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Matisyahu (born Matthew Paul Miller, June 30, 1979) is an American reggae musician.

Known for blending traditional Jewish themes with Reggae, rock and hip hop sounds, Matisyahu is most recognizable for his single "King Without a Crown", which was a surprise Top 40 hit, and for being an orthodox Jew. Since 2004, he has released two studio albums as well as one live album, two remix CDs and one DVD featuring a live concert, and a number of interviews. Through his short career, Matisyahu has teamed up with some of the biggest names in reggae production including Bill Laswell and duo Sly & Robbie.

Since his debut, Matisyahu has received positive reviews from both rock and reggae outlets. Most recently, he was named Top Reggae Artist of 2006 by Billboard as well as being named a spokesperson for Kenneth Cole.

Biography

Personal life

Matisyahu was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania; his family eventually settled in White Plains, New York. He was brought up a Reconstructionist Jew and sometimes performed under the alias MC Truth for MC Mystic's Soulfari band. He spent some time as a young man as a self-professed "deadhead," taking hallucinogens and following the rock band Phish on tour.

At 16, Matisyahu took part in a semester-long program that offers students first-hand exploration of Jewish heritage at the Alexander Muss High School in Hod Hasharon, Israel. His experiences there significantly affected his feelings towards Judaism eventually leading to his decision to adopt Orthodox Judaism, becoming a Baal Teshuva around 2001. Initially he found his way to the Carlebach Shul on the West Side of Manhattan. Matisyahu then found his way to Chabad of Washington Square. He finished high school at a wilderness program in Bend, Oregon. Following this seminal event, Matisyahu began playing with the Jewish band Pey Dalid.

From 2001 through most of his early career until July 2007, Matisyahu was a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. However, as of 17 July 2007, he told the Miami New Times in an interview that he no longer "necessarily" identifies with the Lubavitch movement. In the interview, he stated that "...the more I'm learning about other types of Jews, I don't want to exclude myself. I felt boxed in." Additionally in the autumn of 2007 while on a family vacation spent primarily in Jerusalem's Nachlaot neighborhood he has expressed interest in another Hasidic sect, that of Karlin. As of November 2007 he has confirmed a preference to pray at the Karliner synagogue in Boro Park where the custom is to ecstatically scream prayers; however he continues to reside in Crown Heights because of his wife's affinity for the community.

Soon after his adoption of hasidism, Matisyahu began studying Torah at Hadar Hatorah, a yeshiva for returnees to Judaism where he wrote and recorded his first album. He counts Bob Marley, Phish, God Street Wine and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach among his musical inspirations and gives credit to Rabbi Simon Jacobson's book Toward a Meaningful Life for the lyrical inspiration to Youth's title track. As part of his faith, he does not perform in concert on Friday nights in observance of the Jewish Sabbath. An exception to this occurred at a 2007 concert in Fairbanks, Alaska, which he allowed because the sun didn't set until 2am.

Matisyahu is married to Tahlia; the couple have two sons. He also has a younger sister named Julie.

Career

In 2004, Matisyahu, after having signed with JDub Records, a not-for-profit record label that promotes Jewish musicians, released his first album, Shake Off the Dust...Arise. At the time a relatively unknown musician, he did not rise to prominence until Bonnaroo 2005, when Trey Anastasio of the band Phish invited him a guest spot on his set. This would prove to be the event that launched his career.

His live album, Live at Stubb's, released in 2005, was recorded at a concert in Austin, Texas. This concert album, and Youth, his second studio album, both received critical and popular acclaim. Each album marks significant changes in Matisyahu's style, most markedly between Stubb's and Youth, when more rock music influences are evident. Since his second two albums became popular, Shake off the Dust has steadily risen in demand, fetching prices upwards of $30USD on online auction sites such as Ebay.

Throughout 2005 and 2006, Matisyahu toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Europe; and made a number of stops in Israel, including a performance as the supporting act for Sting in June 2006. In late 2006, Matisyahu released No Place to Be, a remix album featuring re-recordings and remixes of songs from all three of his earlier albums, as well as a cover of "Message in a Bottle" by The Police.

The live version of the song King Without a Crown, broke into the Modern Rock Top 10 in 2006. The accompanying video and album, Youth, produced by Bill Laswell, were released on March 7, 2006. On March 16, Youth was Billboard magazine's number-one Digital Album. In 2006, Matisyahu appeared once again at Bonnaroo, this time performing a solo set in front of an estimated crowd of over 10,000 people.

In Spring 2006, right before the release of Youth, Matisyahu cut ties with his managers at JDub Records, which resulted in some controversy due to Matisyahu's role in the founding of the label. Contrary to popular belief, JDub managed his act, but was not his record label.

In January 2007, Matisyahu performed in an impromptu concert at the Park City Film Music Festival in Park City, Utah, while in Park City for the Slamdance Film Festival. Matisyahu's music is part of the winning documentary film "Unsettled" which won at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival.

In April 2007 it was confirmed that Matisyahu, along with Los Angeles based jam band Particle and British ska band The English Beat, would open for 311 on their Summer Unity Tour 2007. The tour ran from late June to late August and included shows all across the country.

In June 2007, Matisyahu played at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he received a triple encore. His opening bands follow in order of appearance were Madina Lake, Plain White T's and Yellowcard.

In July 2007, it was reported that Matisyahu had begun writing new songs for his third album. According to Billboard.com, Matisyahu's new album, entitled Light, is expected to be released sometime in early 2009.

In a 2008 rockumentary, Call+Response, headed by Justin Dillon, Matisyahu performed "Indestructible" and "Redemption Song" in support of the film's cause: a movement against current slavery and human trafficking.

Matisyahu has planns to release his new album, "LIGHT" April, 21 2009.

Artistic style

The music, developed partly with his backing band Roots Tonic has a unique sound, mixing reggae, traditional rap, and guitar solos typical of rock music. He sometimes performs with Kenny Muhammad, a Muslim beatboxer. Matisyahu's major label debut album was produced by avant-garde musician and producer Bill Laswell, with minor contribution by pop producers Jimmy Douglass and the Ill Factor.

Most of his songs are almost entirely in English with just a few words of Hebrew and Yiddish sprinkled in. His reggae vocal style is along the lines of traditional Rasta Roots stylings mixed with dub sound. The easiest comparison would be similar to the conscious and cultural sides of Buju Banton, Snow, Sizzla, Capleton, or Junior Kelly, but with the upbeat message of Luciano, Bushman and Everton Blender, and vocal dexterity of Barrington Levy. The production of the tracks draws from King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Mikey Dread, and Linval Thompson. Similarities to the Foundation Sound of the late 1970s and 1980s would be accurate, and comparisons to Morgan Heritage likewise, would not be wrong.

However, he mixes in contemporary stylings of rap and beatboxing, similar to Sublime, as well as the traditional Hazzan style of Jewish cantors and Hasidic nigunim. The generally critical New York Times' Kelefa Sanneh notes that "His sound owes a lot to early dancehall reggae stars like Barrington Levy and Eek-a-Mouse." The Chicago Tribune's Kevin Pang has described a Matisyahu performance as "soul-shaking brand of dancehall reggae, a show that captures both the jam band vibe of Phish and the ska-punk of Sublime." Reviewers generally agree that Matisyahu may disappoint reggae purists, but acknowledge the unique blend of musical traditions that Matisyahu harnesses generally please the people who see his performances. Matisyahu's style has been compared to Jew da Maccabi, an Orthodox Jew from Florida who includes religious lyrics within a musical style derived from hip-hop. Matisyahu's style has also been compared to Jordan Chaviv, an Orthodox Jew from Canada whose lyrics are also inspired by Jewish teachings.

Matisyahu has stated that "All of my songs are influenced and inspired by the teachings that inspire me. I want my music to have meaning, to be able to touch people and make them think. Chasidism teaches that music is 'the quill of the soul.' Music taps into a very deep place and speaks to us in a way that regular words can't."

Origin of his name

Matisyahu is an Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish pronunciation of the Biblical name Matthew (מתתיהו). The same Hebrew name corresponds to the name Mattathias -- which is sometimes used as a translation of the name of the 2nd century B.C.E. Jewish high priest of the Maccabees.

Matisyahu Miller explained the origin of his personal use of the name in an interview in Kosher Spirit Magazine (a publication by OK Kosher Certification) as follows: His full secular name is Matthew Paul Miller, and the legal Hebrew name he received at his brit milah (circumcision ceremony) at eight days of age was forgotten. In Hebrew school it was assumed to be Matisyahu because of the connection between Matthew and Matisyahu. The original certificate from the brit was later located and he discovered that the actual name given at the brit was the Yiddish name "Feivish Hershel". He was advised by his rabbis to continue using the Hebrew name that he had grown up with.

Touring members

Current

• Matisyahu - vocals (2000-present)
• Aaron Dugan − guitar (2004-present)
• Jason Fraticelli - bass guitar (2007-present)
• Rob Marscher - keyboards (2008-present)
• Skoota Warner - drums (2007-present)
• Daniel Sadownick - percussion (2006-present)

Former

• Jonah David − drums (2004-2007)
• Josh Werner - bass (2004-2007)
• Borahm Lee - keyboards (2006-2007)

Discography

Studio albums

Other releases

Singles

Guest appearances

• So Called - The So Called Seder: A HipHop Haggadah, JDUB Records, 2005

Track 3rd Cup: Yahu (also featuring Trevor Dunn)

• P.O.D. - Testify , Atlantic, 2006

Tracks Roots In Stereo and Strength Of My Life

• Ta-Shma - Come Listen, JMG, 2006

Track Rachamana

• C-Rayz Walz - The Dropping, Urchin Studios, 2006

Track Childhood (also featuring Kosha Dillz)

• Amnesty International/iTunes exclusive compilation Make Some Noise in support of Darfur

Matisyahu & Dub Trio track Watching The Wheels (like all songs on the compilation this is a John Lennon cover)

• Performed "Love Song" with 311 on many tour dates during 311's summer tour entitled the "Unity Tour" adding a verse of reggae based on the song "Jerusalem","Aish Tamid" or "Heights".
• Co-Wrote the song "Away with This" with Joseph Israel and performed it live on both 2/19/2005 in Austin, Texas at Stubb's and again on 12/8/2007 in Brooklyn, New York at the Warsaw Theater.
• Performed live with Infected Mushroom at Virgin Music Festival 2007 - Baltimore USA YouTube Video of event
• Performed "Indestructible," "Time of Your Song," "Dispatch the Troops," and others live with Minnesota-based jam band group Wookiefoot at the "Ripple Effect" free concert on September 02, 2008 on the State Capitol lawn outside of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN

Cover versions

• "Message in a Bottle" (The Police) - Album cover - Appears on his No Place to Be CD/DVD set
• "Rastaman Chant" (Bob Marley) - Live cover
• "Soul Rebel" (The Wailers) - Live a capella cover
• "Watching the Wheels" (John Lennon) - Album cover - Appears on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
• "Zion Train" (Bob Marley) - Live cover
• "Morning Dew" (Bonnie Dobson) - Live Cover

TV and radio appearances

• Jimmy Kimmel Live (August 24, 2004)
• Last Call with Carson Daly (2004)
• Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge (2004)
• The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (2005)
• Late Night With Conan O'Brien (2005)
• World Cafe (NPR) (July 29 2005)
• The Late Late Show (November 15 2005)
• mtvU Woodie Awards 2005 (November 2005)
• MTV 10 Spot (December 6 2005)
• MTVU : Uber (December 19 2005)
• Late Show with David Letterman (January 16, 2006)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (March 7 2006)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (March 8 2006)
• CBS Sunday Morning (March 26 2006)
• WOCL Early 2006
• Guerilla Gig Live (March 31 2006)
• Later with Jools Holland (May 12 2006)
• Late Late Show with Pat Kenny (May 19 2006)
• Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1 (May 31 2006)
• MTV LIVE, MTV Canada (June 12 2006)
• Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN (June 18 2006)
• Rock Werchter 2006, Belgium (June 29 2006)
• Lollapalooza, Chicago (August 5 2006)
• Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, Texas (September 17 2006)
• Soundcheck, WNYC, New York City, (December 11 2006) Listen
• The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (January 3, 2007)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (January 4 2007)
• The Jewish Americans (PBS miniseries) (2008)

Awards

• 2006 Esquire's Esky Music Awards - Most Lovable Oddball in The magazine called him "the most intriguing reggae artist in the world."

