Ted Nugent is no stranger to controversy. From his alleged penchant for underage girls to allegedly dodging the draft to his views on society and politics, The Motor City Madman makes it very easy for people to love or hate him. One thing about Uncle Ted that is beyond arguing is his skill as a guitar player. He is an undisputed master of the rock and roll riff and he’s been plying his trade for over 40 years.
The Nuge was born today in Redford, You Know Where in 1948 and was raised in Detroit. He started playing guitar at the age of six and was playing in a band by age ten. Ted’s music was influenced by early rockers like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, the Beatles and Yardbirds as well as Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. While Ted was at St. Viator High School near Chicago he formed the band the Amboy Dukes. The Nuge moved back to Detroit after graduation and the Dukes had some success playing the psychedelic rock that was popular at the time.
Eventually the Dukes evolved into a backing band for the Nuge and they were renamed Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes. Sweaty Teddy ultimately formed a new backing band and he started putting out solo records simply as Ted Nugent starting in 1975. He released seven albums between 1975 and 1980 and the first five went platinum and the last two went gold.
The Nuge continued releasing solo albums through the 1980s and then joined in a supergroup called Damn Yankees. The band also included Jack Blades from Night Ranger and Tommy Shaw from Styx as well as drummer Michael Cartellone. Their self-title debut album came in 1990 and it rose to #12 on the album chart and sold over two million copies. Damn Yankees released one more album in 1992 which went gold. The time with Damn Yankees re-energized the Nuge and he released his next solo album, “Spirit of the Wild”, in 1995 and it became his highest charting album in almost ten years.
Ted has kept busy since then, releasing music, hosting hunting shows, appearing in reality shows and engaging in political activism. He hasn’t recaptured the success he enjoyed in the 1970s but his live shows continue to be solid. Love him or hate him, The Nuge still rocks.
Amboy Dukes – “Journey to the Center of the Mind” off the album “Journey to the Center of the Mind” 1968:
Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes – “Great White Buffalo” off the album “Tooth Fang Claw” 1974:
“Where Have You Been All My Life” off the album “Ted Nugent” 1975:
“Dog Eat Dog” off the album “Free-For-All” 1976:
“Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” off the album “Cat Scratch Fever” 1977:
“Yank Me, Crank Me” off the album “Double Live Gonzo!” 1978:
“Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine” off the album “Weekend Warriors” 1978:
“Saddle Sore” off the album “State of Shock” 1979:
“Terminus El Dorado” off the album “Scream Dream” 1980:
“Jailbait” off the album “Intensities in Ten Cities” 1981:
“Tailgunner” off the album “Nugent” 1982:
“Thighraceous” off the album “Spirit of the Wild” 1995:
“Fred Bear” off the album “Spirit of the Wild” 1995:
Pantera cover of “Cat Scratch Fever”:
