Call of the Wild & Sustaining the Note • An Exclusive Interview with TED NUGENT

The legendary Michigan-made musical artist and cultural activist Ted Nugent, who CREEM magazine dubbed the Motor City Madman is bringing his 50^th Anniversary ‘Stranglehold’ Tour to Saginaw’ iconic Temple Theatre this Wednesday, August 27^th, kicking off a string of Michigan dates through September 4^th that also includes venues in Ludington, Paw Paw, and Sterling Heights.

Nugent initially gained fame as the lead guitarist and occasional vocalist for the groundbreaking psychedelic hard rock band The Amboy Dukes, a band formed in 1963 that played psychedelic rock and hard rock that broke into the national spotlight in the late 1960s with their definitive hit Journey to the Center of the Mind and innovative instrumental tracks such as Migration.

After dissolving the band, he embarked on a successful solo career. His first three solo albums, Ted Nugent (1975), Free-for-All (1976) and Cat Scratch Fever (1977), as well as the live album Double Live Gonzo! (1978), were all certified multi-platinum in the United States. His latest album, Detroit Muscle, was released in 2022.

Nugent is known for his use of the Gibson Byrdland, his bluesy and frenzied guitar playing, and his energetic live shows.  Despite possessing a distinctive, wide-ranging singing voice, Nugent recorded and toured with other lead singers during much of his early solo career, including Derek St. Holmes, Charlie Huhn, Brian Howe and Meat Loaf, only taking on full lead vocal duties later on. His biggest hit was 1977's "Cat Scratch Fever", on which he sang the lead vocals. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was part of the supergroup Damn Yankees.

Yesterday in advance of his Wednesday evening performance at The Temple, I had an  opportunity to chat with The Nuge about some of the highlights and memorable moments spanning the expanse of his long and storied career.

REVIEW:  I first saw you perform when I was 15-years old with The Amboy Dukes at the Saginaw Auditorium back in 1970 and to this day still feel that band was one of the finest exponents to come out of the Michigan Music scene at that time, along with The MC5, Stooges, The Rationals, SRC, and of course Seger.  When you look back at that period what do you feel distinguished your sound and approach to music from the rest of the crop?

TED NUGENT: Every band member, Dave Palmer on drums, Rick Lober and Andy Solomon on keyboards, Greg Arama on bass guitar, Steve Farmer on guitar and vocals, John Brake on lead vocals and myself on hyper lead Gibson Byrdland guitar were all absolutely dedicated to the music, especially breaking the traditional pop musical rules while remaining true to the spirit of what Chuck Berry and the founding fathers created.

Our work ethic was Herculean! All those amazing Michigan bands were outrageously creative, hardworking and driven, but I think the Amboy Dukes rehearsed more and focused on groove, dynamics and adventurous arrangements more than a lot of other bands.

I remember every gig, every jam, every night and cherish them all. 

REVIEW: What do you feel it was about that time that fueled so much incredible creativity?  

Nugent: The mighty Motown orchestra and FunkBrothers were an amazing driving force of musical authority and soulful spirit that inspired every musician on the planet,  most powerfully right there in our hometown neighborhood of Detroit and all around Michigan.

Bill Lee & the Rivieras who soon changed their name to Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels set an unprecedented high bar for musicianship and tightness. All these years later in 2025 that Motown musical attitude continues to inspire my every musical touch every time I pick up my Gibson Byrdland guitar.

Killer, soulful music has a life of its own every damn time we jam. We believe that our music is literally a martial arts out of body delivery of the American soul music that owns us everytime we play together.

It’s stream of consciousness music from my heart and soul. 

REVIEW: When you look over the expanse of your career are there specific albums or periods of accomplishment  you are equally proud of and feel best define your musical goals and the architecture of your work?  

Nugent: Since my drummer Jason Hartless did the deep dive into my barn full of concert tapes, album recording session demos and out-takes, recorded interviews and jam sessions, through the creation of the NugeVault.com docuseries, I am able to literally relive every year, every band, nearly every concert and recording session since before the Amboy Dukes pre-1964!

As we rehearse and jam for concerts in 2025, it is rather apparent that Jason, Johnny and I approach making music the exact same way as we always have, from the very beginning. As I create new music and celebrate nearly 70 years of making music, it’s impossible to identify a singular moment, song or tour that means more to me than any other.

