Frank, you're giving Kid Rock too much credit. I don't know if he has pictures of some record executive with an underage naked boy, but that's the only explanation I can think of for his celebrity. It certainly isn't his talent. And on a tangent, they guy has made some money. Don't you think he could pony up for a bottle of Prell?

I don't think you are giving Kid Rock to much credit as Steve said. He has made a impact in music whether you like his work or not, it still gets played. I'm not a fan personally but I can still enjoy it every now and then, and you are right listeners are just as lazy, nobody wants to learn new songs, they want what they know and its ruining music all the way around! So who is really to blame? Kid Rock for basically rewriting something everyone already loves and automatically having people love it, or the listeners to buying into the sham. Shit, no one is telling people to listen, but its groovy and familiar. So from a business perspective it was a brilliant move on Kid's part, especially since he hasn't put anything out in a long time, its a good platform to get him back into the mainstream scene. Basically what I'm saying is I don't like it, or agree with it, but it is a smart move i suppose.

I doubt any serious music fan will disagree that Kid Rock has little validity outside of the commercial realm, however judging by the statement that sampling is ripping off, it shows a poor comprehension of arguably the most important movement in music since punk, hip hop. Sure there is a lot of bad commercial albums out there but work done by the likes of Public Enemy and N.W.A contain some of the best political lyrics this side of Bob Dylan (he also being a fan of Public Enemy.) Groups such as these would not be in existence if it were not for sampling. In some cases such as Kid Rock it is tacky and uncouth, however its time to face the facts,The Sugarhill Gang had their hit with "Rapper's Delight" in 1979, music continues to evolve and change, new methods and ideas merge to create new styles (Rockabilly + Country = Rock and Roll.) Sampling has been an important part of this, and theres been 29 years for the general public to come to terms with that. So if Kid Rock wants to rip off a couple classic rock songs let him, if anything it shows that he's a good 30 or 40 years ahead of the "rest of us" who are still ripping off the blues.

But he isn't years ahead of us by doing that. The whole point is Blues is undefinable as a genera, its based on pretty much random out there cords, so if you steal a riff here or there you can pretty much make it your own (at least that how in interpreted it). Not to mention none of these guys are "sampling" they are simply dubbing a vocal track over a song and saying its theirs! That is the whole reason the credibility is in question. I he as wrote his own song and just threw that "Sweet Home Alabama" riff in at the end of the hook then this wouldn't even be a discussion, nobody would think twice about it. The point is, someone who is a FAMOUS "musician" shouldn't just be expected to write it themselves, but they shouldn't have it any other way!

Ya know Frank, I was just thinking, what if Kid Rock actually collaborated with Warren Zevon on that song. I was listening to the commercial for his concert and it says something about other special musical guests. And if that is the case, if it was a joint effort, would it give it a little more credibility?

Well my friend that is def a valid reason why he wouldn't have collaborated with him. I honestly didn't know he had passed way, nor followed his career when he was around. My mistake. And I agree it is a rip off, I personally don't think its right for anyone to do that as i stated in my other comment. I was merely playing devils advocate. This whole thing kinda reminds me of the whole Vanilla Ice thing, he got fucked really really hard for that whole thing, but if he had just came out with the song a month ago would there have been any repercussions?

...it is a rip off...and theres no way warren collaborated with him because warren (RIP) has been dead for years