It was supposed to be a fun, celebratory night at Jon Bon Jovi’s Nashville bar—where Bon Jovi’s keyboardist, David Bryan, was hosting a birthday party. Instead, the evening turned into a spectacle when none other than Kid Rock took the stage and stormed off mid-performance.
The “Bawitdaba” singer was invited to make a guest appearance during Bryan’s birthday bash, and things started off on a rocky note when Kid Rock attempted to cover Creedence Clearwater Revival’s classic hit, “Proud Mary.” However, it didn’t take long before the audience’s lack of enthusiasm seemed to get under Rock’s skin.
Struggling to find the right key and mumbling his way through the song, Kid Rock grew visibly frustrated with the crowd’s nonchalant energy. In a move that shocked onlookers, he stopped the performance mid-song to scold the audience.
“No, fuck them. Fuck them. Hey, hey, stop, stop. If you ain’t gonna clap, we ain’t gonna sing. That’s how it’s gonna work,” Rock shouted, as the crowd seemed taken aback by his demands. Not one to be easily ignored, he added, “Don’t get too fast,” as the audience complied with his request and started clapping.
But despite the attempts to salvage the vibe, Kid Rock wasn’t satisfied. As the song continued with some still-clapping but others clearly unbothered, Rock had enough. With an exasperated “You know what, fuck y’all. You ain’t gonna clap, I’m going,” he abruptly walked off stage, leaving fans with a mix of applause and boos.
It’s unclear why Rock couldn’t connect with the JBJ’s Nashville crowd—was it the way the song was going? Or did he just expect more energy? Whatever the reason, it seemed like the crowd’s right to not clap was lost on him that night.
For fans looking for a better performance from Kid Rock, they’ll have to wait until his “Rock the Country” tour kicks off this spring. Hopefully, he won’t hold any grudge when it comes to interacting with his fans. After all, every crowd has its own rhythm, and sometimes, that rhythm doesn’t include clapping.
