Kid Rock Off the Hook for VMA Smackdown

What happened between Tommy Lee and Kid Rock is going to stay in Las Vegas.

Noting that Pamela Lee's first ex-hubby didn't want to pursue the matter, the Clark County District Attorney's Office said Monday it has opted not to press charges against Rock for treating Lee to a knuckle sandwich last month during the MTV Video Music Awards.

Prosecutors "will not pursue a battery charge against Robert James Ritchie, aka Kid Rock, involving a confrontation with Tommy Lee on Sept. 9, 2007, at Palms Hotel and Casino," Chief Deputy D.A. Ron Bloxham said in a statement. "It should be noted that Tommy Lee has requested that there be no prosecution relating to the incident and there were no injuries to either person."

Rock memorably socked Lee in the audience, yet off camera, at the VMAs while Alicia Keys was singing a few feet away. While the smackdown seemingly came from out of nowhere, with Rock appearing to just walk up to Lee and hit him, the Rock and Roll Jesus artist had plenty to say following the event about the origins of all that ill will, which made the pervasive "white-on-white crime" problem in rock 'n' roll the biggest joke of the night.

"It's been going on for five years. I did what any man would do, any man across the country, across the world would do," Rock told KROQ-FM's Kevin and Bean Show four days later. "It kills me just to be associated with, just to have my name in a sentence with him, it honestly destroys me."

Lee apparently wasn't too hot on the association, either, deciding not to go after Rock in court even though the singer's "bitch slap" led to him being thrown out of the 2007 VMAs. Rock, for his part, was cited for misdemeanor battery by Vegas police a few hours after the incident.

But although authorities were called, this is how Lee flippantly characterized the incident in a statement on his Website: "I get a tap on the shoulder from Kid Pebble...I stand up and embrace him with a semihug and say, 'Hey dude...What up?' He punches me in the face...well if ya wanna call it that!?...more like a bitch slap!...Wuss!"

Circumstances may have pointed to this being a jealousy-related spat, what with Lee and Anderson casually canoodling earlier in the evening, but Rock flat-out denied that his actions had anything to do with his—or their—ex.

"The best thing I did was file for that divorce," the rocker, still in damage-control mode, said on KROQ.

Rock and his fickle fists also made a visit to Atlanta last weekend, where he and five members of his entourage were arrested for battery early in the morning of Oct. 21 after a reported scuffle in the parking lot of a Waffle House. DeKalb County police said a male customer approached a female pal of Rock's, exchanged words with her, and a fight ensued.

That man was treated for cuts and bruises at a nearby hospital and was charged with felony second-degree criminal damage to property for allegedly breaking one of the eatery's windows. Rock posted $1,000 bail and was released later that afternoon.

In the meantime, the Michigan native is looking to shush his actions and speak a little louder. He told Ellen DeGeneres during an appearance on her talk show Thursday that the last thing he wants is "a reputation."

"I believe in standing up for things I believe in," said the 36-year-old father of a teenage son. "Being honest sometimes gets me in a little bit of trouble."

And the brawl in Atlanta just sorta...happened.

"It started with me celebrating a great show that night. We were hungry. It was late at night," Rock recalled. "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. 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." [Not to mention the Johnny Cash references.]

According to Rock, the alleged instigator said, "I hope you get mad, I'll sue the hell out of you." To which Rock replied, "Take a number."