See also

• Awake Zion- a documentary that compares reggae and Judaism

References

1. "Sean Paul, Matisyahu reggae's top acts in '06" Todd Martens for Reuters.
2. [1]"Matisyahu: Clothes Horse, Diversity Poster Boy" by Carolyn Slutsky for Jewish Week New York.
3. AskMen.com - Matisyahu Picture
4. Jewish MC rocks the mike and keeps it kosher Joan Anderman, 20 June 2004.
5. Matisya-Who? by Brian Blum at Shabbat Shalom; June 15, 2006
6. Matisyahu Tonight at Sound Advice Amphitheatre. 17 July 2007, Miami New Times Blog.
7. The Bob and the Baba. 09 October 2007, HaAretz Daily Newspaper Israel.
8. Matisyahu's New Spiritual Groove. 28 November 2007, The Jewish Week.
9. [2] Rolling Stone. New CDs: Matisyahu, Juvenile, by Peter Relic. 6 March 2006
10. Oy!Chiacgo Accessed July 4, 2008.
11. AIM Celebrity Interview
12. Matisyahu: Hasidic Hot Stepper Rolling Stone Magazine, Evan Serpick. Feb 24, 2006
13. Hasidic Reggae Singer Surprises His Managers. 14 March 2006, Ben Sisario, The New York Times.
14. Matisyahu Begins Writing New Album. 18 July 2007, Ultimate-Guitar.com.
15. Matisyahu Preps EP, Eyes '09 For New Album. 24 September 2008, Billboard.com.
16. http://www.callandresponse.com
17. Matisyahu - Reggae Review - New York Times
18. Jew Da Maccabi, Leslie Bunder. "Something Jewish" Dec. 19, 2005.
19. Jordan Chaviv - Biography - Jordan Chaviv - Biography - Jewish RAP, Jewish Hip Hop, Jewish Soul, Jewish RnB - Baal Teshuva - Blue Fringe - Gad Elbaz - Matisyahu - Palestinian rap - Palestinian music - Israeli - Jerusalem - Israel
20. Matisyahu's Passover, Chabad.org, April 2006.
21. M on M - Hasidic Reggae Superstar Kosher Spirit Magazine, Fall 2005.
22. Amazon listing for Album, Track 9. Released Jun 21, 2005.
23. Amazon listing for Album, Tracks 1 and 11. Released Jan. 24, 2006
24. Amazon listing for Album, Track 2. Released Sept. 19, 2006.
25. Internet Archive Setlist Live at The Funkbox on 2004-10-21
26. Internet Archive Setlist Live at 2004 Jewish-American Festival on 2004-09-05
27. Internet Archive Setlist Live at Toad's Place on 2007-12-02 (December 2, 2007)
28. The 2006 Esky Music Awards April 2006, Volume 145, Issue 4.

External links

Official

• Official website
• The Bridge - The Official Fan Club
• Official MySpace
• Official Video Site
• Concert Gallery

Additional

• The Jewish Channel's Review of Matisyahu's bio film
• Matisyahu at the Open Directory Project
• Matisyahu collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• DVD: Matisyahu rocks the Holy Land
• Matisyahu: "Youth", a review-essay by Said Shirazi
• Article about Matisyahu in Russian
• Matisyahu On Camera Interview Uncut

Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 - September 12, 2003) was a Grammy Award-winning American country singer-songwriter. Cash is widely considered to be one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century.

Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice, the "freight train" sound of his Tennessee Three backing band, his demeanor, and his dark clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". He traditionally started his concerts with the introduction "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash".

Much of Cash's music, especially that of his later career, echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption. His signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous songs, such as "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue", a duet with June Carter called "Jackson", as well as railroad songs such as "Rock Island Line."

He sold over 90 million albums in his nearly fifty-year career and came to occupy a "commanding position in music history".

Life

Heritage

Cash was of Scottish descent but he learned this only upon researching his ancestry. After a chance meeting with former Falkland laird, Major Michael Crichton-Stuart, he traced the Cash family tree to 11th century Fife, Scotland.

He had believed in his younger days that he was mainly Irish and partially Native American (he had been told he was one-quarter Cherokee). Even after learning he had no Native American ancestry, Cash's empathy and compassion for Native Americans was unabated. These feelings were expressed in several of his songs, including "Apache Tears" and "The Ballad of Ira Hayes", and on his album, Bitter Tears.

Early life

Johnny Cash was born J. R. Cash in Kingsland, Arkansas to Ray and Carrie (née Rivers) Cash, and raised in Dyess, Arkansas.

Cash was reportedly given the name "J.R." because his parents could not agree on a name, only on initials. When he enlisted in the United States Air Force, the military would not accept initials as his name, so he adopted John R. Cash as his legal name. In 1955, when signing with Sun Records, he took Johnny Cash as his stage name. His friends and in-laws generally called him John, while his blood relatives usually continued to call him J.R.

Cash was one of seven children: Reba Hancock, Jack, Joanne (Cash-Yates), Tommy, Roy, and Louise Cash Garrett. His younger brother, Tommy Cash, also became a successful country artist.

By the age of five, J.R. was working in the cotton fields, singing along with his family as they worked. The family farm was flooded on at least one occasion, which later inspired him to write the song "Five Feet High and Rising". His family's economic and personal struggles during the Depression inspired many of his songs, especially those about other people facing similar difficulties.

Cash was very close to his brother Jack, who was two years older. In 1944, Jack was pulled into a whirling table saw in the mill where he worked, and cut almost in two. He suffered for over a week before he died. Cash often spoke of the horrible guilt he felt over this incident. According to Cash: The Autobiography, his father was away that morning, but he and his mother, and Jack himself, all had premonitions or a sense of foreboding about that day, causing his mother to urge Jack to skip work and go fishing with his brother. Jack insisted on working, as the family needed the money. On his deathbed, Jack said he had visions of heaven and angels. Decades later, Cash spoke of looking forward to meeting his brother in heaven. He wrote that he had seen his brother many times in his dreams, and that Jack always looked two years older than whatever age Cash himself was at that moment.

Cash's early memories were dominated by gospel music and radio. Taught by his mother and a childhood friend, Johnny began playing guitar and writing songs as a young boy. In high school he sang on a local radio station; decades later he released an album of traditional gospel songs, called My Mother's Hymn Book. He was also significantly influenced by traditional Irish music that he heard performed weekly by Dennis Day on the Jack Benny radio program.

Cash enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and technical training at Brooks Air Force Base, both in San Antonio, Texas, Cash was assigned to a U.S. Air Force Security Service unit, assigned as a morse code decoder on Russian Army transmissions, at Landsberg, Germany. On July 3, 1954, he was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant. Then, he returned to Texas.

First marriage

While in Air Force training, Cash met Vivian Liberto on July 18, 1951 at a roller skating rink in San Antonio, Texas. A month after his discharge, on August 7, 1954, they were married at St. Anne's Catholic Church in San Antonio. They had four daughters together: Rosanne (born May 24, 1955), Kathleen "Kathy" (born April 16, 1956), Cynthia "Cindy" (born July 29, 1958), and Tara Joan (born August 24, 1961).

Career

Early career

In 1954, the couple moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he sold appliances while studying to be a radio announcer. At night he played with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant. Perkins and Grant were known as the Tennessee Two. Cash worked up the courage to visit the Sun Records studio, hoping to get a recording contract. After auditioning for Sam Phillips, singing mostly gospel songs, Phillips told him to "go home and sin, then come back with a song I can sell." Cash eventually won over Phillips with new songs delivered in his early frenetic style. His first recordings at Sun, "Hey Porter" and "Cry Cry Cry", were released in 1955 and met with reasonable success on the country hit parade.

Cash's next record, Folsom Prison Blues, made the country Top 5, and "I Walk the Line" became No. 1 on the country charts and entered the pop charts Top 20. Following "I Walk the Line" was "Home of the Blues", recorded in July 1957. That same year Cash became the first Sun artist to release a long-playing album. Although he was Sun's most consistently best-selling and prolific artist at that time, Cash felt constrained by his contract with the small label. Elvis Presley had already left Sun, and Phillips was focusing most of his attention and promotion on Jerry Lee Lewis. The following year Cash left the label to sign a lucrative offer with Columbia Records, where his single "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" became one of his biggest hits.

In the early 1960s, Cash toured with the Carter Family, which by this time regularly included Mother Maybelle's daughters, Anita, June and Helen. June, whom Cash would eventually marry, later recalled admiring Johnny from afar during these tours.

Outlaw image

As his career was taking off in the early 1960s, Cash started drinking heavily and became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates. For a brief time, he shared an apartment in Nashville with Waylon Jennings, who was heavily addicted to amphetamines. Cash used the uppers to stay awake during tours. Friends joked about his "nervousness" and erratic behavior, many ignoring the warning signs of his worsening drug addiction. In a behind the scenes look at The Johnny Cash Show, Cash claims to have "tried every drug there was to try."

Although in many ways spiraling out of control, Cash's frenetic creativity was still delivering hits. His rendition of "Ring of Fire" was a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and entering the Top 20 on the pop charts. The song was written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. The song was originally performed by Carter's sister, but the signature mariachi-style horn arrangement was provided by Cash, who said that it had come to him in a dream.

In June 1965, his truck caught fire due to an overheated wheel bearing, triggering a forest fire that burnt several hundred acres in Los Padres National Forest in California. When the judge asked Cash why he did it, Cash said, "I didn't do it, my truck did, and it's dead, so you can't question it." The fire destroyed 508 acres (2.06 km²), burning the foliage off three mountains and killing 49 of the refuge's 53 endangered condors. Cash was unrepentant: "I don't care about your damn yellow buzzards." The federal government sued him and was awarded $125,127. Johnny eventually settled the case and paid $82,001. Cash said he was the only person ever sued by the government for starting a forest fire.

Although Cash carefully cultivated a romantic outlaw image, he never served a prison sentence. Despite landing in jail seven times for misdemeanors, each stay lasted only a single night. His most infamous run-in with the law occurred while on tour in 1965, when he was arrested by a narcotics squad in El Paso, Texas. The officers suspected that he was smuggling heroin from Mexico, but it was prescription narcotics and amphetamines that the singer had hidden inside his guitar case. Because they were prescription drugs rather than illegal narcotics, he received a suspended sentence.

Cash was also arrested on May 11, 1965, in Starkville, Mississippi, for trespassing late at night onto private property to pick flowers. (This incident gave the spark for the song "Starkville City Jail", which he spoke about on his live At San Quentin prison album.)

In the mid 1960s, Cash released a number of concept albums, including Ballads Of The True West (1965), an experimental double record mixing authentic frontier songs with Cash's spoken narration, and Bitter Tears (1964), with songs highlighting the plight of the Native Americans. His drug addiction was at its worst at this point, and his destructive behavior led to a divorce from his first wife and canceled performances.

In 1967, Cash's duet with Carter, "Jackson", won a Grammy Award.

Cash quit using drugs in 1968, after a spiritual epiphany in the Nickajack Cave. June, Maybelle, and Ezra Carter moved into Cash's mansion for a month to help him defeat his addiction. Cash proposed onstage to Carter at a concert at the London Gardens in London, Ontario on February 22, 1968; the couple married a week later (on March 1) in Franklin, Kentucky. June had agreed to marry Cash after he had 'cleaned up'. Rediscovering his Christian faith, taking an "altar call" in Evangel Temple, a small church in the Nashville area, Cash chose this church over many larger celebrity churches in the Nashville area because he said that there he was treated like just another parishioner and not a celebrity.

Folsom Prison Blues

Cash felt great compassion for prisoners. He began performing concerts at various prisons starting in the late 1950s. These performances led to a pair of highly successful live albums, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (1968) and Johnny Cash at San Quentin (1969).

The Folsom Prison record was introduced by a rendition of his classic "Folsom Prison Blues", while the San Quentin record included the crossover hit single "A Boy Named Sue", a Shel Silverstein-penned novelty song that reached No. 1 on the country charts and No. 2 on the U.S. Top Ten pop charts. The AM versions of the latter contained a couple of profanities which were edited out. The modern CD versions are unedited and uncensored and thus also longer than the original vinyl albums, though they still retain the audience reaction overdubs of the originals.

