Kid Rock: Honesty Gets Me in Trouble

NEW YORK – Kid Rock isn't one to back down from a fight, but says he doesn't go looking for trouble.

"Last thing I want is to have a reputation. I believe in standing up for things I believe in," the 36-year-old rock-rapper told Ellen DeGeneres on her syndicated talk show Thursday. "Being honest sometimes gets me in a little bit of trouble."

Kid Rock — who quarreled with Tommy Lee at MTV's Video Music Awards last month — was arrested early Sunday after a brawl at a Waffle House restaurant in Atlanta.

"It started with me celebrating a great show that night. We were hungry. It was late at night," he told DeGeneres.

"I know the people work hard at Waffle House so I tipped people behind the counter and gave $300 to split up. Bought everyone breakfast in there," he said. "We had a good time. This one kid just started talking. ... And then one thing led to another, windows were breaking, cussing and fussing ... the mud, the blood and the beer."

Kid Rock explained: "He said, `I hope you get mad, I'll sue the hell out of you.' I'm like, `Take a number.'"

Mekka Parish, a spokeswoman for the DeKalb County Police Department, said the fight between Kid Rock and a male customer moved outside to the parking lot, and at some point, the customer punched out a restaurant window.

Kid Rock and five members of his entourage were taken into custody on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery. He was released from the county jail on bond Sunday afternoon, Parish said.