Kid Rock’s guitarist brings positive message to ‘IMAGINE’ students

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Marlon Young plays his guitar ...

HOLLY, Michigan – Not many people can say they’ve met somebody famous before, but for 28 Holly Area Schools post secondary students, it’s another story.

On Nov. 6, Marlon Young, lead guitarist for Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Tucker Band, stopped by the Karl Richter Campus auditorium to speak with students of IMAGINE – Individuals Making Adult Gains In a Natural Environment – answering questions, playing his guitar and offering a little advice on pursing a dream.

In existence for the last eight years, IMAGINE is a program for post secondary students ages 18 to 26 who are transitioning from high school into the real world, learning specific vocations, and how to live independently.

Working with a job coach, director for HAS Special Services Janet Stack-Miller said most of the students spend half of their days at a local job site and the other half learning other important independent life skills at the Karl Richter Campus. Stack-Miller said the program works closely with the Michigan Rehabilitation Services and New Horizons Rehabilitation Services in Springfield Township, providing on-the-job training and job coaches.

As an uncle to one of IMAGINE’s students, Young was happy for the opportunity to interact with the inquisitive group.

Growing up in Pontiac, Young said he first picked up the guitar at the tender age of 3 or 4.

“I think I liked the guitar because of my dad,” Young told the students. “There were always guitars around the house – and I just learned to love it.”

Young said he put his dream of becoming a professional musician aside temporarily to work for a steel door company. When the company relocated down south, he said he used it as an opportunity to pursue his dream a little harder.

“Music is a tough way to make a living,” Young confessed. “I played all through my teenage years and did shows here and there and when I got a little older, I took a job and stopped playing, I realized that I didn’t like that job, so I went back to music – it was do or die.”

Young first played for Kid Rock’s live band in 1996, later leaving the band in 1997 to pursue his own goals. In 2003, Young became the lead guitarist for “The Truth.”

In 2007, Kid Rock asked Young to rejoin the Twisted Brown Tucker Band. “I’m lucky because when I originally played with Kid Rock, we were just playing clubs and traveling around in a van,” he said. “When I came back, so much had happened. He did all the work – now I’m just here to enjoy it.”

Young co-wrote the majority of Kid Rock’s album “Rock N Roll Jesus.” His guitar work on the album has been compared to AC/DC’s Angus Young by Rolling Stone magazine.

“As a guitar player, I never really viewed myself as necessarily being a song writer earlier on, but later, I realized I needed to do that to get where I wanted to go,” Young told the students. “Each and every one of you in here – I know that you have some amazing thoughts – you just need to write ‘em down.

“On anything creative, you don’t need to feel pressure - there’s no right or wrong or better or worse – so each of you that writes poetry or draws – no one is better than you.”

Perhaps Young’s strongest message came from the heart. “I really do believe if you stick with a dream long enough and you’re dedicated to it, eventually you’ll get your chance at it.”

With T-shirts for each student compliments of Kid Rock himself, and the promise of the band’s newest album the minute it is finished, Young wrapped it up by playing last summer’s blockbusting hit, “All Summer Long” on his guitar.

“I’m thankful for what I have,” Young said after finishing the song. “I know it could end tomorrow, but it’s about doing what you love.”

“It was really great of Marlon to come out and talk to the kids,” HAS teacher Paul Finkle said. “His message was a good one for the students to hear.”