In addition to his performances at U.S. prisons, Cash also performed at the Österåker Prison in Sweden in 1972. The live album På Österåker ("At Österåker") was released in 1973. Between the songs, Cash can be heard speaking Swedish, which was greatly appreciated by the inmates.

"The Man in Black"

From 1969 to 1971, Cash starred in his own television show, The Johnny Cash Show, on the ABC network. The Statler Brothers opened up for him in every episode; the Carter Family and rockabilly legend Carl Perkins were also part of the regular show entourage. However, Cash also enjoyed booking more contemporary performers as guests; such notables included Neil Young, Louis Armstrong, James Taylor, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton (then leading Derek and the Dominos), and Bob Dylan.

Cash had met with Dylan in the mid 1960s and became closer friends when they were neighbors in the late 1960s in Woodstock, New York. Cash was enthusiastic about reintroducing the reclusive Dylan to his audience. Cash sang a duet with Dylan on Dylan's country album Nashville Skyline and also wrote the album's Grammy-winning liner notes.

Another artist who received a major career boost from The Johnny Cash Show was songwriter Kris Kristofferson, who was beginning to make a name for himself as a singer/songwriter. During a live performance of Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", Cash refused to change the lyrics to suit network executives, singing the song with its references to marijuana intact: "On a Sunday morning sidewalk / I'm wishin', Lord, that I was stoned."

By the early 1970s, he had crystallized his public image as "The Man in Black". He regularly performed dressed all in black, wearing a long black knee-length coat. This outfit stood in contrast to the costumes worn by most of the major country acts in his day: rhinestone suit and cowboy boots. In 1971, Cash wrote the song "Man in Black" to help explain his dress code: "We're doing mighty fine I do suppose/In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes/But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back/Up front there ought to be a man in black."

He and his band had initially worn black shirts because that was the only matching color they had among their various outfits. He wore other colors on stage early in his career, but he claimed to like wearing black both on and off stage. He stated that, political reasons aside, he simply liked black as his on-stage color. To this day, the United States Navy's winter blue service uniform is referred to by sailors as "Johnny Cashes," as the uniform's shirt, tie, and trousers are solid black.

In the mid 1970s, Cash's popularity and number of hit songs began to decline, but his autobiography (the first of two), titled Man in Black, was published in 1975 and sold 1.3 million copies. A second, Cash: The Autobiography, appeared in 1997. His friendship with Billy Graham led to the production of a movie about the life of Jesus, The Gospel Road, which Cash co-wrote and narrated. The decade saw his religious conviction deepening, and he made many evangelical appearances.

He also continued to appear on television, hosting an annual Christmas special on CBS throughout the 1970s. Later television appearances included a role in an episode of Columbo. He also appeared with his wife on an episode of Little House on the Prairie entitled "The Collection" and gave a performance as John Brown in the 1985 Civil War television mini-series North and South.

He was friendly with every United States President starting with Richard Nixon. He was closest with Jimmy Carter, who became a very close friend. He stated that he found all of them personally charming, noting that this was probably essential to getting oneself elected.

When invited to perform at the White House for the first time in 1972, President Richard Nixon's office requested that he play "Okie from Muskogee" (a satirical Merle Haggard song about people who despised youthful drug users and war protesters) and "Welfare Cadillac" (a Guy Drake song that derides the integrity of welfare recipients). Cash declined to play either song and instead played a series of more left-leaning, politically charged songs, including "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" (about a brave Native-American World War II veteran who was mistreated upon his return to Arizona), and his own compositions, "What is Truth?" and "Man in Black". Cash claimed that the reasons for denying Nixon's song choices were not knowing them and having fairly short notice to rehearse them, rather than any political reason.

Highwaymen

In 1980, Cash became the Country Music Hall of Fame's youngest living inductee at age forty-eight, but during the 1980s his records failed to make a major impact on the country charts, although he continued to tour successfully. In the mid 1980s, he recorded and toured with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson as The Highwaymen, making two hit albums.

During this period, Cash appeared as an actor in a number of television films. In 1981, he starred in The Pride of Jesse Hallam. Cash won fine reviews for his work in this film that called attention to adult illiteracy. In 1983, Cash also appeared as a heroic sheriff in Murder In Coweta County, which co-starred Andy Griffith as his nemesis. This film was based on a real-life Georgia murder case. Cash had tried for years to make the film, for which he won acclaim.

Cash relapsed into addiction after being administered painkillers for a serious abdominal injury in 1983 caused by an unusual incident in which he was kicked and critically wounded by an ostrich he kept on his farm.

At a hospital visit in 1988, this time to watch over Waylon Jennings (who was recovering from a heart attack), Jennings suggested that Cash have himself checked into the hospital for his own heart condition. Doctors recommended preventive heart surgery, and Cash underwent double bypass surgery in the same hospital. Both recovered, although Cash refused to use any prescription painkillers, fearing a relapse into dependency. Cash later claimed that during his operation, he had what is called a "near death experience". He said he had visions of Heaven that were so beautiful that he was angry when he woke up alive.

Cash's recording career and his general relationship with the Nashville establishment were at an all-time low in the 1980s. He realized that his record label of nearly 30 years, Columbia, was growing indifferent to him and wasn't properly marketing him (he was "invisible" during that time, as he said in his autobiography). Cash recorded an intentionally awful song to protest, a self-parody. "Chicken in Black" was about Johnny's brain being transplanted into a chicken. Ironically, the song turned out to be a larger commercial success than any of his other recent material. Nevertheless, he was hoping to kill the relationship with the label before they did, and it was not long after "Chicken in Black" that Columbia and Cash parted ways.

In 1986, Cash returned to Sun Studios in Memphis to team up with Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins to create the album Class of '55. This was not the first time he had teamed up with Lewis and Perkins at Sun Studios. On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley dropped in on Phillips to pay a social visit while Perkins was in the studio cutting new tracks, with Lewis backing him on piano. Cash was also in the studio and the four started an impromptu jam session. Phillips left the tapes running and the recordings, almost half of which were gospel songs, survived and have been released on CD under the title Million Dollar Quartet. Tracks also include Chuck Berry's "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", Pat Boone's "Don't Forbid Me", and Elvis doing an impersonation of Jackie Wilson (who was then with Billy Ward and the Dominoes) singing "Don't Be Cruel".

In 1986, Cash published his only novel, Man in White, a book about Saul and his conversion to become the Apostle Paul. He also recorded Johnny Cash Reads The Complete New Testament in 1990.

American Recordings

After Columbia Records dropped Cash from his recording contract, he had a short and unsuccessful stint with Mercury Records from 1987 to 1991 (see Johnny Cash discography).

In 1991, Cash sang lead vocals on a cover version of "Man in Black" for the Christian punk band One Bad Pig's album I Scream Sunday.

His career was rejuvenated in the 1990s, leading to popularity among a younger audience not traditionally interested in country music. In 1993, he sang the vocal on U2's "The Wanderer" for their album Zooropa. Although he was no longer sought after by major labels, Cash was approached by producer Rick Rubin and offered a contract with Rubin's American Recordings label, better known for rap and hard rock.

Under Rubin's supervision, he recorded the album American Recordings (1994) in his living room, accompanied only by his guitar. That guitar was a Martin dreadnought guitar - one of many Cash played throughout his career. The album featured several covers of contemporary artists selected by Rubin and had much critical and commercial success, winning a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Cash wrote that his reception at the 1994 Glastonbury Festival was one of the highlights of his career. This was the beginning of a decade of music industry accolades and surprising commercial success.

Cash and his wife appeared on a number of episodes of the popular television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman starring Jane Seymour. The actress thought so highly of Cash that she later named one of her twin sons after him. He lent his voice for a cartoon cameo in an episode of The Simpsons, with his voice as that of a coyote that guides Homer on a spiritual quest. In 1996, Cash released a sequel to American Recordings, Unchained, and enlisted the accompaniment of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which won a Grammy for Best Country Album. Cash, believing he did not explain enough of himself in his 1975 autobiography Man in Black, wrote another autobiography in 1997 entitled Cash: The Autobiography.

Last years and death

In 1997, Cash was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease Shy-Drager syndrome. The diagnosis was later altered to autonomic neuropathy associated with diabetes. This illness forced Cash to curtail his touring. He was hospitalized in 1998 with severe pneumonia, which damaged his lungs. The albums American III: Solitary Man (2000) and American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002) contained Cash's response to his illness in the form of songs of a slightly more somber tone than the first two American albums. The video that was released for "Hurt", a song by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, fit Cash's view of his past and feelings of regret. The video for the song is now generally recognized as "his epitaph," from American IV; and received particular critical and popular acclaim.

June Carter Cash died on May 15, 2003, at the age of seventy-three. June had told Cash to keep working, so he continued to record and even performed a couple of surprise shows at the Carter Family Fold outside Bristol, Virginia. (The July 5, 2003 concert was his final public appearance.) At the June 21, 2003 concert, before singing "Ring of Fire", Cash read a statement about his late wife that he had written shortly before taking the stage. He spoke of how June's spirit was watching over him and how she had come to visit him before going on stage. He barely made it through the song. Despite his poor health, he spoke of looking forward to the day when he could walk again and toss his wheelchair into the river near his home.

Johnny Cash died less than four months after his wife, on September 12, 2003, while hospitalized at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He was interred next to his wife in Hendersonville Memory Gardens near his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 71.

On May 24, 2005, Vivian Liberto, Cash's first wife and the mother of Rosanne Cash, and three other daughters, died from surgery to remove lung cancer. It was Rosanne Cash's fiftieth birthday.

His stepdaughter, Rosie (Nix) Adams and another passenger were found dead on a bus in Montgomery County, Tennessee, on October 24, 2003. It was speculated that the deaths may have been caused by carbon monoxide from the lanterns in the bus. Adams was 45 when she died. She was buried in the Hendersonville Memorial Gardens, Hendersonville, Tennessee, near her mother and stepfather.

In June 2005, his lakeside home on Caudill Drive in Hendersonville, Tennessee, went up for sale by the Cash estate. In January 2006, the house was sold to Bee Gees vocalist Barry Gibb and wife Linda Gibb and titled in their Florida limited liability company for $2.3 million. The listing agent was Cash's younger brother, Tommy Cash. The home was destroyed by fire on April 10, 2007.

One of Johnny Cash's final collaborations with producer Rick Rubin, entitled American V: A Hundred Highways, was released posthumously on July 4, 2006. The album debuted in the #1 position on Billboard Magazines Top 200 album chart for the week ending July 22, 2006. Enough of Cash's music was left to put together a posthumous album which he had helped plan. The album, American VI, is planned for release in 2008.

Legacy

From his early days as a pioneer of rockabilly and rock and roll in the 1950s, to his decades as an international representative of country music, to his resurgence to fame in the 1990s as a living legend and an alternative country icon, Cash influenced countless artists and left a large body of work. Upon his death, Cash was revered by the greatest popular musicians of his time.

Among Johnny Cash's children, his daughter Rosanne Cash (by first wife Vivian Liberto) and his son John Carter Cash (by June Carter Cash) are notable country-music musicians in their own right.

Cash nurtured and defended artists on the fringes of what was acceptable in country music even while serving as the country music establishment's most visible symbol. At an all-star TNT concert in 1999, a diverse group of artists paid him tribute, including Bob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and U2. Cash himself appeared at the end and performed for the first time in more than a year. Two tribute albums were released shortly before his death; Kindred Spirits contains works from established artists, while Dressed in Black contains works from many lesser-known artists.

In total, he wrote over a thousand songs and released dozens of albums. A box set titled Unearthed was issued posthumously. It included four CDs of unreleased material recorded with Rubin as well as a Best of Cash on American retrospective CD.

In recognition of his lifelong support of SOS Children's Villages, his family invited friends and fans to donate to that charity in his memory. He had a personal link with the SOS village in Diessen, at the Ammersee-Lake in Southern Germany, near where he was stationed as a GI, and also with the SOS village in Barrett Town, by Montego Bay, near his holiday home in Jamaica. The Johnny Cash Memorial Fund was founded.

In 1999, Cash received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Johnny Cash #31 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2003, Cash was named #1 in a list of the 40 Greatest Men of Country Music.

In a tribute to Cash after his death, country music singer Gary Allan included the song "Nickajack Cave (Johnny Cash's Redemption)" on his 2005 album entitled Tough All Over. The song chronicles Cash hitting rock bottom and subsequently resurrecting his life and career.

