here. We have a hit. Gotta go they are screaming to get off and give me beer!"

Just got another text from Rock Central in front of Comerica Park...

"This is nuts. Way more than last night. These peeps coming back 5, 6, 7 times to refill. I need crowd control and line management for Badass Beer lines tonite. We're almost out."

We shall see. Working on it. :)

Should be awesome. Military will be all over this movie. PK will hook the beer into the mix.

http://www.hisstank.com/gi-joe-news/gi-joe-movie-2/gi-joe-rise-of-cobra-5th-tv-spot-8692/

First of all, I said Drinks was not an owner in Badass Beer, but the exclusive distributor thereof. If you would have noticed this week, one of the articles said that PK was COO, that is Chief Operating Officer of American Badass Brewing Company. Drinks is an owner in American Badass Brewing Company. Drinks however, does not own the rights to Badass Beer. PK will assuredly explain it on the CC. But hey, I could be entirely wrong. It's just that you do not spend the money and do the work to get trademarks filed and approved, only to transfer them, in name by contract, back to Michigan Brewing, who is acting by and for Robert Richie, only then to license them back to Drinks for any number of lonnnnnnnng years, like 30, or 50, or 75, or 99. I was merely following up on what Tirunesh provided is how the process works when DKAM takes the exclusive distributor's role in a joint venture such as this.

As far as the selling, I have figured out what is happening. I could explain it, but like the other times I have explained what it was at that time, it comes with considerable resistance.

Suffice it to say, it is a trap job plain and simple. It is back and forth trading between several accounts to create the illusion of volume, and of course to do anything possible to get retail to dump their shares. Yes, it is completely illegal. But hey, the SEC would rather spend their time telling Mark Cuban he isn't guilty of selling on inside information because he isn't an insider. How's that for pretty much indicating to the world the SEC is run by complete idiots.

It's all fine and well and good. Gotta go. Another block party and way more Kid Rock Beer sales are calling!

Oh...and PS. If one more person says that "everyone" will be concentrating on sales numbers from the Feb, Mar, and April quarter, when the entire world was melting down, the market was hitting multi, multi year lows, credit was yanked everywhere and this Kid Rock introduction was no where in sight, then they really should usher themselves right out the door and literally beg for credibility anywhere they go in the future.

Seriously...it is like telling the guy who just brought the entire city of Detroit together into one massive collective body of fun, enjoyment, and comraderie that he cannot do those shows at Comerica Park. Because, some time back he got in a scuffle with a waitress at Waffle House. You, know, we just don't want that sort around here.

Gimme a break...blah...blah...blah with the old news.

Concert footage...

KID ROCKS COMERICA PARK
Rock on, Detroit!
BY BRIAN McCOLLUM • FREE PRESS POP MUSIC WRITER • July 17, 2009

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Buzz up!
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Take a much-loved local star, thousands of charged-up hometown fans, a region's hunger to let its hair down, and this is what you get: a blockbuster party with Kid Rock in Detroit.


Comerica Park was humming Friday as Rock rolled out his two-day rock 'n' roll festival, capped by an evening performance before 40,000-plus.


In front of the stadium, fans gathered for a rambunctious but good-spirited afternoon of beer, bands and motocross bikes, the lead-up to what had been deemed the concert event of the year.


With celebrities ranging from Bob Seger to Cuba Gooding Jr. among those due for the festivities, Friday had all the feel of a big-time event, the culmination of Kid Rock's two-decade hometown career.


It was a day of moments big and small. Here's a glimpse:




2:14 p.m.: Inside quiet Comerica Park, where stage and lights crews finished their major work Thursday night, it's the calm before the storm. But Detroit Tigers head groundskeeper Heather Nabozny is nervous -- and she's not even the one who will be playing for 40,000-plus people. This outfield turf is her baby, and right now it's covered by acres of plastic protector and tons of stage equipment.


"In a little while I'm going to see 10,000 people out here," she says, placing her hands over her face in exasperation.


Previous concerts such as the Rolling Stones left Tigers players griping about the field condition. But today's relatively cool temperature ought to help, and next week Nabozny's crew will dye and fertilize the grass to guide it back into shape.


"I just hope it's OK," she says.




2:46 p.m.: The street party is rolling in front of the stadium, where the drinks and high spirits are flowing for several hundred fans.


