Bo Bice, 'A Cat' Who Can Jam

With his long hair and raw talent, Bo Bice gave "American Idol" a dose of rock 'n' roll.

And while he came up short in the end, fans have no doubt they're going to be seeing a lot more of "Idol"'s resident rocker.

"I think America did a great job," Bice tells co-anchor Russ Mitchell about the TV show's finale, in which he lost to country singer Carrie Underwood. "I was extremely ecstatic for Carrie. I think they got the person that needs to carry the crown for 'American Idol,' man."

And yet, Bice could wind up being the big winner. His first single, "Vehicle," won't be available until June 21, but it's already on Barnes & Noble's online bestsellers list.

"It was really great being in the studio with Desmond Child," Bice says about recording the album. "He does a great job as a producer. He's done loads of things throughout the years. That was wonderful. It's truly been a great experience."

Bice, who performed "Drift Away" in his appearance on The Early Show, says his album shows his versatility.

"I think people are going to see a pretty wide-open variety for me, everything from a little bit of ballad stuff, to some really upbeat rockin' stuff, to even some kind of, I guess you call, poppy rock kind of stuff. It's cool. Looking forward to it."

As for earlier plans to retire once he turns 30, the 29-year-old says, "If the cats go out and buy my CD, I'll be here for a couple more years. If not, then I'll be in the files of obscurity somewhere."

That's unlikely, as he is now in the same position as Clay Aiken, an "American Idol" from two seasons ago who is now a multi platinum-selling star.
Fortunately for Bice, this was the first year that Fox increased its cut-off age from 24 to 28 years old. He made the age requirement by just a few months. And, he notes, every week he competed he was actually stunned to be still participating.

"It was really crazy," he says. "The hardest part for me was really seeing our friends go home each week. It really wasn't much of thinking that I was ever going to win it. I'm the cat that's most surprised to be sitting here today, trust me."

A musician his entire life, Bice was living off unemployment at the start of the show, after losing his job at a guitar store. Today, he has a contract with RCA.

He says, "I'm very excited, not only for the career that I'm about to kick off with the group I'm with, but when I say the word legitimate, I don't mean that taking away from anyone else. But to be a legitimate songwriter and legitimate musician who plays an instrument, 'American idol' was really not the foreground for that. So I think it's a vocal contest. She's an incredible vocalist, and she does a great job. So my gig is to write songs, and to jam them out."

He stood out, nevertheless, by singing a cappella, which had never been done before on "American Idol." Why did he do it?

"Lack of brains or intestinal fortitude. I'm not sure which one," he says with a smile. "It was cool, man. Every song I picked, I picked because I loved it. Somewhere along the way it touched me."

And during the finale he got the opportunity to perform with his idols - Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"Everybody who's in the show know my favorite all-time songwriter is Jim Croce. Lynyrd Skynyrd is my favorite all-time band. It was incredible."

Bice is thankful to his family for their support, especially to his mother and Granny Madge, who made many of the outfits he wore on the show.

"They're excited. I think they're looking forward to me getting home," he says. "I've been away from home for about four months now. So my mother's milking this like a dairy farmer. She and my grandmother are more celebrities than me."

As for the strangest things fans say to him on the street, Bice says, "Well, I've had, obviously, a few offers for marriage, children and things like that."

His "Idol" tour starts July 12 in Florida.

About rumors that he had aspirations to be in the movies, Bice says tongue-in-cheek, "I use deodorant. I don't aspirate."