The main street in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Highway 31E, is known as "Johnny Cash Parkway".

On November 2 – November 4, 2007 the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival was held in Starkville, Mississippi. Starkville, where Cash was arrested over 40 years earlier and held overnight at the city jail on May 11, 1965, inspired Cash to write the song "Starkville City Jail". The festival, where he was offered a symbolic posthumous pardon, honored Cash's life and music, and was expected to become an annual event.

Portrayals

In 1998, country singer Mark Collie portrayed Cash for the first time in a short film, "I Still Miss Someone". Shot mostly in black and white, it attempts to capture a moment in time for Cash during his darkest years, the mid 1960s.

Walk the Line, an Academy Award-winning biopic about Johnny Cash's life starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny and Reese Witherspoon as June (for which she won the 2005 Best Actress Oscar), was released in the United States on November 18, 2005 to considerable commercial success and critical acclaim. Both Phoenix and Witherspoon have won various other awards for their roles, including the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, respectively. They both performed their own vocals in the film, and Phoenix learned to play guitar for his role as Johnny Cash. Phoenix received the Grammy Award for his contributions to the Walk the Line soundtrack. John Carter Cash, the only child of Johnny and June, was an executive producer on the film.

Ring of Fire, a jukebox musical of the Cash oeuvre, debuted on Broadway on March 12, 2006 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, but closed due to harsh reviews and disappointing sales on April 30, 2006.

Discography

The Johnny Cash discography chronicles the output of one of the most prolific recorded music artists of all time, country music singer Johnny Cash. His lengthy career, spanning 1954 to 2003, saw the release of countless albums and singles on several record labels. Over the years, Cash also collaborated with many of the industry's most notable artists, and received many awards and accolades from different organizations.

Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash_discography for Johnny Cash discography
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash_Sun_discography for Johnny Cash Sun discography

The Johnny Cash Sun discography details the music recorded by country music legend Johnny Cash and released on Sun Records. From late 1954 to July, 1958, Cash recorded for Sun, a label founded by Sam Phillips and located at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sun Records

Columbia Records

Cash recorded the bulk of his catalog with Columbia. Many of these albums feature previously released material paired with new material.

Independent label Gospel / Christmas albums

Mercury Records

Cash was signed with Mercury between 1987 and 1990, and recorded four albums of mostly new material, and also rerecorded many of his classic Sun and Columbia songs.

American Recordings

The American Recordings series is produced by Rick Rubin and contains the only newly-recorded material released after 1990. These albums are known for their relaxed, laidback feel and for featuring many covers and collaborations with other well-known artists. One song from these sessions, "A Satisfied Mind," was used in the Tarantino movie Kill Bill Volume 2 and has only been released on the soundtrack.

Awards and honors

Cash received multiple Country Music Awards, Grammys, and other awards, in categories ranging from vocal and spoken performances to album notes and videos.

In a career that spanned almost five decades, Cash was the personification of country music to many people around the world. Cash was a musician who was not tied to a single genre. He recorded songs that could be considered rock and roll, blues, rockabilly, folk, and gospel, and exerted an influence on each of those genres. Moreover, he had the unique distinction among country artists of having "crossed over" late in his career to become popular with an unexpected demographic, young indie and alternative rock fans. His diversity was evidenced by his presence in three major music halls of fame: the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1977), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1980), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1992). Only thirteen performers are in both of the last two, and only Hank Williams Sr., Jimmie Rodgers, and Bill Monroe share the honor with Cash of being in all three. However, only Cash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the regular manner, unlike the other country members, who were inducted as "early influences." His pioneering contribution to the genre has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1996. Cash stated that his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, in 1980, was his greatest professional achievement.

In 2008, Johnny Cash was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame Inductions

• 1977 – Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
• 1980 – Country Music Hall of Fame
• 1992 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Country Music Association

• 1968 – Album of the Year, At Folsom Prison
• 1969 – Vocal Group of the Year, with June Carter
• 1969 – Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1969 – Single of the Year, "A Boy Named Sue"
• 1969 – Album of the Year, At San Quentin
• 1969 – Entertainer of the Year
• 2003 – Music Video of the Year, "Hurt"
• 2003 – Single of the Year, "Hurt"
• 2003 – Album of the Year, American IV: The Man Comes Around

Grammy Awards

• 1968 – Best Country & Western Performance, Duet, Trio Or Group, "Jackson" (with June Carter Cash)
• 1969 – Best Male Country Vocal, "Folsom Prison Blues"
• 1969 – Best Album Notes, At Folsom Prison
• 1970 – Best Male Country Vocal, "A Boy Named Sue"
• 1970 – Best Country Song, "A Boy Named Sue" by Shel Silverstein
• 1970 – Best Album Notes (written by Cash) for Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline
• 1971 – Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, "If I Were A Carpenter", with June Carter Cash
• 1987 – Best Spoken Word or Non-musical Album, Interviews From the Class of '55 Recording Sessions, with Carl Perkins, Chips Moman, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison and Sam Phillips
• 1995 – Best Contemporary Folk Album, American Recordings
• 1998 – Best Country Album, Unchained
• 1999 – Lifetime Achievement
• 2001 – Best Country Male Vocal, "Solitary Man"
• 2002 – Best Country Album, Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute (Cash contributed a cover of "I Dreamed About Mama Last Night")
• 2003 – Best Country Male Vocal, "Give My Love To Rose"
• 2004 – Best Short Form Video, "Hurt", directed by Mark Romanek
• 2006 – Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, "The Legend"
• 2008 – Best Short Form Video, "God's Gonna Cut You Down"

Americana Music Association

• 2002 - First Amendment Center "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award
• 2003 - Song of the Year (Artist), "Hurt"
• 2003 - Album of the Year, American IV: The Man Comes Around (Lost Highway)

MTV Awards

In 2003 the video for Hurt, which was a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song, was nominated for six MTV awards and won the Best Cinematography category.

Miscellaneous awards

• 1985 – Single of the Year, "Highwayman" (with The Highwaymen) – Academy Of Country Music
• 1989 – Living Legend – Music City News
• 1991 – The Spoken Word – Angel Award (Cash's reading of the New Testament)
• 2004 – Recorded Event Of The Year – International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)

References

1. "Johnny Cash's Story," Country Music Hall of Fame
2. Dalton, Stephanie. 15 Jan 2006. "Walking the line back in time." Scotsman.com. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
3. Cash, John R. with Patrick Carr. (1997) Johnny Cash, the Autobiography. Harper Collins. p.3.
4. Cash, Johnny. Cash: The Autobiography
5. Gross, Terry. All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists
6. Zwonitzer, Mark (2002). Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone, The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music. Simon & Schuster.
7. The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show 1969-1971, Disc 1 (of 2), Reverse Angle Production, 2007
8. The good, bad and ugly of proposed uniforms. Navy Times. 4 October 2004.
9. Johnny Cash: The Rebel
10. Fretbase, The Guitars of Johnny Cash
11. Rolling Stone Magazine, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, 2004 (bibliographic information is needed for this reference)
12. "Johnny Cash Final Performances Part 2". YouTube. Retrieved on 2008-07-06.
13. "Johnny Cash Final Performances Part 3". YouTube. Retrieved on 2008-07-06.
14. "Fire Reported at Johnny Cash Tenn. Home". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
15. Johnny Cash profile at SOS Children's Villages
16. Johnny Cash profile at SOS Children's Villages - USA
17. Kristofferson, Kris. "31) Johnny Cash". Issue 946. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
18. "The Immortals: The First Fifty". Issue 946. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
19. "Mississippi town to honor the ‘Man in Black’". MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
20. "RHOF Inductees with Certificates". Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
21. "Johnny Cash". Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
22. Gross, Terry (2006). All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists. Hyperion. ISBN 1-4013-0010-3.
23. Millier, Bill. (retrieved September 7, 2004). Johnny Cash Awards. JohnnyCash.com.
24. Peneny, D.K. (retrieved September 7, 2004). Johnny Cash. The History of Rock and Roll.
25. Streissguth, Michael. Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison: The Making of a Masterpiece, Da Capo Press (2004). ISBN 0-306-81338-6.
26. Urbanski, Dave. The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash. New York: Relevant Books. ISBN 0-9729276-7-0.
27. Cash, Johnny; Patrick Carr (1997). Cash: The Autobiography. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-101357-9.

Works published

• Cash, Johnny. Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975. ISBN 99924-31-58-X.
• Cash, Johnny, with Patrick Carr. Cash: The Autobiography. New York: Harper Collins, 1997. ISBN 0-06-101357-9.
• Cash, Johnny, with June Carter Cash. Love liner notes. New York: Sony, 2000. ASIN B00004TB8A.
• Turner, Steve. The Man Called Cash: The Life, Love, and Faith of an American Legend. Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 2004. (The Authorized Biography).

External links

• Official Website
• Official Johnny Cash Lost Highway Artist Page
• at the Country Music Hall of Fame
• at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
• at the Hit Parade Hall of Fame
• Johnny Cash at the Internet Movie Database
• Johnny Cash's sister Joanne talks to Philip Halcrow of The War Cry about life with Johnny
• Larry King's November 26, 2002 interview With Johnny Cash on CNN

Korn, occasionally typeset as KoЯn or KoRn, is an American rock band from Bakersfield, California, and is often credited with popularizing the nu metal genre. Along with other bands at the time, they have also inspired many nu metal and alternative metal bands throughout the mid 1990s and early 2000s.

The band's catalogue consists of nine consecutive debuts in the top ten of the Billboard 200, including a compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol.1, and their untitled eighth album, released on July 31, 2007. To date, Korn has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, including 16.5 in the U.S., whilst earning six Grammy nominations—two of which they have won.

History

Formation, Neidermeyer's Mind demo, Korn (1993–1995)

Korn formed after the group L.A.P.D. folded, due to singer Richard Morrill's drug addiction. Musicians Reginald Arvizu, Brian Welch, and David Silveria wanted to continue, and recruited guitarist James Shaffer and vocalist Corey Cinque and started a new band called Creep. Corey was soon dropped due to the band being dissatisfied with him.

In early 1993, the band took notice of vocalist Jonathan Davis after seeing his band Sexart and attempted to get him to join Creep. Davis initially did not want to join the band, but after consulting a psychic he decided to audition and then joined the band. The band soon changed their name to Korn (After Jonathan was recruited, they decided to get a new name. Jonathan suggested Korn as just a brainstorm, but everyone else liked it. So Jonathan got a Crayola crayon and wrote their logo in a child's handwriting, with a "K" instead of "C" and a backwards upper-case "R". Korn was born).

In April that year, the band began a working relationship with producer Ross Robinson, which led to their first demo tape entitled Neidermeyer's Mind. The band had problems getting signed during its first year, due to the 1990s rock scene, which was primarily grunge. After many attempts at a record deal, Paul Pontius from Immortal/Epic Records heard the band in a nightclub and was so impressed, he signed them on the spot. With a producer and a label, Korn started work on their self-titled debut album.

Musically, the album was a mix of both heavy metal, alternative rock, hip hop, and funk the latter elements encompassed in the rhythmic approach to the band's compositions. "Blind" was the first single from the album, which got a decent amount of airplay and attention. Once Korn saw a release on October 11, 1994, the band toured incessantly with no support from radio or video stations. They relied solely on their intense live shows, which created a large cultlike following of dedicated fans. It was through the effort of this fanbase that helped push Korn onto the Billboard 200, eventually peaking at #72 in 1996, with "Shoots and Ladders" being their first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

On their first large tour, Korn opened for Danzig alongside Marilyn Manson. Other bands for which Korn opened in 1995 included Megadeth, 311, Fear Factory, Flotsam and Jetsam, and KMFDM. However, the first tour that widely exposed the band was opening for Ozzy Osbourne alongside the Deftones. After opening for lesser-known bands such as Dimestore Hoods, Sugar Ray (at the time), and Life of Agony, Korn returned to the studio to record a second album.

Life Is Peachy (1996–1997)

Korn teamed up with Robinson once again for their second album, Life Is Peachy, released on October 15, 1996. Musically, it was similar to the first album, but also showed more of a funk influence on tracks like "Porno Creep" and "Swallow". The album included two covers, War's "Low Rider", with Davis' bagpipes and Head on vocals, and Ice Cube's "Wicked", with guest vocalist Chino Moreno of Deftones.

