GUITARIST TED NUGENT SAYS HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE HATE HIM

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1. Count me in the group of hate. His right wing zealotry over shadows a career that was over in 1978.

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   1. Disagree! His career was not over in ’78, and trust me when I say he doesn’t speak for everybody on the “right” side. I have a lot of friends on the right side, and though they love Ted’s music, they don’t agree with him on ALOT of issues, and neither do I. This is coming from someone who isn’t on either “side”, like I said before, I don’t play right or left field, I play center field! I love Uncle Ted’s music, except for this new album, sounds pretty shitty from what I’ve heard so far, but I don’t like everything that comes out of his mouth either, but I’m also not a hateful person. It’s very simple, he has a right to speak his mind, and we have a right not to listen, it’s called freedom of choice. 🙂

   2. Doug, you’re right. Ted Nugent’s career wasn’t over in 1978, but his status as an arena-headliner ended with the 1980-81 Scream Dream tour. Check out his venues played since 1982, when he released the Nugent album. Remember the single Bound & Gagged? Not many people do. Outside of Little Miss Dangerous being a big hit single in 1986-87, Ted hasn’t had a popular rock song on the radio since 1980’s Wango Tango, and outside of his original northern Midwestern-based core audience, he opens for major acts in arenas and outdoor amphitheaters, plays festivals mid-bill, and headlines clubs and theaters. His core audience is solid, but the larger audience that allowed him to be one of the top 5 or 6 most popular rock acts from 1977-1980 left him in the early 80s and never returned.

      As for his politics, I’m a proud partisan liberal, who could give a damn about the politics of the musicians I like and to whom I listen. (For example, Jack Blades is quite conservative, probably even a Libertarian, and yet I’m a big Nightranger/Damn Yankees fan.) However, his rhetoric, not his political beliefs, about Pres. Clinton, Pres. Obama, Secretary Clinton, immigrants, and people who disagree with him on guns is just plain ignorant, disgusting, and objectionable. The vitriol sent his way over his many disgusting comments is well deserved.

   3. Well done W.R-Pretty much summarizes the state of Nugent’s nation. Would he run his trap w/ all this divisive far right paranoid drivel if he were still an arena/stadium star like he was in ’75-’81? No to hell no. He is down to core support now (primarily due to 30 yrs of largely substandard product HE continues to put out-oh yea, that’s Hillary & Obama’s fault???) who will come out almost no matter what bizarre, un-hinged, un-american, hill-billy buulshit he crams between songs. He was a cool bad-ass guitar hero lady killer in the ’70’s & most of the ’80’s. That mystique (the greatest asset an entertainer can have; ie Elvis) is now just a pissed off old man who acts like he’d rather go shoot all the people that no longer buy his tickets & records. Entertainers, as a result of being blessed by God w/ gifts most don’t have, can easily fly above the pig slop of divisive politics. When they roll in that slop anyway, they blow it. All that said, he remains a sick-ass player w/ a slammin band. When he hits H-town, I’m likely to go-ofcourse hoping he’ll shut the F up & jam!!

      James Perkins
      Houston, Texas

   4. Good post.

   5. I saw Ted open for Kiss in 2000 for the Farewell tour in KC. I was so sick of him on the mic and calling Janet Reno dirty names and blasting the Clinton’s. I was Republican at the time and I thought he was way out of line. I think he is a ego maniac. His music sucks. And he just really isn’t a nice caring human being. I still remember waiting in a long long line for beer that took all if 15 min. And I swear to god he was talking his shit the whole time instead of performing. Horrible live show. I kept saying please shut up and play Ted.

   6. Bryan,
      I felt the same way, and I think I saw him on that tour! He just seems to think his beliefs cancels everyone else’s and that their feelings don’t matter. It seems funny to think he would be surprised that people can’t stand him. I don’t hate him, I just think he’s clueless. I would never have a conversation with someone who is incapable of hearing or respecting my point of view. Some people fancy themselves conquerors and don’t give a crap about other viewpoints.

