Kid Rock gave a Michigan audience a taste of what his Senate campaign may sound like on Wednesday night, mounting a vigorous defense of the national anthem using some choice four-letter words.
‘F*** Colin Kaepernick,’ said the rocker, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, of the NFL player who would bend a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner as a protest against racism. ‘And f*** any mother**** who decides to disrespect the national anthem.’
After playing just three songs, the rocker re-entered the Grand Rapids venue to Hail to the Chief and was introduced to the crowd as ‘the next senator from Michigan.’
Kid Rock, photographed back in April, took to the stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last night and tested what sounded like a campaign message – or a new rap
Kid Rock, who has been a musical staple at past Republican National Conventions, decried any ‘motherf**k who decides to disrespect the national anthem’ during a concert last night
Kid Rock put out a statement in late July explaining how he was being talked about as a potential US Senate candidate in Michigan and said he would take about six weeks to decide
Kid Rock then went on a several-minute-long tirade about the KKK, Nazis and Black Lives Matter, versed more like a rap than a campaign speech.
‘If you want to take a knee or sit during our Star-Spangled Banner, call me a racist cuz I’m not PC and think you have to remind me that Black Lives Matter,’ he said, according to reporting from Mlive.com.
‘Nazis, f***ing bigots and now again the KKK, screw all you a**holes, stay the f*** away,’ Ritchie said.
Reporters on the scene said that Kid Rock also referenced President Trump.
Ritchie used symbolism to end his show too, voicing his hit Born Free as the final, pre-encore tune, as a giant American flag was unfurled behind his back.
In July Kid Rock made it official – he was flirting with a US Senate bid.
Ritchie said his name had been thrown around as a potential candidate to unseat Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the Democrat up for re-election next year.
He has previously been associated with the Republican Party, as one of the only mainstream rock acts to play during the parties at past Republican National Conventions.
‘One thing is for sure though…The democrats are ‘shattin’ in their pantaloons’ right now…and rightfully so!’ he wrote of his possible entry into the race.
He launched a campaign website and started selling merchandise, blasting those who suggested he was just doing it to make more money selling tees.
‘I can tell you, I have no problem selling Kid Rock shirts and yes, I absolutely will use this media circus to sell/promote whatever I damn well please (many other politicians are doing the same thing, they just feed you a bunch of bulls**t about it),’ he said as part of his introductory note.
Last Friday, the group Common Cause filed a complaint with the Department of Justice and the Federal Election Commission arguing Kid Rock should be treated like a full-fledged candidate because of the existence of the website and the merchandise, and thus be required to disclose his donors.
The July statement from Kid Rock said the rocker planned to hold a press conference in the next six weeks to address his plans.
‘And if I decide to throw my hat in the ring for US Senate, believe me… it’s game on mthrfkers,’ he said then.
Wednesday night’s concert marked the end of those six weeks.