To help promote their new album, Korn opened for Metallica, along with utilizing the Internet. Life Is Peachy sold more than 106,000 copies in its first week and reached #3 on the Billboard 200. The first single, "No Place to Hide", spawned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. "A.D.I.D.A.S." was the second single and only music video, which also did well.

The band gained more popularity after co-headlining the Lollapalooza music festival in 1997 with Tool. However, Korn were forced to drop off the bill after Munky was diagnosed with viral meningitis. Also that year, Korn augmented their growing crossover appeal by collaborating with Los Angeles-based production and remix duo the Dust Brothers on the track "Kick the P.A.". This track appeared on the motion picture soundtrack of the film Spawn.

In late 1997, Korn formed their own record label, Elementree Records. The first signing was Videodrone, whose singer, Ty Elam, is credited for giving Jonathan Davis singing lessons. Orgy, however, released their debut album prior to Videodrone's, giving Elementree its first Platinum certification. Orgy's guitarist, Ryan Shuck, is known for playing alongside Davis and Elam in the band Sexart. Over the next few years, Korn signed other acts like rapper Marz and Deadsy.

Follow the Leader, mainstream success (1998–1999)

Prior to the release of the band's third album, Korn produced a weekly online TV show, KornTV, which documented the making of the record and featured special guests such as porn star Ron Jeremy, Limp Bizkit, and 311. The project also gave fans the chance to call in and ask the band questions, an approach that represented one of the first times a band utilized the Internet in such a way. Korn released their third album, Follow the Leader, on August 18, 1998, which featured a number of guest vocalists such as Ice Cube, Tre Hardson from the Pharcyde, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit and actor Cheech Marin on the hidden track "Earache My Eye" (written by Marin himself).

Korn launched a political campaign-style tour to promote the release of Follow the Leader. The tour took the group, on a chartered jet, all over North America to help promote Follow the Leader. They talked to fans and answered questions during special "fan conferences", which were organized at every stop along the tour route, and signed autographs. Jim Rose hosted the entire "Kampaign" tour.

The album was a complete success, debuting at #1 on Billboard with 268,000 copies sold, and spawning the singles "Got the Life" and "Freak on a Leash". They both exposed Korn to a wider, mainstream audience, with the music videos being mainstays on MTV's Total Request Live. "Got the Life" was the show's very first "retired" video, with "Freak on a Leash" reaching that same success months later. The singles also fared well on Billboard, with "Freak on a Leash" peaking in the top 10 of both Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock, the latter of which it spent 27 weeks on—more than any other Korn single to date.

"Freak on a Leash" won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form, and received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. The video also earned nine MTV Video Music Awards nominations for Video of the Year, Best Rock Video, Breakthrough Video, Best Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Viewer's Choice. It eventually won two, for Best Rock Video and Best Editing. Follow the Leader is the band's most commercially-successful album, being certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA and having sold almost ten million copies worldwide.

The same year Follow the Leader was released, Korn started their own annual tour called the Family Values Tour. Korn headlined the highly-successful tour along with Incubus, Orgy, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube, and Rammstein. A live CD and DVD were released and earned Gold and Platinum certifications, respectively. In 1999, Limp Bizkit headlined, along with Primus, Staind, The Crystal Method, Method Man & Redman, and Filter. Korn were not featured on the bill and instead only made surprise appearances at a few of the stops to perform "falling away from me" from "Issues". The tour took a break in 2000.

Issues (1999–2001)

The band's fourth album, Issues, produced by Brendan O'Brien, was released on November 16, 1999, featuring cover art designed by Alfredo Carlos, who won a contest held for the fans by MTV. Issues was released during a week of many highly-anticipated records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with more than 573,000 copies sold, keeping Dr. Dre's long-awaited album 2001 and Celine Dion's greatest hits album from hitting #1.

To celebrate the album's release, the band performed the record in its entirety in front of a live audience at New York's historic Apollo Theater and broadcast the concert simultaneously across many radio stations. This performance made Korn the first rock band, and only the second predominantly white musical group, to ever perform at The Apollo, after the legendary Buddy Holly in the late 1950s. This special event featured the NYPD marching drum and bagpipe band conducted by Richard Gibbs as well as a group of back-up singers to enhance the more melodic choruses Davis used on the album.

Earlier that year, Korn had appeared on an episode of South Park, titled Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery, in which the first single from Issues, "Falling Away from Me", was premiered. Korn released two more singles from Issues, "Make Me Bad" and "Somebody Someone", both of which fared well on Billboard. Videos were shot for all three singles, with longtime friend Fred Durst directing "Falling Away from Me", and Martin Weisz directing a concept video for "Make Me Bad", as well as a performance video for "Somebody Someone", which featured the use of CGI effects. Every video was a staple on Total Request Live, two of which made it to retirement. Issues is considered by some critics to be less hip hop-influenced and closer to alternative metal than nu metal. It was certified 3x Platinum, following up the success of Follow the Leader.

Untouchables (2002–2003)

On June 11, 2002, after a year and a half of hard work and a long creative process, Korn re-emerged into the media spotlight with their fifth album, Untouchables. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with 434,000 in sales. Sales were disappointing in comparison to the first four albums, as Untouchables has only been certified Platinum once. The band has blamed Internet piracy for the drop in sales, as an unmastered version of the album had leaked three months prior to its official release date.

The release of this album was preceded by a show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, a day prior to the album's release, broadcast digitally throughout U.S. movie theatres. Untouchables featured electronic beats, strings and various guitar effects the band had never used in an album before. The overall feel was drastically different from previous efforts, particularly tracks like "Alone I Break," "Hating," and "Hollow Life," which singer Jonathan Davis claims is one of his favorite Korn songs to this day.

The first two videos from Untouchables were directed by the Hughes Brothers (best known for their films, Menace II Society and From Hell). The first video, "Here to Stay," has the band playing inside a TV with a static background along with controversial news stories and world issues being presented. The song itself earned Korn a Grammy for Best Metal Performance, and would become their highest-peaking single on Billboard's Modern Rock chart. The second video, "Thoughtless", was a nod back to Davis' childhood as the character in the video (previously featured in the first Vanilla Coke commercial) is picked on and constantly beaten. The third video for Untouchables, "Alone I Break," was directed by Sean Dack, who won the honor of directing the video through an MTV contest.

Prior to their next album, Korn released a new single, "Did My Time" on July 22, 2003, which was used to promote the film and appeared on the soundtrack to Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Angelina Jolie appeared in the Dave Meyers-directed video. "Did My Time" also gave Korn yet another Grammy nomination in the Best Metal Performance category.

Take a Look in the Mirror, Greatest Hits, Head's departure (2003–2005)

Take a Look in the Mirror, was released on November 21, 2003, four days earlier than originally planned. Korn produced the album themselves, and released "Right Now", "Y'All Want a Single", and "Everything I've Known" as singles. "Right Now" and "Everything I've Known" had animated music videos, whereas "Y'All Want a Single" featured Korn and a large group of fans destroying a record store. The album was an attempt by the band to return to its roots with a more raw and heavier sound. The album peaked at #9 on Billboard, selling over 179,000 copies in its first full week.

Korn released their greatest hits album, Greatest Hits Vol.1, on October 5, 2004. The album debuted at #4 on Billboard, selling more than 129,000 copies. It featured two cover songs as singles, and a compilation of the band's hits from the past 10 years. The first single was a cover of the song "Word Up!", which was originally made popular by the group Cameo. The second single was a medley of all three parts of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall". A remix of their hit single "Freak on a Leash" was also included as a bonus track. Special editions of the album included a DVD titled Korn: Live at CBGB featuring seven select songs from their November 24, 2003 show at CBGB.

Prior to Korn starting work on their next album, Brian "Head" Welch announced that he had "...chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end," and was formally leaving Korn. Initial speculations that this was a hoax or practical joke were proven wrong; he has become highly spiritual, even being baptized in the Jordan River and speaking openly about his faith and conversion. This was the band's first official line-up change in their history.

See You on the Other Side, EMI/Virgin (2005–2006)

Upon completing their record deal with Sony, Korn partnered with EMI and signed to Virgin Records. As part of this innovative arrangement, Virgin paid Korn $25 million upfront in exchange for a share in the profits of their next two studio albums, including tours and merchandising. Virgin also received a 30 percent stake in the band's licensing, ticket sales and other revenue sources.

The band's first album for Virgin, See You on the Other Side, was released on December 6, 2005, and debuted on #3 on the Billboard 200, scanning close to 221,000 copies. The album managed to stay in the top 100 of the Billboard 200 for 34 consecutive weeks. The first single from the album, "Twisted Transistor", was accompanied by a comedic video directed by Dave Meyers in which rap stars Xzibit, Lil' Jon, Snoop Dogg, and David Banner portray Korn. The single itself peaked at #3 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, Korn's highest entry thus far, and #9 on Modern Rock. The second single, "Coming Undone", had its performance-based video directed by Little X, who previously helmed only hip hop and R&B videos. See You on the Other Side is certified Platinum, and has sold over two million copies worldwide.

Korn held a press conference at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on January 13, 2006, announcing the See You on the Other Side Tour. 10 Years and Mudvayne were selected to open all dates of the trek, which kicked off in their hometown of Bakersfield, on what Mayor Harvey Hall officially declared as "Korn Day", February 26. The resurrection of their Family Values Tour was announced on April 18, 2006, which featured co-headliners Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf, and Dir en grey on the main stage. Korn and Evanescence co-headlined the 2007 edition, with Atreyu, 2006 alumni Flyleaf, Hellyeah, and Trivium rounding out the main stage.

While promoting See You on the Other Side in Europe, Jonathan Davis was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood platelet disorder that hospitalized him for the weekend and prevented him from performing at the renowned Download Festival. The band still performed, with guest singers including Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour fame, Skindred's Benji Webbe, and Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows. This led to Korn canceling the rest of their European bill for 2006, including the Hellfest Summer Open Air. It was originally unknown to the public what his ailment was, but the singer revealed in a letter to fans that he was "dangerously low on blood platelets and at a high risk of death from a hemorrhage if the problem was not treated". His illness did not affect the 2006 Family Values Tour.

Untitled album, MTV Unplugged, David Silveria's departure (2006–2008)

In early December it was announced that founding drummer David Silveria would be taking an indefinite “hiatus” from the band. Korn then performed at the MTV studios in Times Square on December 9, 2006, for the MTV Unplugged series, which was broadcast on February 23, 2007, through MTV.com and on March 2, 2007, across North American, South American, European and Asian MTV stations. In front of a crowd of approximately 50 people, Korn played a 14-song acoustic set complete with guest appearances by The Cure and Amy Lee of Evanescence. The performance was eventually cut down to 11 songs for the album, two of which did not air on MTV. Sales of nearly 51,000 brought MTV Unplugged: Korn to #9 in its first week out. The disc has yet to receive a Gold or Platinum certification because in comparison to all the other albums it was a serious disappointment.

Korn's untitled eighth album was released on July 31, 2007, debuting at #2 with 123,000 copies in its first week. The album has been certified Gold for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies. It also concludes Korn's unique deal with Virgin Records, and features touring keyboardist Zac Baird, giving the tracks a deeper, atmospheric sound. Drumming duties were left up to Terry Bozzio, Jonathan Davis, and Bad Religion's Brooks Wackerman, as well as Joey Jordison from Slipknot (who played for the band on live shows) as David Silveria went on a hiatus. "Evolution", "Hold On" and "Kiss" have been released as singles, with the former two charting on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks at #4 and #9, respectively.

Recent events (2008–present)

Korn was nominated, along with 31 other artists, for the Best of 2007 by Fuse in November 2007. They ended up making it to the final round, but lost to 30 Seconds to Mars by roughly 200,000 votes.

Ubisoft reported in October that "Korn has written and recorded an original song inspired by Ubisoft's upcoming Haze video game", simply entitled "Haze", which was released on April 22, 2008. As a first in the video game industry, "Haze" will be released and promoted as a full-fledged single and music video, not just as an exclusive download with the video game.

In 2008 The band played in Dubai for the annual Dubai Desert Rock Festival.

