DETROIT – Kid Rock stormed a Detroit riverfront beach with friends by paddleboard Thursday to announce a hometown concert at the city's baseball park this summer.
Rock, Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom and retired Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios used paddleboards to cross the Detroit River to Belle Isle. A bare-footed Rock then strolled to a beachfront microphone and lectern and said during a news conference that he'd be playing Comerica Park Aug. 12 with opening act Sammy Hagar and the Wabos.
The hit-making rocker said he decided to combine both activities after Chelios called him a day earlier and asked if he wanted to go paddleboarding
"I thought it was just a good way to showcase Detroit, Belle Isle," Rock said of his water-based arrival plan on the island park in the river that separates Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. "Come out with some friends. Let everybody know that Comerica Park's coming with Sammy Hagar. Everybody wins, right?
"I brought some beers for everybody here."
Rock, who was born Robert Ritchie and grew up in and lives in suburban Detroit, is known for dabbling in a variety of musical styles, from hip-hop and hard rock to country and Southern rock. He counts as his biggest hits "Picture," "All Summer Long," "Bawitdaba" and "Born Free."
Thursday's news came on the heels of an announcement that Rock will be going out on the second leg of his "Born Free" tour, which kicks off July 2 in Cincinnati.
He last played Comerica two years ago and performed a special birthday show at Ford Field, Detroit's NFL stadium, in January when he turned 40. He also recently accepted an award from the Detroit branch of the NAACP and held a news conference with Mayor Dave Bing at which he donated a total of $50,000 to five area charities.
Rock, during his beach press conference, worried his profile may be getting a bit too high in the Motor City.
"I should probably go away for a while," he said. "Sometimes you feel a little overexposed. People are getting sick of me."
Still, Rock said he's been in discussions to be the subject of a Comedy Central roast — if it's filmed in Detroit.
"I'm not going to go to L.A. or Las Vegas and get teased," he said. "If they come to Detroit and create some commerce here ... bring it on. I don't care."
Rock said Hagar signed on when the Red Rocker was told he would get the chance to take the stage alongside his friend from Detroit for at least a song or two.
"It's going to be one hell of a party," Hagar said via a statement sent to The Associated Press. "Detroit will never be the same."
Hagar is a longtime solo artist and has been a member of Montrose and Chickenfoot, but is best known as the former frontman for Van Halen. His best-selling memoir, "Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock," was released in March.
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