Metal Anarchy

Shinedown’s Barry Kerch has blasted Ludacris for pulling out of Kid Rock’s Rock The Country Festival. The rapper reportedly cancelled his appearance after facing backlash for performing alongside right-wing artists like Rock, Jason Aldean, and more. However, according to Kerch, it was “coward” move.

Kerch told The Vinyl Road podcast the following after being asked if Shinedown have faced backlash for their decision to take part in the festival:

“There’s been tons. The knives come out when they don’t like it, especially now politically. And we are an apolitical band. But the knives have come out. It’s crazy. And to be honest, I had no idea, and neither did Brent [Smith] — I think Zach [Myers] maybe had a clue — I had no idea this was Kid Rock’s thing. It was just, ‘Hey, here’s an offer. It looks like a cool lineup, and it’s a mix of country and rock. Okay, we’ll play it.’ We took the offer and played it, and then all of a sudden we find out, ‘Oh, this has got some political leaning to it.’

I don’t care. I’m just gonna go play a show. I really, really don’t care. You can keep your politics to yourself. I have no opinion one way or the other on Kid Rock. I love his music. This is about music. Ludacris wasn’t tough… I mean, it’s not like he needs the money, Jeez. If he’s not tough enough to stick it out, that’s just silly. That’s him being a coward, in my opinion.”

He continued when asked if Shinedown would ever scrap a festival appearance for political reasons:

“I would hope not, but [Shinedown] is a democracy. There’s four of us to vote. My vote would be no, but if three of the other guys vote against it, then, again, it’s a democracy. I can’t change their vote. But I would hope not. ‘Cause I like to stick by my grounds. And listen, I don’t do politics when it comes to the business of Shinedown. I have my own beliefs. I keep those to myself, and so do the other three guys. I just wanna go play a rock show with some country bands ’cause it looks like fun.”

[via Blabbermouth]