Among them is a very familiar-looking character: In his fedora and sunglasses, Kevin Smyth of Ontario is the spitting image of Kid Rock. A continuous stream of partyers comes his way for handshakes and photos. A group of stadium staffers nervously approaches. "It's an honor," says one.


Few stop to wonder why Rock would be hanging around near the portable toilets the day of his show. Smyth shrugs: "When it's somebody's dream, how do you tell them I'm not him?"




3:45 p.m.: The party takes flight for a cheering crowd as two motocross freestylers rev up their bikes and launch themselves up a ramp, spinning and flipping 30 feet over the parking lot.


With a DJ spinning classic rock tunes, hundreds pack into the party zone outside Cheli's Chili Bar. Five hours before Kid Rock takes the stage, you can already feel the momentum building.


"This was a great idea," says Terry Steele, 39, of Milford, scanning the noisy crowd around him. "Kid Rock should do this every year."


"It's almost like Vegas -- the music going over there, the dancing over here, so many different people," says Rick Tibeau, 53, of St. Clair. "It's just a ball."




4:26 p.m.: Mostly positive reviews are flowing in for Kid Rock's Bad Ass Beer, which is making its debut here this weekend. Inside Cheli's, bartenders say they're moving plenty of the American-style lager -- at $3.50 a cup -- to curious connoisseurs.


"It's a good sipping beer," says Derek Lecki, 21, of Davisburg,. He's on his fifth cup.

"It's got a lot of flavor, and we've already figured out if you put an orange in it, it's awesome."



5:45 p.m.: Here we go: With lines wrapped around the block and a palpable buzz in the air, the gates have opened. Fans with general admission tickets stream onto the Comerica Park field, jostling for prime spots by the outfield stage. Tens of thousands more will be occupying stadium seats.


Detroit and Wayne County police officials say there have been minimal crowd problems to this point, but the afternoon of drinking has led to a few staggering fans who are starting to catch officers' eyes.



6:31 p.m.: The stadium is far from full, but the assembled audience lets out a holler as opener Robert Randolph & the Family Band hits the stage, rolling into a set of gritty rural funk. The night's soundtrack has started.


Some fans have already donned the souvenir T-shirts they purchased today.

There's a little bit of everything here: jeans, short-shorts, hip-hop apparel, Stetsons, polo shirts and an array of Kid Rock tour shirts stretching back many years.




7:50 p.m.: In front of a fast-filling stadium -- and with gawkers enjoying a free concert through the fence on Montcalm Street -- Lynyrd Skynyrd kicks into "Saturday Night Special" and a set of vintage Southern rock.


Ten minutes earlier, Kid Rock protege Ty Stone took the stage alone to serve up an a capella rendition of the national anthem, punctuated with a roaring flyover by a military bomber.


In a handsome stadium lobby, Kid Rock friends and family members assemble en route to their VIP seating. "This is a huge weekend for us," his brother Billy Ritchie said earlier in the day. Kid Rock, viewing the evening as a professional milestone, has invited a diverse cast of characters from throughout his career, including people who lent a hand in the early days.


"It's still a lot of pressure," Rock said earlier in the week. "You can never really explain this to people, as much as I've tried to -- dealing with all your family and friends, trying to have them understand that this is still a job."

9:18 p.m.: Kid Rock is already officially late to the stage, but you won't hear complaints from a crowd that seems to be relishing the magnitude of this moment. The packed stadium audience hums with a steady energy as Motown tunes and Bob Seger tracks play over the PA. It feels like an old-school summer rock show.


Out on the concourse, Kim Bent of Grand Rapids catches a final cigarette before heading back in to rejoin her friends at her seat. She marvels at the hard-partying, friendly crowd.


"It's energetic and extremely chill at the same time," she says. "It just has the feel of a huge event."


Michigan needed this night, she says: "Kid Rock brings a positive energy to a very negative situation. This is the kind of night that makes you forget everything."




9:52 p.m.: A flash of lights. Towers of flame. A spray of fireworks. And Kid Rock, emerging from the shadows to a massive roar. Lasers dance across the baseball stadium as black-clad Rock and his band charge through "Rock n Roll Jesus."


The night will belong to history: From up in the press box, the floor of Comerica Park is a sprawl of little white lights -- thousands of cell phones being held aloft to chronicle the moment.


With Rock strutting and working the full breadth of the stage, the songs come rat-a-tat-tat: "Son of Detroit," the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice," "American Bad Ass," "Lowlife (Living the High Life)." All is precisely synchronized, motifs from other tunes slipping in and out like a carefully arranged suite.


