Kid Rock

Full Name: Kid Rock

    It is rare that an artist’s guest spot with Phish causes any controversy. But in the days after 9/29/00, the Internet was abuzz with discussion on Kid Rock’s four-song appearance.
    The performance was humorous, including some random stage antics from Fishman during an abbreviated “Rapper’s Delight.” “Walk This Way” and “You Shook Me (All Night Long)” seemed appropriate for Kid’s fusion of rap and hard rock. But Kid’s altered lyrics to “We’re an American Band,” though funny to some, summed up the opposition’s viewpoint: inappropriate.
    Some wondered why Phish would invite such a vulgar artist on-stage, knowing that his lyrics speak of, among other things, violence against women. Others responded that Kid is merely a character playing in an act that he has created and that it is merely an extension of music as art. Especially in Vegas, fans reasoned, wasn’t Phish just making a commentary on “Sin City” as a whole? Like it or hate it, Kid’s appearance gives fans something to debate. Perhaps Phish had this in mind when they included a clip from Kid’s guest spot in the career-spanning retrospective video shown at setbreak of their 20th anniversary show on 12/2/03.
    Going forward, Phish poked fun at Kid’s appearance the following night, as “I Didn’t Know” included a reference to Kid (whose real name is Robert James Ritchie) and his now-late sidekick Joe C. Of course, Kid and Phish go back before Vegas. Trey accompanied him for his song “Only God Knows Why” on the television program Saturday Night Live on 5/20/00.