Korn performed their second leg of the Bitch We Have a Problem Tour in Australia, with drummer Ray Luzier of David Lee Roth and Army of Anyone fame, which was preceded by a Latin American and European run, plus festival dates in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Munky left the Bitch We Have A Problem Tour shortly after the beginning the European leg began due to his father becoming ill. Despite rumors that he was leaving the band, Shane Gibson has stated on Kornspace.com that his [Munky's] father had fallen ill and that Munky was not leaving the band, but Munky returned to the tour in Milan on February 23. This has been confirmed also as a video of Munky playing "Falling Away From Me" surfaced on Kornspace on Feb. 24th, filmed the night before. Due to Munky's return, Rob Patterson is no longer touring with Korn.

In an interview, Fieldy stated that Korn would be recording a new album sometime this year (2008), and that it would be a return to their heavy roots. He stated in the same interview that he would also be releasing a solo album of funk and jazz fusion pieces, as well as releasing his own book. The recording of the 9th album should take place sometime in November of 2008, with a Spring 2009 album release, Ray Luzier will take over drumming duties unless David Silveria comes out of his hiatus.

Korn released a new live DVD, Korn: Live in Montreux 2004, one of their performances with former guitarist Brian Welch on May 12, 2008. Additionally, a second greatest hits compilation titled, "Playlist: The Very Best of Korn" was released on April 29, 2008.

Jonathan Davis has stated at some concerts with the AIP tour and in some interviews, the interest of having Brian "Head" Welch back in the band, at a concert in Europe he told the audience "I miss that motherfucker and one day he will be back people". In an interview with Head, he said that he's "not ready to come back," while acknowledging that it's a possibility.

Korn recently contributed to the album Nightmare Revisited with a cover of the song, "Kidnap the Sandy Claws".

In a September post from Jonathan on MetalUnderground.com, Jonathan said that Korn would be taking a longer break. He assured that it wasn't a 'hiatus,' but merely a well-needed rest, while he works on his solo album.

Musical style and influences

Although Korn has sometimes been considered to be a part of the alternative metal and nu metal genres, they do not consider themselves to be a part of these genres. Jonathan Davis is quoted as saying:

"We've spawned a lot of clones, but let me explain... Well, I hate the nu metal term. We have always just been a band that rocks. We didn't like when people called us a metal band, we are just Korn. People just use these terms when they cannot describe something, but nu metal... when so many bands started making music that sounded like us, that is when nu metal was born. We don't have anything to do with it for real, I feel. I wouldn't wanna call Red Hot Chili Peppers a funk band, and we are not metal or nu metal, we are Korn. Nu metal is just a term that doesn't mean anything."

Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Compilations

 Extended plays

 Singles

B-sides

 Videos

 Music videos

Band members

Current members

• Jonathan Davis – vocals, guitar, bagpipes, drums (1993–present)
• James "Munky" Shaffer – guitar (1993–present)
• Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu – bass (1993–present)

Previous members

• David Silveria – drums (1993–2006)
• Brian "Head" Welch – guitar, backing vocals (1993–2005)

Backup band

The backup band only plays live shows with Korn. None of the members of the backup band are considered official members of Korn. For most of 2005, they wore animal masks based on the See You on the Other Side artwork and black uniforms to help better distinguish them as the backup band. Throughout 2007, the members have performed unmasked but occasionally had their faces painted black and white with unique designs. Since the beginning of 2008, the back-up band plays without face paint, and with their ordinary clothes on instead of the black uniforms they had earlier.

Current members

• Kalen Chase – backing vocals, percussion (2006–present)
• Zac Baird – keyboards (2006–present)
• Shane Gibson – guitar (2007–present)
• Ray Luzier – drums (2007–present)

Previous members

• Rob Patterson – guitar (2005–2007, 2008)
• Clint Lowery – guitar (2007)
• Joey Jordison – drums (2007)
• Michael Jochum – percussion (2006–2007)

Reasons for Departures

• Mike Bordin - David Silveria sustained a wrist injury during their 2000 Sic and Twisted tour. Mike Bordin, drummer for Faith No More/Ozzy Osbourne, a good friend of Korn, filled in for Silveria in order to finish the tour. Bordin departed when Silveria recovered and returned to Korn in 2001.
• Brian "Head" Welch - left on February 22, 2005 to become a Christian, build an adoption center in India, and continue making music as a solo musician.
• David Silveria - Went on a "hiatus" in late 2006 to run his 2 restaurants and to spend time with his family. He is not officially out of the band yet, but it is highly unlikely that he will return.
• Rob Patterson - played with Korn for 11 months, but was fired after the MTV: Unplugged performance due to personal fallout with Munky. He resurfaced in the Korn world on January 16, 2008, the very same day that Munky went on a "hiatus." Rob played onstage alongside Shane Gibson, and is expected to play on the 2nd leg of the BWHAP tour. However, Patterson was no longer needed when Munky returned to the band on February 23, 2008.
• Terry Bozzio - initially brought in to play the drums for Untitled. However, after recording only 6 songs, he left Korn after they refused to give him a 25% share in the sales of Untitled and the title of being an official member of the band.
• Brooks Wackerman - was brought in to replace Bozzio, but could only record 4 songs on Untitled due to Bad Religion needing him to return.
• Michael Jochum - initially left because his parts were no longer needed. He returned with the band in early 2007 for Korn's 2007 European tour but left before 2007's Family Values Tour.
• Clint Lowery - had to leave Korn 1 month earlier than expected due to a family emergency.
• Joey Jordison - left because of his duty to record Slipknot's "All Hope Is Gone".
• Munky - left during early 2008 for personal and family reasons. It was said by Fieldy that he was to return in June and that he will join the band working on a new record in July. However, Munky returned much earlier than expected on February 23, 2008.

Status

None of the members of the backing band are official members of Korn. They are only live/session members. However, there has been talk about letting Zac Baird, Ray Luzier and Shane Gibson into the band as true members, but nothing has been set in stone yet.

 

References

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10. "Korn Frontman Shoots Videodrone Clip; Family Values CD/Video On Way". MTV (2000-01-25). Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
11. "Orgy Celebrate New LP In Rock 'N' Roll Style". MTV (2000-10-17). Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
12. "Korn To Do It Themselves On "Korn TV"". MTV (1998-03-02). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
13. "Korn Kicks Off Kampaign '98 In Los Angeles". MTV (1998-08-17). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
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15. "Hall of Fame". The TRL Archive. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
16. "Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
17. "42th Grammy Awards - 2000". Rock on the Net. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
18. "1999 MTV Video Music Awards". Rock on the Net. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
19. "Korn Asks Fans To Design Next Album Cover". MTV (1999-09-17). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
20. "Korn Tops Dre, Celine, Will Smith On Album Chart". MTV (1999-11-24). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
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22. "Korn To Premiere New Track During "South Park" Special". MTV (1999-10-11). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
23. "Issues review". All Media Guide. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
24. "Korn Can't Kick Eminem From Top Of Billboard Chart". MTV (2002-06-19). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
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26. "Korn Whip Out Maggots, Flames, Crucifix-Emblazoned Dress At NY Concert". MTV (2002-06-11). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
27. "Korn Do 'Time' For Lara Croft". MTV (2003-06-11). Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
28. "Korn Releasing Take A Look In The Mirror Early Due To Leak". MTV (2003-11-17). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
29. "Jay-Z's Farewell Album Hasn't Said Goodbye To The #1 Slot". MTV (2003-12-03). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
30. "George Strait Tops Usher In Billboard Albums Chart Recount". MTV (2004-10-13). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
31. "Brian 'Head' Welch Leaves Korn, Citing Moral Objections To Band's Music". MTV (2005-02-22). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
32. "Eminem Scores Fourth #1 Bow With Curtain Call". MTV (2005-12-14). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
33. "Korn Announce Tour Dates While Surrounded By Dead Celebrities". MTV (2006-01-13). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
34. "Korn Rock Hometown, Have Street Named After Them On 'Official Korn Day'". MTV (2006-02-27). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
35. "Korn Resurrect Family Values Tour With Deftones, Stone Sour". MTV (2006-04-18). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
36. "Korn, Evanescence, Hellyeah Top Family Values Tour Bill". MTV (2007-03-26). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
37. "KORN Frontman To Sit Out U.K.'s DOWNLOAD Festival, Guest Singers To Step In". Blabbermouth (2006-06-10). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
38. "KORN: European Tour Officially Cancelled". Blabbermouth (2006-06-13). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
39. "KORN Frontman JONATHAN DAVIS: 'I Should Be Healthy To Play In A Few Weeks'". Blabbermouth (2006-06-12). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
40. "Notorious B.I.G. Is The Greatest: Hits LP Debuts At #1". MTV (2007-03-14). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
41. "Common Creams Korn, Coasts To First Billboard #1". MTV (2007-08-08). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
42. "Untitled Certified Gold". Kornspace. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
43. "Korn Goes Experimental, Vents Anger On New Album". Billboard (2007-06-01). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
44. "KORN Is 'Having A Lot Of Fun' Working With Drummer TERRY BOZZIO". Blabbermouth (2007-01-09). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
45. "Korn To Release Original Song For Ubisoft's Haze Video Game". Games Press. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
46. "Ray Luzier Joins Korn". Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
47. "Korn to Play in United Arab Emirates.".
48. "Munky to Return to Euro Bitch We Have a Problem Tour".
49. Video Korn Bassist Fieldy Talks About Brian "Head" Welch new book - korn, bassist, fieldy, talks, book - Dailymotion Share Your Videos
50. BLABBERMOUTH.NET - KORN Singer Working On Solo Album; Ex-Guitarist Not Ready To Come Back

External links

• Official website
• Korn Music Club (Official fan club)
• Korn at MySpace
• Korn at Last.fm
• Korn at ilike

Robert James Richie (born January 17, 1971 in Romeo, Michigan), known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American musician and actor. He has sold over 23 million albums since the release of his debut album Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast in 1990.

Jive Records released him from his contract in 1991, and in 1992 he signed with Continuum Records. He released 1993's The Polyfuze Method and the 1994 EP Fire It Up!. Continuum Records didn't have the resources to push him and eventually went bankrupt. Kid Rock then started his own label in 1994 called Top Dog Records. After releasing demo tapes and working as a janitor to pay for studio fees, he released Early Mornin Stoned Pimp in 1996, which became a local smash hit. He held a special showcase concert, with only Atlantic Records showing up; they signed them to a record contract.

Richie released his major label debut in 1998, Devil Without A Cause, which sold 11 million albums behind the hit songs "Bawitdaba", "Cowboy", "I Am The Bullgod" and "Only God Knows Why." He released "History of Rock" in 2000, yielding the hit "American Bad Ass." In 2001 he was a tabloid headliner as he began dating actress Pamela Anderson. He released "Cocky" in 2001 and the crossover hit "Picture" with Sheryl Crow. He released a self-titled album in 2003 and "'Live' Trucker" in 2006.

In 2006, Kid Rock married Pamela Anderson, and divorced her 5 months later. In 2007, Rock N Roll Jesus revived his career; it was his first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, on the strength of its hit singles "So Hott","Amen" and "All Summer Long." The album was certified platinum by the RIAA on May 29, 2008. All Summer Long became his first Worldwide smash hit charting No 1 in Austria,Germany, and Switzerland. While placing in the Top 10 in Europe, UK, Sweden, The Netherlands and Ireland. The song made it to the Billboard Hot 100 despite the fact Kid Rock's catalog isn't available on Itunes. He and Rev Run of Run DMC fame will release an album together called "Running With The Kid", the date hasn't been determined. Kid Rock is backed by his 11 piece Twisted Brown Trucker Band formed in 1994.

Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast

Ritchie's career began at age 11 when he danced at a mall for the fun of it as a member of the b-boy group The Furious Funkers. After the success of Run DMC and The Beastie Boys, he bought a cheap belt-driven turntable and honed his craft. In high school, Ritchie DJed at parties for beer. He eventually joined Bo Wisdom of Groove Time Productions, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan for a few shows. It was then that he was given his stage name; club goers dubbed him with the moniker "Kid Rock" after they had enjoyed watching "that white kid rock."

In addition to DJing, Rock started rapping and joined hip hop group The Beast Crew comprised of The Blackman, Champtown, KDC, Crisp and Doc Rounce Cee. Rock also became friends with producer D-Nice of the legendary hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions. When Rock opened for BDP one night, D-Nice invited an A&R representative from Jive Records to see him perform. This meeting led to a demo deal, which developed into a full record contract. Against his parents' wishes, Rock signed the deal at the age of seventeen. Despite his new record deal, he had a falling out with The Beast Crew when he signed over fellow member Champtown (the two have since made amends). Rock later became part of the Straight From The Underground Tour, where he found himself alongside several heavyweights of rap including Ice Cube, Too Short, D-Nice, and Yo-Yo.

