From Ted Nugent, to Alice Cooper, to Bob Seger, Kid Rock and Eminem, Iggy Pop and all the way up to the White Stripes and more recently Pop Evil and Wilson; Detroit has been a stomping ground for many rock groups that they call home. I am no fashionista, but I hear trends tend to start on the west coast (Los Angeles, Hollywood area particularly) and/or the east coast (New York area) then move inward to the rest of the country, however there are exceptions to whoever came up with that dumb rule; especially in the world of music. Shit!, were not talking about Project Runway… Sure the 80’s glam started on the Sunstrip in California, the bay area and New Jersey has more thrash origins. The Bronx claims the start of rap and hip-hop, Seattle has the grunge scene and so on. Detroit the Motor City of course birthed Motown, Hitsville, U.S.A., (which gotta love) but Detroit has been responsible for some other fantastic and very influential acts other than just Motown. I get it… that’s what people think of first and frankly they should, right?





Obviously, the list I started with are the most profound and most recognizable, but what about the MC5’s (Kick Out the Jams!, mother fucker!), the Dirtbombs, Trick Trick, The Detroit Cobras, Seduce (I be shocked if you know them), Greta Van Fleet, Taproot, Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, Grand Funk Railroad, We Came As Romans, Sponge, Uncle Kracker, The Romantics, The Knack, Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Andrew W.K., Walls of Jericho, guitarist John 5 for Rob Zombie, Jason Newsted of Metallica and Chad Smith & Anthony Keidis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hmmm? I believe Detroit should be right up there in the discussion as some of the best rocking cities. I would at least say the Top 5! I am not trying to romanticize Detroit and the surrounding areas and it may be or may not be in some sort of music revolution… I can’t say if I was in Seattle during the height of grunge would I know it’s really happening, but what I am saying Detroit has a lot more to offer and is on the rise. There are a lot of new businesses going up downtown and if you haven’t been to the D in awhile in the summer it’s always popping. I have a Detroit old English D tattoo on my left shoulder among other tattoos, so I am just saying I have a little pride in my city.

I know KISS isn’t from Detroit, but what any self-proclaimed rocker from this state doesn’t know “Detroit Rock City”? It’s the rock anthem to our city. There was even a movie in 1999 about some kids trying to score KISS tickets for a Detroit show based off the song. You know I am not a huge KISS fan, but that song is my favorite from them without a doubt.