Even when he was playing small venues, Kid Rock was delivering a stadium-sized show. As he commands a sea of punching fists during "All Summer Long," it feels like he's finally where he was always supposed to be.




11:07 p.m.: Gifted vocalist Jessica Wagner trades vocals with Rock on a loose but upbeat rendition of the Jackson 5's "ABC," a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. It's one of several cover tunes Rock is sprinkling into his set, an array that sounds like a spin down the classic-rock dial: Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People," Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever," the Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself." Rock's own "Wasting Time" gets placed atop "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses.


Having locked in with Rock from the get-go, the crowd remains fully engaged even as the band hits a mellow midshow stretch, swaying and singing along to tunes like "Drift Away," "Picture" and a reworked "Cowboy." Two big video screens bring the action to fans in the cheap seats, but these are fans who don't need many cues -- a hometown audience that's well acquainted with the rituals of Rock's live sets.


That's obvious when fans immediately latch onto the call-and-response portion of his traditional "3 Sheets to the Wind" schtick, and Comerica Park fills with 40,000 voices hollering "Ki-iid Rock-Rock" before Rock takes to the turntables for his showoff DJ routine.

11:33 p.m.: Searchlights and lasers sweep the park as the opening notes of "Bawitdaba" rumble to life. The supersized rock song has been Rock's signature live number for a decade, and he pulls out all the visual stops for a production bordering on epic. Another few rounds of pyro, strobes and booms, and Rock closes out his regular set with a hearty "God bless you and good night."

A mercifully brief break precedes the encore, where Rock debuts a poignantly targeted ballad, "Times Like These," a stay-strong ode to battered Detroit that includes the line, "I won't leave because this here's my hometown."

"Tough times make for tough people," Rock tells his 40,000 friends before closing it all out with a red-white-and-blue version of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." Night one is in the bag.

Just more than two hours after Kid Rock hit the stage, the stadium lights ease back on and fans chatter loudly as they stream out to the streets. Some will head to the after-party with DJ Paradime at Motor City Casino; some will be back here tomorrow. And somewhere backstage, you figure, Kid Rock is feeling pretty good right now about the spectacle he just waged for his hometown. After this taste of stadium grandiosity, you wonder if he'll ever be able to cram his show back into a local arena.

Detroit may have just landed a new tradition.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090717/ENT04/90717066/Rock-on--Detroit-

Last text of the evening....

"What a night! Outsold all beers at Chelis hands down. Off to after party at the casino. Ciao!"

Kid Rock takes the stage
BY BRIAN McCOLLUM • FREE PRESS POP MUSIC WRITER • July 17, 2009


A flash of lights. Towers of flame. A spray of fireworks. It’s just short of 10 p.m., and Kid Rock emerges from the shadows to a massive roar. Lasers dance across Comerica Park as black-clad Rock and his band charge through "Rock ’n Roll Jesus."


From up in the press box, the floor of the ballpark is a sprawl of little white lights — thousands of cell phones being held aloft to chronicle the moment.


With Rock strutting and working the full breadth of the stage, the songs come rat-a-tat-tat: "Son of Detroit," the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice," "American Bad Ass," "Lowlife (Living the High Life)." All is precisely synchronized, motifs from other tunes slipping in and out like a carefully arranged suite. Two big video screens bring the action to fans in the cheap seats.


Even when he was playing small venues, Kid Rock was delivering a stadium-sized show. As he commands a sea of punching fists during "All Summer Long," it feels like he's finally where he was always supposed to be.


http://ow.ly/15I67d

Tweet! Tweet!

still waiting, somewhat less patiently, for the K-I-D. Wind problems are messing with the scrim he was supposed to open the set behind
about 3 hours ago from web
Waiting patiently for the K-I-D
about 4 hours ago from web
FREEBIRD!!
about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Rain has stopped, sun is peaking out, and one of the most amazing rainbows I've ever seen is hanging above the city. Deeeetroit, Michigan!
about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry
@Paradime Come hills with one of them 'Dime Shit' Ts! I'm in Sec. 139. Surely you don't have anything going on right now
about 5 hours ago from mobile web
I'm told Badass Beer locations are Sec. 133, 110, 212, 213, 338. Can only vouch for 338, tho. Reviews are mostly positive so far
about 6 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Badass Beer spotted outside of Sec. 337
about 6 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Just saw a guy wearing a @Paradime shirt. Where do I get one?
about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Also, just ran into Obie Trice and Salam Wreck outside the stadium. Obie had a tether on his ankle. Best.
about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Ok, it's sprinkling, not full-on raining. But the winds that were cooling before are now just cold. Please, weather gods, do us a solid!
about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Oh shit, it's raining at Kid Rock! This could get ugly...
about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry
@Paradime I think 35k is the figure, somewhere in that ballpark. Ha, ballpark, get it?
about 12 hours ago from web
I'm hearing reports that Kid Rock's Badass Beer will be available in the upper deck ONLY at this weekend's shows... when I know more, u will
about 12 hours ago from web