In December 1990, Kid Rock released his debut album Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast on Jive Records. The lead single "Yo Da Lin In The Valley" was banned by the FCC for its fixation on oral sex, and received at the time the largest non-commercial radio fine of all time at $23,700 fined to SUNY Cortland Radio. Because of this Jive sat on the record and then released Kid Rock from their roster in 1991.

Restarting on an independent label

In 1992, Kid Rock was picked up by an independent record label, Continuum Records, which released his second album The Polyfuze Method the following year. While the album saw some local college radio success at Central Michigan University with the track "Back From The Dead", the lead single, "U Don't Know Me", failed to chart, and the music video received little airplay on any major music video channels. After releasing an EP called Fire It Up! in 1994, Continuum went bankrupt and Rock was left again without a record deal.

Rock started his own label, Top Dog Records, and released monthly demo tapes dubbed The Bootleg Series, which featured demos of him and other up-and-coming rappers in the Detroit area. He signed on Curt Hauer, Dave Long, and the Cook twins to be his "Top Dog Interns". The interns would help him promote his shows and design his own merchandise line in the Detroit area. Around the same time, Rock formed his back-up band Twisted Brown Trucker, later recruiting Joe C, who he met at a 1994 concert, as part of the group. In 1995, Rock took a job as a janitor at Whiterooms Studios in order to pay studio fees. When he wasn't working, Kid would record the material that would eventually make up his fourth album, Early Morning Stoned Pimp. The album was released in 1996 and Rock sold 14,000 copies out of the trunk of his car and after concerts.

While Rock was now popular in Michigan and controlling his own label, he felt he needed to get attention from a major label. In December 1996, Lava/Atlantic Records A&R man Andy Karp, traveled to Cleveland to see Rock perform at a small club called The Grog Shop. On March 30, 1997, Rock performed a special showcase concert, with Jason Krause on guitar, to attract major label attention. While many of the major labels were invited, the only attendees were Karp and Lava President Jason Flom Lava/Atlantic Records. Following the performance, record executives said they loved him but expressed doubts about the strength of his material. Kid Rock returned to the studio and cut a six song demo tape; the first two were "Somebody's Gotta Feel This" and "I Got One For Ya". After hearing the two songs, Jason Flom supported Karp in signing Kid Rock to a record deal for $100,000, without even hearing the rest.

Devil Without a Cause

In 1997, Kid Rock added drummer/vocalist Stefanie Eulinberg to his band, joining Kenny Olson, Jason Krause, Jimmie Bones, Uncle Kracker, Mike Bradford, and Joe C. In August 1998, Atlantic released Devil Without a Cause behind the single "Welcome 2 The Party". Kid Rock went on the Vans Warped Tour to support the album.

"Welcome 2 The Party" was ignored by audiences and Devil sat on the shelves collecting dust for eight months. While sales nationwide lagged, his performance on the 1998 Warped Tour in Northampton, Massachusetts stimulated regional interest in Massachusetts and New England. This led to substantial airplay in the summer and fall of 1998 on rock staples in Massachusetts WLZX and WAAF. In December 1998, after meeting Carson Daly, he got an offer to perform on MTV Fashionably Loud in Miami, giving the nation its first taste of Kid Rock. From there MTV took him under their wing as he performed on MTV's Wanna B A VJ and was the DJ for TRL on the Spring Break Special as well as a judge on Say What Karaoke. This sparked him to gold status by April 1999.

In May 1999 he released the song "Bawitdaba" to radio outlets, and proceeded to blow up overnight. By June the album had gone platinum. Kid Rock went on the Limptropolis Tour with fellow rap-rockers Limp Bizkit and Staind in the same month, his first major tour. By the time he made his career defining performance at Woodstock 99 on July 27, 1999, he was double platinum. The following single "Cowboy" was an even bigger hit. It was an odd ball mix of southern rock and old school rap that found its way into the Top 40. Rock helped create one of the most memorable moments in MTV History with his 1999 Video Music Awards Medley with Run DMC and Aerosmith who rejoined to perform the seminal rap rock version of "Walk This Way", that revived Aerosmith's career in the 1980s. Rock's next single, the southern rock ballad "Only God Knows Why", became a top 20 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 Charts and a Top 10 on the Top 40 Charts. After the final single "Wasting Time" was released, Devil Without A Cause had gone seven times platinum and was nominated for three Grammy Awards. It was certified 11 times platinum by the RIAA on April 17, 2003.

The History of Rock

After reacquiring the rights to his early material in 2000, Rock released The History of Rock, a collection of remixed and re-recorded songs. The only new track, "American Bad Ass", sampled the Metallica track "Sad But True". The song was later used as pro wrestler The Undertaker's entrance song in the World Wrestling Federation.

In the summer 2000, Rock joined the Summer Sanitarium Tour with Metallica, Korn, Powerman 5000, and System of a Down. Kid Rock filled in for James Hetfield of Metallica to sing vocals of the songs "Enter Sandman", "Sad But True", and "Nothing Else Matters" and the turntables for "Fuel" for three shows after Hetfield injured his spine riding a jet ski on Lake Lanier the day before the Atlanta concert. Later that year, he joined Phish on stage for several cover songs at a concert in Las Vegas.

In early 2001, Rock inducted Aerosmith into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed "Sweet Emotion". The same year, Rock landed his first acting role in the David Spade white trash comedy Joe Dirt.

Cocky

In the spring 2001, Rock began dating Playboy playmate and actress Pamela Anderson, after the two met at a VH1 tribute to Aretha Franklin. By April 2002, he and Anderson were engaged, but the engagement was later called off. In November, Rock released Cocky, which was marketed as the official follow up to Devil Without a Cause. The first single, "Forever", featured his standard rap rock sound. The second single showed a glimpse of the future. "Lonely Road Of Faith", a country ballad, received some minor airplay on CMT. That was followed by the southern rocker "You Never Met A Motherfucker Quite Like Me". By November 2002 album sales lagged far behind "Devil Without A Cause".

However, the release of "Picture", a country-influenced duet with Sheryl Crow, introduced Rock to a wider audience. "Picture" was ultimately the most successful single on the album, and was eventually certified gold, with album sales reaching 5 million. Interestingly, neither his record company nor Sheryl Crow's wanted anything to do with "Picture" as a single. Allison Moorer remade the song for the single version after Rock released the song against his label's wishes. Once it began to climb the country charts, Sheryl Crow's label caved and the original version was released.

On December 14, 2001, CMT aired an episode of Crossroads featuring Rock with Hank Williams, Jr. The episode drew 2.1 million viewers, a record on CMT. At the end of 2002, Uncle Kracker left the band to pursue a solo career and Detroit underground rapper Paradime replaced him. Kid Rock also made his second movie, Biker Boyz, with Laurence Fishburne.

A New Direction

In 2003, Kid Rock returned with an eponymous album, almost stripping away the accustomed rap rock sound that he had created, opting for southern rock and country ballads instead. The album's lead single was a cover of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love". A media blitz accompanied the single capped off by the VH-1 special A Kid Rock Christmas, which aired on December 14, 2003. He released the country ballad "Cold And Empty" and the blues rocker "Jackson, Mississippi" as dual singles. He followed the same path with "I Am" and the David Allan Coe penned "Single Father". "Single Father" became his second charting country song.

Kid Rock was involved in the half time fiasco at Super Bowl 38 in Houston, Texas on February 3, 2005. He was criticized by war veterans, for his choice of wearing the American flag as a poncho.

Kid Rock was arrested later that month on assault charges for punching DJ Jay Campos in 'Christies Cabaret' strip club. Rock pled no contest and was sued for a million dollars by Campos. The following month, Kid inducted Bob Seger into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In September, Kid Rock filled in for Johnny Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd on the band's hit Sweet Home Alabama at the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert.

Live Trucker

On February 28, 2006, Kid Rock released his first live album, Live Trucker, comprising songs from his homestand performances in Clarkston (on September 1, 2000, and August 26 through August 28, 2004), and Detroit's Cobo Hall (March 26, 2004). The album contained the last two performances of Joe C on "Devil Without a Cause" and "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp", as well as Kid duetting with country star Gretchen Wilson on "Picture". Other highlights included "Only God Knows Why" and the medley of "Somebody's Gotta Feel This" and "Fist Of Rage" bridged by a thrash metal take on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love". He brought Detroit's favorite son Bob Seger back from semi-retirement during his Super Bowl concerts on February 2 and 3, 2006. The two performed a rousing version of Seger's "Rock 'N' Roll Never Forgets" on both nights. Kid Rock would appear on Bob Seger's much anticipated, 10 years in the waiting, Face The Promise, as well as on a Vince Gill cover of "Real Mean Bottle", a tribute to country legend Merle Haggard.

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson resumed their on-again, off-again relationship, culminating in a surprise wedding in July 2006 after it was reported Anderson was pregnant. They divorced 5 months later after Anderson reportedly had a miscarriage.

Rock N Roll Jesus

Rock N Roll Jesus was released on October 9, 2007. The album became Kid Rock's first album to go number 1 in his career, selling 172,000 copies in its first week. He made the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine for the second time of his career and appeared for the first time ever on Larry King Live to discuss the new album.

The album's lead single So Hott described as a strip club banger by Rolling Stone Magazine was his best charting rock song of his career, as it climbed all the way to Number 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Number 13 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks.

Amen was the second released single off the album peaking at No 11 on Mainstream Rock and No 27 on Modern Rock. Kid Rock boasted it was the greatest song he had ever written.

All Summer Long is the current single from Rock N Roll Jesus. The song was used as the WWE's theme song for the Backlash 2008. The song is a mash up of Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama. The song has become his biggest hit to date. Charting on every major U.S. and Canadian Chart (Outside of the Rap and R & B charts). As well as going No 1 in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The song has also placed in the Top 10 in Europe,Sweden,Ireland and the Netherlands. It is currently No 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 without the songs being available for download on Itunes.

"Rock N Roll Jesus" took home the award for Most Outstanding National Album at the 2008 Detroit Music Awards, the first time he has won that award since "Devil Without A Cause" in 1999.

Kid Rock is currently on his Rock N Roll Revival Tour. The tour has been done in a revue style with the J. Geils Band's Peter Wolf, The Allman Brothers' Dickey Betts and Rev Run of Run DMC all joining him on stage to perform their classic hits between Kid Rock's own hits. Lynyrd Skynyrd will co-headline the Rock and Rebels Tour starting in August.

Kid Rock and TBT cut a new song entitled "Warrior" for a National Guard commercial. It will be able to be downloaded in its entirety on the National Guard's website once the commercial airs.

Kid Rock played in the 2008 Buick Open Pro Am in Grand Blanc, Michigan, paired with John Daly.

In the works

Reverend Run has confirmed an album with Kid Rock called Running With the Kid, a play on Eric Clapton and B. B. King's Riding With The King collaboration. The release date is yet to be determined. Kid Rock will appear on Lil Jon's 2008 album, Crunk Rock and will also be on the track "Together Forever" with Trick Trick on his forthcoming album.

Kid Rock has stated for his follow up album to Rock N Roll Jesus he will be going back to his roots to make a hip-hop album, after his side project with Rev Run.

Twisted Brown Trucker

Twisted Brown Trucker is Kid Rock's band, formed in 1994, with Bob Ebeling in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The original lineup included Kenny Olson on lead guitar, Uncle Kracker on turntables, Jeff Hall and Andy Gould on guitar and Bob Ebeling on drums. The band's first involvement was on the 1994 demo of Dark & Grey. Trucker became both Rock's studio and live band in 1997. Dubbed by Kid Rock as "The Loudest Band In America Today", they are well known for their hodge-podge of genres, sometimes mixing many in a single song. The lineup went through a change up on Devil Without a Cause: Stephanie Eulinberg became the new drummer and Mike Bradford as the new bass player. Trucker since saw three major changes with Uncle Kracker going solo full-time in 2002, Kenny Olson leaving in 2005, and Smith Curry in 2006. The new 2007 line up includes Marlon Young (Lead Guitar);replacing Kenny Tudrick, Larry Fratangelo (Bongos and Percussion), Rayse Biggs (Trumpet) and David McMurray (Saxophone), who were with the 80's group Was (Not Was).

