Kid Rock throws tantrum, leaves stage during surprise performance in Nashville

No kidding: The ageing rocker stormed off stage.

Kid Rock stormed off stage during a Nashville gig after an audience failed to clap along to his performance.

The musician, 54, made an unannounced appearance at JBJ’s Nashville – a bar and music venue owned by Jon Bon Jovi – on Saturday for a birthday celebration for the rocker’s bandmate, keyboardist David Bryan, and fan footage has now emerged of him shouting at the crowd before he left the stage: “You know what? F*** y’all. You ain’t gonna clap? I’m gone!”

According to video footage shared by an audience member, he took the stage alongside Bryan and was initially met with applause.

About a minute into performing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 hit Proud Mary with a female vocalist, he began clapping and signalled for the audience to follow.

When few people joined in, Rock ranted: “No, f*** them! F*** them!” He then stopped the performance, instructing those on stage: “Hey, hey, stop, stop!”

He continued: “If you ain’t gonna clap, we ain’t gonna sing! That’s how it’s gonna work!”

Audience members then cheered in response.

As the music resumed, Rock again attempted to encourage clapping, saying: “Don’t get too fast,” before continuing to sing.

When participation again dwindled, he stopped the performance a second time and walked off the stage.

Despite the interruption, Bryan later posted about the event on Instagram, writing: “THANK YOU FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES! Rocking at @jbjsnash last night with @bigkennytv!”

Born Robert Ritchie, Kid Rock rose to fame in the late 1990s with his fusion of rap, rock, and country.

His breakthrough album, Devil Without a Cause, released in 1998, sold more than 14 million copies, featuring hits like Bawitdaba and Cowboy.

He later transitioned into country rock with songs such as Picture and All Summer Long, while also gaining attention for his outspoken political views and controversial public appearances.