And it all ends with a bang. Literally. Fireworks. Thanks Kid Rock! You make us proud to be from this state and this country! #kidrock
about 1 hour ago from txt
Finishing up with Born in the USA, after saying we live in the greatest country in the world.Those people from Windsor must feel awkward.
about 1 hour ago from txt
Times Like These with photo montage of Detroit and Michigan. Awesome. This boy knows how to treat his home crowd. #kidrock
about 2 hours ago from txt
Encore guesses? #kidrock
about 2 hours ago from txt
I never thought of Kid Rock as a sex symbol, but he just took off his shirt. Um. Yeah.
about 2 hours ago from txt
He just said something about how Detroit likes to party all night long. Does that mean I won't be in bed before midnight? #kidrock
about 2 hours ago from txt
Photo montage memorial tribute while he sings Drift Away ends w/ MJ. some boos? Followed by live performance of ABC. Very cool IMO. #kidrock
about 2 hours ago from txt
There are actually a lot more lighters than cell phones lighting the crowd right now. Aaamen! #kidrock
about 3 hours ago from txt
Showtime! Lights are off at Comerica. And its starting to rain for the third time. #kidrock
about 3 hours ago from txt
A large sheet has been drawn over the stage while Johnny Cash is playing over the speakers. Everyone's waiting in anticipation... #kidrock
about 4 hours ago from txt
@wdiv helicopter flying overhead. Chants of "Freebird"...looks like it's gonna happen. #kidrock
about 4 hours ago from txt
Wherever there is rain, look for the rainbow, right? Right now it's over left field. #kidrock #detroit
about 5 hours ago from txt
Come on. A little rain never hurt no one, right? #kidrock
about 5 hours ago from txt
Flyover. Very cool. #kidrock
about 6 hours ago from txt
My bad. Its National Anthem time. #kidrock
about 6 hours ago from txt
Update: It stopped raining. Lynyrd is about to go on. I think. #kidrock
about 6 hours ago from txt
Overheard: "I took a pill, it's ok." #kidrock
about 6 hours ago from txt
A couple of REALLY cool limited-edition-Detroit-show-only T-shirts for sale. We maybe bought two of each. Maybe. #kidrock
about 7 hours ago from txt
Its starting to rain at comerica...hopefully it doesn't last. Some poor lady already spilled sick all over aisle 138. #kidrock
about 7 hours ago from txt
About to buy some Badass beer at the Kid Rock concert!
about 7 hours ago from txt
@jimmyjohns just dropped off a TON of mini sandwiches to our office. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? THANK YOU!
about 14 hours ago from twhirl
Super geeked about Kid Rock tonight. NOT geeked about that whole I-75/bridge collapse thing between me and the Kid Rock concert.
about 16 hours ago from twhirl


RT @grahamorama: I'm hearing reports that Kid Rock's Badass Beer will be available in the upper deck ONLY at this weekend's shows... whe ...
about 12 hours ago from TweetDeck

News videos coming in....

Click the upper right, two thumbnails

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Kid-Rock-Leaves-Fans-Breathless/yWPoCprSd0q3QKL0ioFGJw.cspx

Another text from the concert...

"Beer outsold other beers here 10 to 3 based on our survey,

40000 people saw it most tried it all loved it and the show is kicking a badass"

Cool...

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/17/kid-rock-launches-american-badass-beer/?icid=webmail%7Cwbml-aol%7Cdl7%7Clink6%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.slashfood.com%2F2009%2F07%2F17%2Fkid-rock-launches-american-badass-beer%2F

Just got a text from the Block Party...

"This is amazing! The beer tastes great. Lines a mile long. Empty Labatts booths. Go figure."

And not to be forgotten! We sell other things! LOL

Anybody need their drink refreshed? :)