Kenny Olson went on to form a band called The Flask, who later switched singers and changed their name to Five Star Carnie.

Current members

• Marlon Young: Lead and rhythm guitar, slide guitar (2007-present)
• Jason Krause: Rhythm and lead guitar (1997-Present)
• Jimmie "Bones" Trombley: Keyboards, clavinet, harp, Jew's harp, programming, vocals (1995-Present)
• Stefanie Eulinberg: Drums, percussion, vocals (1997-Present)
• Aaron Julison: Bass guitar, vocals (2003-Present)
• Paradime: Turntables, vocals (2002-Present)
• Larry Fratangelo: Percussion, bongos (2007-present)
• Rayse Biggs and David McMurray: Horn section (2007-present)
• Barbera Payton, Stacy Plunk, Jessica Wagner : Vocals (2007-present)

Former members

• Uncle Kracker: Turntables, vocals (1997-2002)
• Kenny Olson: Lead guitar (1997-2005)
• Joe C: Vocals, rapping (1997-2000, deceased)
• Kenny Tudrick: Lead guitar (1997-1998, 2006-2007)
• Bob Ebeling: Drums, percussion (1997-1998)
• Mike Bradford: Bass guitar (1999-2001)
• Smith Curry: Steel guitar, dobro (2005-2006)
• Matt O'Brien: Bass (1997-1998)
• Chris Zuccaro: Drums, percussion
• Jeff Hall: Gutair (1994-1995)
• Andy Gould: Gutair (1994-1995)
• Lonnie Moxley:Bass (1995-1997)

Various musicians jammed with Kid Rock, appeared on recordings, and played live with him prior to the official forming of his Rock band in 1997.

Discography

Albums

Rock N Roll Jesus also peaked at #2 on the United World Chart.

Bootlegs And Demos

Singles

Guest Appearances

• 1990 Beastcrew's Chapter 1:He Don't Want Us No More

"Trick With The Dope Dealer"

"Letting You Know"

"Get Some Drawers"

• 1990 Double MC's Sex On The Brain-"Make It Nasty"
• 1992 Insane Clown Posse's Carnival Of Carnage-"Is That You"
• 1992 Champtown's Check It EP-"Armegeddon"
• 1997 Howling Diablos Its My Party EP-"It's My Party Live"
• 1997 The Paradox Expierment EP w Scott and Jason Krause -"Patterns"
• 1999 Methods Of Mayhem Self Titled-"New Skin"
• 1999 Run-D.M.C.'s Crown Royal-"School Of Old"
• 1999 Hank Williams Jr Stormy-"Naked Women And Beer"
• 1999 Eminem's Slim Shady LP-"Just Don't Give A Fuck"
• 2000 Kirk Dubbs Booze And Madness -"Drunk With The Devil" Skit
• 2000 Uncle Kracker's Double Wide-"Heaven"
• 2000 Robert Bradley's Time To Discover-"Higher", "Tramp 2"
• 2001 Hank Williams Jr Ameria Club Recordings-"The F-Word"
• 2001 Willie Nelson's Great Divide-"Last Stand In Open Country"
• 2002 Allison Moorer's Show-"Bully Jones" Live
• 2003 Lynyrd Skynyrd's Vicious Cycle-"Gimmie Back My Bullets" Remake
• 2004 Paradime's 11 Steps Down-"Foul Mouff"
• 2004 Kenny Wayne Sheppard's The Place Your In-"Spank"
• 2004 RL Burnside's A Bothered Mind-"My Name Is Robert Too"
• 2004 Willie Nelson's Angels And Outlaws-

"Shotgun Willie"

"A Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On"

"On The Road Again"

• 2005 DMC's Checks Thugs And Rock N Roll-"Find My Way"
• 2005 Gretchen Wilson's All Jacked Up Target Exclusive-"The Other Side Of Me"
• 2005 Troy Olsen's Self Titled-"Rock This Honky Tonk"
• 2006 Jerry Lee Lewis's Last Man Standing-"Honky Tonk Women"
• 2006 Bob Seger's Face The Promise-"Real Mean Bottle"
• 2006 Hemigod's Unreleased Album (They Broke Up)-"The Way It Should Be"
• 2007 R Kelly's Double Up-"Rock Star" also ft Ludacris
• 2008 Trick Trick's The Villian-"Together Forever" also ft Proof and Esham

Movie Soundtracks

• 1998 Strangeland - Fuck Off (with Eminem). (This song also appeared on Devil Without a Cause).
• 1999 South Park: The Movie - Kyle's Momma Is A Big Fat Bitch
• 1999 The Crow: Salvation - Warm Winter
• 1999 Ready To Rumble - Bawitdaba (Lower Than You Remix)
• 1999 Any Given Sunday - Fuck That
• 2000 Road Trip - Early Mornin Stoned Pimp
• 2002 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle - Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (with Nickelback). (This is an Elton John cover.)
• 2001 Osmosis Jones - Cool Daddy Cool
• 2004 Torque - Forever

Compilations

• 1991 X Raps - Yo Da Lin In The Valley
• 1995 Detroit Rust City - Westside (later Renamed "Paid")
• 1997 Road Rash 3D Video Game-Somebody's Gotta Feel This
• 1999 Deep Porn - Fuck My Ass
• 1999 Mindless Self Indulgence - Bitches/Molly-Bitches (Kid Rock's Cock Rock Remix)
• 1999 Free Air Festival (Bawitdaba)
• 1999 Woodstock 99 The Red Disc (Bawitdaba)
• 1999 Bootleg Live On Air (Bawitdaba)
• 1999 WBCN Naked ( I Am The Bullgod Acoustic)
• 1999 Big Shiny Tunes Vol 1 (Bawitdaba)
• 1999 Big Shiny Tunes Vol 2 (Cowboy)
• 1999 Big Shiny Tunes Vol 5 (Only God Knows Why)
• 1999 Fox Presents Game Time (I Am The Bullgod)
• 2000 Jackyl And Hyde's The Badlands-Pimp Of The Nation Cost Cutter Remix
• 2000 WCW Mayhem - Blast (renamed from Shotgun Blast off EMSP)
• 2001 Concert For New York City-Pink Houses w John Mellencamp Live
• 2002 WWF Forceable Entry - Legs (Stacy Keibler's theme)
• 2003 Waylon Jennings Tribute-Luchenbach,Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love) w Kenny Chesney
• 2006 Humbolt Storms Vol 1-Kid Rock In Humbolt Skit
• 2008 National Guard Tribute- "Warrior"-Free Download Once Commercial Airs

Producer Credits

• 1990 Double MC Twinns "Sex On The Brain"
• 1992 Champtown's "Check It EP"
• 1994 Harms Way And The LSGH Clans 2 Track Demo Tape
• 1994 Harms Way And The LSGH Clans Kut Korners EP
• 1994 Harms Way And The LSGH Clans Chiato Diablo
• 1995 Thornetta Davis's "Sunday Mornings Music Coming Down"
• 1995 Hi Fi's-"Walking On Water"
• 2000 Uncle Kracker's-"Double Wide"
• 2002 Uncle Kracker's-"No Stranger To Shame"
• 2004 Uncle Kracker's-"72 And Sunny"
• 2006 Bob Seger's-"Face The Promise"

Tribute Albums And Audio Bio's

• 1999 Maxium Kid Rock
• 1999 Star Profile
• 2000 Atlantic Confediental
• 2000 A Tribute To Kid Rock
• 2002 Soundchoice Karoke Naughty And Nice Vol 1
• 2005 A Tribute To Kid Rock And His Roots
• 2007 A Bad Ass Bluegrass Tribute To Kid Rock
• 2007 A Lounge Tribute To Kid Rock
• 2008 The Lowdown

DVDs

• 1999 Loud Times Video Magazine
• 1999 The Devil Knows My Name
• 2000 Motorcity Motormouth
• 2003 ZZ Top's Chrome BBQ (Narrator)
• 2005 Tony Stewart's Smoke (Narrator)
• 2005 Willie Nelson's Angels And Outlaws
• 2007 Jerry Lee Lewis's Last Man Standing (Performer)
• 2007 Wal Mart Rock N Roll Jesus DVD
• 2007 Target Rock N Roll Jesus "Roll On With Kid Rock" Interview DVD

Live Bootlegs

• Unsung And Underrated
• High Voltage
• Woodstock 99
• Cause For The Devil
• In The Zone
• Absolutely Live
• Rockfest 2000

Tours

• 1989: Straight From The Underground Tour (with Ice Cube, Too Short,and D Nice)
• 1991: Unknown Titled Tour (with Esham)
• 1998: Lollapalooza Tour
• 1998: Vans Warped Tour
• 1998-99: White Thrash On Dope Tour (with Monster Magnet and Hed pe)
• 1999: Destroy Your Liver Tour
• 1999: Limptropolis Tour (with Limp Bizkit and Staind)
• 1999: European Tour (with Blink-182)
• 1999: Spread Your Legs Tour (with Powerman 5000, Professional Murder Music)
• 1999-00: Millennium Tour (with Metallica, Sevendust and Creed)
• 2000: Summer Saniturm Tour (with Metallica, Korn, System of a Down, Powerman 5000)
• 2000: The History Of Rock Tour (with Lit and Dope)
• 2001: The American Bad Ass Tour (with Buckcherry and Fuel)
• 2001: European Tour (with Guns N' Roses and Limp Bizkit)
• 2002: The Cocky Tour (with Tenacious D and Saliva)
• 2002: Girls Of Summer Tour (with Aerosmith and Run DMC)
• 2004: Rock N Roll Pain Train Tour (with Puddle of Mudd, Gov't Mule, Jerry Cantrell)
• 2005: Lazy Muthafuga Tour
• 2006: 'Live' Trucker Tour (with Ty Stone, Peter Frampton (opened in Detroit) and Whitestarr)
• 2007-2008: Rock N Roll Revival Tour (with Reverend Run, Dicky Betts, Peter Wolf,Lynyrd Skynyrd In A Revue Style)
• 2008: Rock N Roll Revival Tour: European Tour
• 2008: Rock N Rebels Tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd Opening

Filmography

• The Howard Stern Show (7 episodes, 1999-2004)
• Saturday Night Live (Musical Guest, 2000)
• The Simpsons (1 episode, 2000)
• Joe Dirt (2001)
• Osmosis Jones (Voice, 2001)
• Kid Rock: Lonely Road of Faith (2001)
• King Of The Hill (2002)
• Punk'd (1 episode, 2003)
• Biker Boyz (2003)
• Stripperella (Unknown episodes, 2003)
• CMT Outlaws (2003)
• South Park (2004)
• CSI: NY (1 episode, 2005)
• Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (2005)
• Motorcycle Mania 3 (2005)
• Coors Light Mountain Jam (2005)
• Stacked (1 episode, 2002)
• The 2006 Billboard Music Awards (2006)
• Run's House (2007)

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States - RIAA certified list.

References

1. "RIAA Certifications for albums by Kid Rock". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA.com).
2. Pamela Anderson, Kid Rock Tie the Knot - Marriage, Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson : People.com
3. Kid Rock Photos - Kid Rock News - Kid Rock Information
4. Many concerts to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims | Deseret News (Salt Lake City) | Find Articles at BNET.com

General

• http://www.atlanticrecords.com/kidrock/
• http://www.topix.net/who/kid-rock
• http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:h9fuxqr5ld6e
• http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kidrock
• http://www.blog.toobig.net
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/kid_rock/artist.jhtml
• http://www.tv.com/behind-the-music/kid-rock/episode/668917/summary.html
• http://www.tv.com/kid-rock/person/3713/appearances.html
• http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7099
• http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/kid_rock/artist.jhtml
• http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/07/12/kid-rocks-rock-and-roll-jesus-exclusive-sneak-peak/

External links

• Official site
• Kid Rock at MySpace
• The Kid Rock Congregation- The Official Fan Club for Kid Rock
• Kid Rock at Imeem.com
• Extreme Kid Rock
• Kid Rock Music Videos
• Kid Rock at the Internet Movie Database
• Kid Rock discography at MusicBrainz
• Kid Rock at Last.fm
• Kid Rock Interview on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos