Multi-platinum rap-rock-country mash-up master Kid Rock has put his new album plans on hold to work with production maestro, Rick Rubin.
Rubin is set to bring his Midas touch to the 18-20 tracks, which Rock says are largely finished but will possibly be re-recorded on Rubin’s advice.

Rock is feeling the pressure to follow-up the hit album ‘Rock and Roll Jesus’ and chart topping single ‘All Summer Long’, both released in 2007.

He told Billboard: “It’s hard to follow big records with another big record. I had most of (the next album) in the stages where I could go in and finish it up, then Rick said, ‘I look at these like demos, and we should go back in with the right players and re-cut everything…To really solidify into the big leagues, I think we have to do it this way.’ And I was like, ‘I’m open to anything.’”

The man born Bob Ritchie had previously said he was “on fire” in the studio and he hoped to have the album out before the end of the year. Now that he has crossed over into the mainstream it looks like he’s trying to consolidate his place on the charts.

Rock and Rubin are set to enter the studio or rent a property to record in after Rock finishes on his current US tour.

Fans at the shows in the US this summer will act as a focus group for Rock as he tries out the new material to judge the reaction. He said, “There’s so many things you can learn from going out and playing your record live, things you might’ve done differently.”

So, if you make it to one of those shows, we’re holding you personally responsible for how good his next album is, OK? No pressure.