We unleashed 10 sold-out Ted Nugent SpeakEzys in Texas this past spring, our record attendance concert in Wisconsin last month, and every night for seven nights in Michigan this month has been, and will be, my favorite musical moment of all-times, I guarantee.

I love my music, I love the reciprocal energy transfer with the music loving audiences every night, and every gig I do is THE most important gig of my life!

REVIEW:  How did you first get interested in pursuing music as a career, who were the specific artists that you feel best informed and influenced your work and approach to music?

Nugent: I was born in that magical time when Les Paul and Leo Fender first electrified the guitar and I, like everybody else, was instantly imprinted by the outrageous sonic bombast.

I have been deeply touched by the black soul and R&B masters like Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Little Richard, all things Motown, Elvis and his incredible band, James Brown, Wilson Picket, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, BB King, Freddie King, Albert King and so many classic musical innovators. Listen to Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels song, "Jenny Take A Ride". Listen to The Amboy Dukes, early Bob Seger, MC5, Grand Funk Railroad, Kid Rock.

Michigan rockers absorbed all the intensity of Motown soul, kicked it up to a fiery high energy because we so love the music and push ourselves to the limit. There is no music more powerful, soulful, intense and driving than MotorCity rock. The musical authority of all-things Motown guided us powerfully.

REVIEW: Unlike many artists who shy away from politics in contemporary society out of fear it will alienate engagement with half their audience, you have always stood up for what you believe in.  I’m just curious: What are three things about modern America, or the world in general, that disturb you the most? 

Nugent: The number one scourge of mankind is the soullessness and embarrassment of apathy, engineered, even celebrated, disconnect, the cowardly abandonment of We The People responsibilities to hold our elected employees accountable; failing to take command and stand up for proven, quality of life self-evident truth based values outlined in the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, the Ten Commandments, and the Golden Rule.

It’s been the intentional dumbing down of America by a failed education system, the increased tolerance of violent crime and violent offenders by a failed court and justice system, and the resultant runaway abuse of power by glaringly corrupt bureaucrats and institutions. All of America's ills are a result of those basic failures.

REVIEW: What do you think is the most challenging component involved with sustaining longevity in the world of rock ‘n roll?  

Nugent: The creative process and the actual and extended work demands in the making of the music can be overwhelming and a very challenging force to reckon with. The perfect balance I've achieved in my life between fire-breathing music and the soul cleansing nature healing hunting lifestyle is essential for genuine happiness and necessary to maintain the ferocious animal energy I unleash every night on stage. My hunting upbringing guided me to remain clean and sober for these incredible 77 years.

REVIEW: When you look back at the arc and trajectory of your career, what are three things that stand out the most in your museum of recollections? 

Nugent: Last month in Wisconsin with 30,000 gung-ho music lovers singing Stranglehold and Fred Bear with me was another mountain top moment for sure, and there have been millions more in various settings and experiences.

Winning the Michigan Battle of the Bands with my band The Lourds in 1963 and meeting the Motown Funk Brothers was magic and mystical! The Lourds, The Amboy Dukes, my solo bands, The Damn Yankees, performing the National Anthem for every branch of the military and President Donald Trump, having the Fred Bear song played at families’ funerals and the return of flag draped heroes coffins. There are way too many to list and I remember them all.

REVIEW:   Do you have any future goals once you finish this tour? 

Nugent: This will not be my farewell tour and I have Gonzo plans for more music and the best hunting seasons of my life. My incredible wife Shemane and I will continue to produce our award-winning Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show on the Pursuit Channel, our amazing 35 years running Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids non-profit charity continues to save kids’ lives and is expanding all the time. I guide and outfit hundreds of hunting families each year with my Sunrize Safaris outfit.

I will continue my weekly Real Americas Voice Spirit Campfire and turn up the media heat here, there and everywhere. Our HunterNation.org nonprofit will continue to inspire conservationists to vote conservative representation and I work nonstop with Second Amendment rights groups to get our right to keep and bear arms back uninfringed.

And of course more important than all those incredibly important responsibilities, my duties as a husband, father and grandfather remain the driving force in my life.

Oh, and I have the three best hunting dogs in the world who love me too!  

Ted Nugent’s 50^th Anniversary Stranglehold Tour happens at Saginaw’s historic Temple Theatre on Wednesday, August 27^th at 7:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased by clicking this link.