   7. I saw him on that same tour and he went on a tirade about illegal immigrants and Mexicans……in Las Cruces New Mexico of all places, half the crowd was of Mexican descent. It was shameful and just showed the very ignorance he claims to be against. I am mostly a right winger, own guns, conservative etc and Ted Nugent is the last person I would claim as speaking on my behalf.

2. Those magazines are illegal in Colorado Ted, come tell Governor Hick we need max fire power versus the bad guys. Can’t wait for the Youtubes of Ted & Bocephus thursday night.

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3. This is the Metal Gospel- Family, Country, Gun Rights, Free Speech!!!

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   1. Not all metalheads are are gun-loving, bible-thumping rednecks. Some of us are actually intellectuals and proud of it (sorry if that seemed snarky, but it’s the truth). I like a lot of Ted’s music and his opinions on music (he was great on TMS), but his politics are another matter altogether. That said, he has a right to say whatever he wants. You either believe in free speech or you don’t – I do. What’s that old saying? “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I’ll fight for your right to say it.” True enough.

   2. Why do you have to be a redneck because you believe in GOD,
      it does not make you better than us who do.

   3. I never said that it did. You should believe in whatever you want, as long as you don’t use those beliefs as an excuse to hurt other people. No offense intended at all. God bless.

   4. Very well stated. I once heard a phrase that said “I don’t care if you worship rocks, just as long as you don’t throw them at me.”

      D 🙂

   5. Nugent went too far with some of his statements,
      but Obama is a “violator of his oath to the Constitution”
      and the highest court in the US has said so 13 times.

   6. So most metalheads are gun-loving bible thumping rednecks? What dumb f-ing statement a-hole. I live in the bay area, love metal and hard rock, and can’t stand right wing OR left wing dickheads with POV that makes each of them think they are superior to the other. And you fit the bill without doubt.

      Lol, you personify the typical “tolerant” liberal. Go watch the South Park “Smug Alert” episode and see yourself in the mirror.

   7. Wow. How exactly did you get THAT out of what I said? My exact words were “NOT all metalheads are gun-loving, bible-thumping rednecks.” I was commenting on what I felt was the generalization of the statement above mine. I don’t think it’s right to generalize metalheads, or any other group, at all. I also said I’d fight for Ted’s right to free speech even if I disagree with him. Are you so politically correct that you think people shouldn’t even be allowed to disagree with each other? I admitted my opening statement was a bit snarky and I’m sorry for that, but I think I expressed the rest of my opinion in a pretty fair and even-tempered way.
      By comparison, what did YOU say? “What dumb f-ing statement a-hole.” Now THAT statement is irony on a grand level. You also assume that just because I disagree with a lot of Ted’s politics that I’m a liberal. I’m neither liberal nor conservative. And for the record, I don’t think I’m superior to you in any way, but I confess your reactionary combativeness makes me wonder.
      (Yeah, I know – that last part was snarky again. Dana, I won’t apologize to someone who calls me names just for expressing my opinions, but I apologize to YOU for mucking up the site with them. I should’ve known better than to comment on a Ted Nugent story. I truly enjoy a lot of his music, but he often seems to bring out the worst in people, myself included I guess. As you once said to me, “I’m only human.” Being human can really suck 🙂 )

   8. Rick,

      I can totally relate to how you feel 😉 But, if makes you feel better, I think you express yourself rather well.

      Cheers,
      D 🙂

   9. Rick, “not all metal-heads are gun loving bible thumping rednecks,” is an inflammatory statement, followed by referring to yourself as “an intellectual and proud of it,” and then you go on to attempt a weak qualifier, apologizing for being snarky, which is then immediately canceled with your insisting that you are espousing the truth. What? that some metal heads are bible thumping rednecks? Then you attempt to distance yourself from your own comment via your response, as if the application of the word ‘not’ changes the implicit purpose of your statement, which was to demean, (the true casualty of the radical 60s.. the moderate centrist)……I wouldn’t trust you as far as I could throw one of Ted’s moose-head trophies, you demonstrate this penchant for rationalizing your mis-behavior.

