American Bad Ass

2000 single by Kid Rock

"American Bad Ass"

Single by Kid Rock

from the album The History of Rock

Released

April 18, 2000

Recorded

1991
1996–2000

Genre

Rap metal^[1]
nu metal^[2]

Length

4:32

Label

Atlantic

Songwriter(s)

Kid Rock
James Hetfield
Lars Ulrich

Producer(s)

Kid Rock
Uncle Kracker

Kid Rock singles chronology

"Wasting Time"
(2000)

"American Bad Ass"
(2000)

"Forever"
(2001)

Music video

"American Bad Ass" on YouTube

"American Bad Ass" is a song by the American musician Kid Rock, released from his 2000 album The History of Rock. The song samples Metallica's "Sad but True".

Music video

The music video for the single aired on MTV2 upon release, and reached number one on Canada's MuchMusic Countdown.^[3] The song was performed on Saturday Night Live.

At the beginning, Kid Rock watches TV and then after going to a rapping party, he goes to a concert on a cabriolet, surrounded by bikers. At the middle of the song, Kid Rock's car explodes and the thrash metal party starts to play. At the end of the video, Kid Rock with his band plays at a concert on the stage.

The video features a cameo appearance by Ron Jeremy.

This is the last music video to feature Joe C. before his death.

In popular culture

After the USS Cole bombing in October 2000, the song was played on the ship's PA system upon leaving the port of Yemen after the national anthem and other patriotic songs were played.^[4]
A version of the song was used as the entrance theme for WWF (now WWE) wrestler The Undertaker in 2000 for his "American Badass" persona.^[5] It was replaced by Limp Bizkit's "Rollin" in the same year.^[6]^[7] 23 years later, The Undertaker reused the song as his entrance theme for his post-retirement appearances in WWE, first at WWE Raw is XXX in January 2023^[8] and then on the October 10, 2023, episode of WWE NXT.^[9]
During the 2024 Republican National Convention, Kid Rock reworked the song into a call cheering on Donald Trump. It was also used as Trump's entrance song whenever he attended UFC events.

Track listing

"American Bad Ass" (clean album version)
"3 Sheets to the Wind" (live)
"Cowboy" (live)

Charts

Chart (2000–2001)	Peak position
Canada Rock (RPM)	6
Germany (Official German Charts)^[10]	26
Ireland (IRMA)	30
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[11]	81
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	25
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	20
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	33

References

^ Poniewozik, James (July 19, 2024). "Donald Trump Promised a Softer Image. He Delivered Hulkamania". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
^ Hill, Stephen (July 4, 2017). "The Top 40 nu-metal songs of all time". Metal Hammer. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
^ "MuchMusic Countdown – Fri, Jun 30, 2000". MuchMusic. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
^ rollingstone.com "Kid Rock Show to Honor USS Cole"^{[dead link]}
^ "The Undertaker Returns To RAW & Destroys The McMahon–Helmsley Faction! 5/22/00", BrothersOfDestruction22, November 10, 2020
^ Joseph, Nithin (November 20, 2020). "The Undertaker talks about the evolution of his theme songs". www.sportskeeda.com.
^ "The Undertaker vs Raven Hardcore Match (Limp Bizkit "Rollin'" Theme SmackDown Debut) 12/14/00", BrothersOfDestruction22, November 4, 2021
^ "Undertaker returns as the American Badass", WWE, January 27, 2023, retrieved October 11, 2023
^ "The Undertaker rides into NXT to Chokeslam Bron Breakker: NXT highlights, Oct. 10, 2023", WWE, October 11, 2023, retrieved October 11, 2023
^ "Kid Rock – American Bad Ass" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "Kid Rock – American Bad Ass". Swiss Singles Chart.