Obama & Romney's Rock Star Supporters

We at Kerrang! Radio take a look at Mitt Romney and Barack Obama’s most fervent followers in the rock world.

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MITT ROMNEY

!Kid Rock Last year Kid Rock (real name Robert Ritchie) gave the green light for Mitt Romney to use his music in his GOP leadership campaign. Since then he’s performed at a number of high profile electioneering events including the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. In October he expressed his disappointment in Barack Obama saying: “I'm sorry he didn't do a better job. I really wish he would have. I do.”

Gene Simmons A strong supporter of George W Bush’s foreign policy, in 2008 Simmons voted for Barack Obama but later expressed regret, criticizing the President’s health care reforms and his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In an interview with Fox News in April 2012, Simmons praised Mitt Romney saying, "America should be in business and it should be run by a businessman." However, backtracking in a blog he explained that despite liking Romney’s credentials he hasn’t officially endorsed either candidate.

Ted Nugent A scarily staunch conservative who vehemently defends gun ownership, Nugent has officially endorsed Mitt Romney’s Presidency campaign. Infamous for his hardline political views, at the 2012 National Rifle Association (NRA) Convention in St. Louis he told the crowd: "If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year." In the same speech, he called Democrats “criminals” and urgent voters to “chop their (the Democrats’) heads off in November” – a controversial remark that landed him a visit from the Secret Service.

Johnny Van Zant Once a Democrat, Van Zant switched allegiances when Ronald Reagan took office in 1981 and is now a fully-fledged gung-ho Republican. Along with his Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmates Van Zant (and Kid Rock) performed at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida in April and he’s been highly critical of Obama’s policies. Speaking to the Washington Times, he said that were his late brother Ronnie alive today “he would be a Republican. I know what he stood for.”

Meat Loaf Meat Loaf confirmed his support for Mitt Romney at an October rally in Ohio by butchering the patriotic anthem ‘America the Beautiful’. Blaming Obama for creating “storm clouds” over America and “major hail storms” in the Middle East, Meat Loaf (real name Marvin Aday) said: “I have never been in any political agenda in my life, but I think that in 2012 this is the most important election in the history of the United States."

Dave Mustaine Although the Megadeth lynchpin hasn’t officially backed Mitt Romney, Mustaine’s deep loathing for Barack Obama make his political loyalties extremely transparent. At a Singapore gig back in August, Mustaine even accused Obama of staging the Aurora shooting, saying: "Back in my country, my president is trying to pass a gun ban so he's staging all of these murders. The 'Fast and Furious' thing down at the border. And Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now, the beautiful people at the Sikh temple. I don't know where I'm going to live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

*Other notable Republicans**: Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Vanilla Ice, Scott Stapp, Bruce Johnston, Jack Blades, 3 Doors Down. *

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BARACK OBAMA

!Bruce Springsteen One of Barack Obama’s most powerful celebrity allies, such is the symbolism of the ‘blue-collar worker done good’ Bruce Springsteen that some pundits believe he has the power to sway vital votes. On the final day of campaigning yesterday, the long-standing Obama supporter performed at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin and praised the President, saying: “I’ve lived long enough to know that the future is not a tide rushing in. It’s a long march, day by day. And we’re in one of those long days right now. I believe President Obama is there with us. Let’s re-elect Barack Obama to carry our standard forward.”

Eddie Vedder A fervent Democrat, the Pearl Jam frontman supported Obama’s candidacy in 2008 and continued his allegiance this year. In September he helped raise $1.7million for the Obama campaign when he performed (suited and booted) at a fundraiser attended by the President and 85 guests in Tampa, Florida. Vedder also recently slammed Romney’s controversial caught-on-tape comments that 47% of Americans believe they’re victims: "It's very upsetting to hear a presidential candidate be so easily dismissive of such a ginormous amount of the population," he said.

Jon Bon Jovi The 50-year-old rock veteran is a loyal Democrat and toured extensively for failed Presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 and four years later held a fundraiser at his own home for Obama. In 2010, Obama gave Jon a place on the White House Council for Community Solutions and he’s often provided a voice for the President over key community and housing issues via The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. As if that wasn’t enough, this year Jon Bon took a ride in Air Force One and the President’s bulletproof car The Beast. Impressive!

Dave Grohl The Nirvana and Foo Fighters legend has been a Democrat his entire life and in September aptly dedicated ‘My Hero’ to Barack Obama at a convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Back in February, the Foos also played a $1,500 a head fundraiser in the neighbourhood of Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Dave has previously endorsed who he calls a “soulful President” who has “the toughest job on earth” and lamented the “greed and money” of Republicans.

Jared Leto Earlier this summer the 30 Seconds To Mars frontman met his beloved Barack Obama at The White House and followed this up in August by performing at a Hollywood fundraiser for the President. Stepping up his already vocal support, over the past few weeks, Jared Leto has been furiously tweeting his allegiance to Barack Obama and has been urging Floridians in the swing state to vote Democrat. One comment reads: “President @BarackObama is a President #ForAll of us. #TheRightChoice”

Anthony Kiedis This spring Red Hot Chili Peppers played an exclusive free show for Obama phone bank workers – the gig came just weeks after all four band members appeared in a promotional video called I Pledge To Serve Barack Obama. Speaking at an Obama rally in 2008, Anthony Kiedis explained why he promotes the President: "I take in an interest in the world, my country, people, but I don't know if I'd call it politics. That word has a negative connotation because I'm not a politician but I'm a person that likes to participate in life in this country."

*Other notable Barack Obama supporters**: Axl Rose, Arcade Fire, Pete Wentz, Billie Joe Armstrong, Jeff Beck, Joel Madden, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, David Byrne, Chris Cornell, Jack Dishel, Ben Folds, Chris Martin, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Mick Jagger, Quincy Jones, Jack Johnson, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Adam Levine, Jennifer Lopez, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monae, Fiona Apple, Mary J Blige, John Mellencamp, Moby, Dave Matthews, Madonna, Pink, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Regina Spektor, will.i.am, James Taylor, The National, OK Go, No Doubt, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Kris Kristofferson, Buddy Guy… and many more. *