   10. All this for what Rick said? Wow! And staten island clown, when did you become so eloquent with your statements? Honestly, I am not offended and some of my family ARE “gun loving bible thumping rednecks” (and when I say redneck, I don’t mean racist). In fact, they don’t listen to just metal, they listen to many genres of music. Really now–in light of many of these statements, is Rick’s so bad? Why are you taking this so seriously staten island clown?? Can you provide us with some special insight that most of us missed in his post? Take the plank out of your own eye before you worry about the speck in your brother’s. I thought David’s response was more “inflammatory” than Rick’s. Rationalize David’s first, then worry about Rick’s!!! Holy cow!

   11. Mike B, the reason I dissected Rick’s post is because it is full of “weaselers,” this is a rhetorical tool that people use in language to give themselves an exit out, like “I really didn’t mean that..” That is why I don’t really trust him, and David C, basically took the purpose of Rick’s post and slammed him with it. What I did was to attempt to fill in the blanks, to say, “this is why David slammed Rick’s post.”

   12. Everyone is racist to some extent, that is part of being human, but to put something like that on a website, and then have the person who takes umbrage get the stick? What total B.S…Guess what Rick? those “gun-loving bible thumping rednecks” have feelings just like you do.

   13. @david c,
       I read your comment and thought “man…this guy is clueless AND a hothead…” Did you even read the post? He outclasses you BIG time.

   14. @mike b,
       I think you are wrong, rick made a blanket rather asinine statement and he got called out on it. Obviously your bias shows, so you can’t be taken seriously.

   15. @RedRooker,
       I don’t know how you got the idea that I am biased, but your’e welcome to your opinion even though its baseless. David C resorted to name calling and insults, which is crap. I wont even bother debating with you about Rick’s response. Many here have resorted to insults and trashing other’s opinions. Why don’t you correct THEM (caps for emphasis) instead of me. Do me a small favor–read David’s post, then Rick’s. Then feel free to tell me if I can be taken seriously or not. Then maybe we will see if we should take your comment seriously.

   16. I agree with Mike B,

       This has been a bone of contention since we started allowing comments on the site. There is way to make one’s point without resorting to childish name calling and condescending comments plagued with snarky undertones. I feel like a broken record, as this will be my fourth time typing this, it’s easy to insult. It takes a certain finesse to debate like a mature adult getting one’s point across without belittling others.

       Then there are those who are simply trolls. They love to get a “reaction” and create discord on the board. Just ignore them and don’t give them what they want, which is a reaction and attention.

       Thanks,
       Dana from ET.com 🙂

   17. I thought I’d jump in here, since apparently I’m the the cause of all this hostility. First of all, none of my detractors seemed to notice that my initial statement was a response to an earlier post. I didn’t make a blanket statement, I was commenting on the blanket statement of another poster. Someone expressed a point of view that I didn’t entirely agree with, so I gave my opinion. Poorly worded perhaps, given the reactions of some, but still just my opinion. For that, David C calls me an “a-hole” and Mr. Clown tries to dissect not only my words, but also my motives and my character, apparently concluding that I’m some sort of con artist. He doesn’t “trust” me? Whatever, man.
       To both Dana and Mike B, I’m truly grateful for your supportive words. It means a lot. Thanks, and take care.

   18. You guys kill me, eloquent? what was eloquent about what I said? I never said Rick was a con artist, I said I wouldn’t trust him, his post reveals his true colors…redneck is racist, sorry, it cuts both ways….then he is dumb enough to call himself an intellectual…sorry for the ‘lack of support.’

