Kid Rock On Paperless Tickets, Service Charges & Politicians

While doing press for his upcoming $20 per ticket tour, Kid Rock recently sounded off about how much it costs to see a concert, dissing service charges and politicians who have voted for legislation banning paperless tickets.

Photo: Anna C. Jones

BJCC Arena, Birmingham, Ala.

During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Rock unloaded on what it costs fans to see concerts, including high-priced tickets and the acts behind them.

“We’re all so overpaid,” Rock said. “It’s ridiculous. People stopped going to concerts because they can’t afford them. The Rolling Stones are charging $650 per ticket! That just makes me speechless. I love the Stones, but I won’t be attending.”

Instead of seeing Mick & Company, Rock is going out on the road with Uncle Kracker plus ZZ Top and Kool & The Gang on select dates. Calling it the “Best Night Ever” tour, Rock is working with Live Nation and participating Walmarts to offer an all-in $20 ticket.

But Rock’s $20 ticket won’t include all seats. He’s reserving the first two rows for instant upgrading, in which plans call for his people to grab fans in the back rows at random and move them up in front of the stage.

Then there are rows two through 18 that will be sold as platinum tickets at market value. Using paperless tickets whenever possible, the higher-priced platinum tickets are expected to offset the cost of providing $20 tickets for the rest of the seats.

“We’re doing that with 1,000 tickets to each show,” Rock told Rolling Stone. “The money is going into our pocket. We’re going to try and combat scalpers.”

But the Detroit rocker is facing a few speed bumps in his plans for his “Best Night Ever” tour, such as states that have passed legislation banning or limiting paperless tickets.

“That’s one of the times I’m fucking embarrassed to be a Republican,” Rock said. “It’s fucking Republican lawmakers passing those laws, you dumbasses. They already did it in New York and they’re trying to do it in Michigan. I’ve even called some of those guys to try and stop it.”

And if you ever wondered what goes through an artist’s mind while playing a show that isn’t exactly sold-out, Rock was happy to share his thoughts.

“I don’t care what anybody says,” he said. “Playing to a place that’s half-full sucks. I’d rather take a pay cut and play to a packed house and hopefully be able to do this for many, many more years. Then after, I have a big nest egg and I can walk away with my middle finger up.”