   19. @staten island clown,
       regarding your 12:37 am post. When I said “eloquent”, I was simply pointing out the fact you don’t always talk that way–you seemed to be using a your distinguished vocabulary (I am not being sarcastic) to tear Rick to pieces–which, I thought was uncool and unnecessary. Granted, the post really upset you, but if you shut someone down, as you seemed to be trying with Rick, you will never know what’s in a person. Wouldn’t you rather know and then ask questions? I think that would be more effective than going on the attack. Personally, I don’t think he meant any harm.
       Regarding your 10:52 post–come on! Some of us disagreed with how you handled this, but this SHOULD be water under the bridge in a day or two. I hope you’ll reconsider, but I wouldn’t blame you for taking a couple days off. I think you read too much into this whole thing and should say “whatever”. People say things they don’t mean all the time. That’s why celeb’s get busted when they Tweet or get caught saying something that thousands of people are ready to blow out of proportion. We all have thoughts and when those thoughts automatically get posted, its too late to go back. However, if you MUST punish (so to speak) then do it in proportion to the crime. Don’t shame someone into never coming back to this site. If I thought Rick said something wrong, I would have said, “that’s not cool, what do you mean by that?”
       That’s all I’m trying to say staten island clown.

   20. By the way, I really don’t give a shit what any of you have to say…and I won’t be coming back…so don’t post, post, respond…don’t. respond…adios.

   21. I wasn’t planning on looking at these posts again, but boy am I glad I did. Clown thinks I’m a RACIST?! Well, at least that explains his over-reaction. He says he’s not coming back to read this, and that’s fine (I don’t need his “trust” or his approval), but given such an ugly accusation, I feel the need to defend myself one more time. For the record, folks, to me (and everyone I know), “redneck” just means uneducated and simple-minded. It’s often associated with southerners, but that’s unfair. Rednecks, like all other kinds of people, are everywhere. In any case, while it’s certainly not the most flattering term, it has nothing to do with racism that I’ve ever heard. If it did, that would mean Jeff Foxworthy’s entire career is based in hatespeech LOL! I never thought I could be so completely misunderstood. Unbelievable.

   22. …Ok, I get it now, how stupid of me, this has all been a satire of the clueless “intellectual” and Rick writes for Mad …how funny…I tell you what…Rick, why don’t you go to one of those Jeff Foxworthy concerts in the deep South, approach one of those “simple minded, uneducated” people (the ones who bust their asses and pay their taxes) and repeat all of your posts verbatim…no, go ahead…while you’re at it, hit up George Lopez and Eddie Mac’s shows and do the same thing, except substitute their applicable term for “redneck,” no, please….I insist.

       Thanks Dana, and Mike you’re a good egg but I thought David C’s post was a bullseye. I really must be going now.

   23. Okay, one last thing, just because I feel I need some closure, and then I’ll drop this and move on (I promise, Dana).
       My last post before this was admittedly hostile in tone, because I don’t appreciate being called racist. After calming down a bit and giving it some more thought, I want to acknowledge that while I wasn’t using the term “redneck” with regard to race or region (and am still stunned that anyone would think that), I recognize I still wasn’t using it in a terribly nice way, either. I was trying to make what I felt was a good point, but obviously it was a bad choice of words considering how much it resulted in some people misunderstanding that point. I know Staten Island Clown doesn’t believe this and will probably dismiss it as more backpedalling, but I was truly unaware of what a hot-button word it apparently is for some people, and for that reason I won’t use it again.
       To Mike B, I have to say you are a class act. You’ve handled this whole dispute with amazing fairness. You serve as an inspiration to all who post on this site. Thanks.
       Well, that’s it. Again, sorry for all the drama, Dana. I hope I’m still welcome here 🙂 .

4. People do not like him because he says most insensitive horrible things about people at the worst times that’s why! He bashed Hoffman on that metal show on national TV! Hello what dose Ted expect? I never heard ever say anything nice about anyone except himself! He’s a good guy who has written some amazing music just needs to filter his mouth and people will stop hating him.

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   1. I agree Brian,

      Ted suffers from a bad case of verbal diarrhea that occasionally needs Immodium. He doesn’t seem think about what he says, how he says it, and the ramifications.

      Unfortunately, he known more for the outrageous things that he says and does than for his music. Whether one appreciates him as musician or not, it’s sad that his career is being overshadowed by all the controversy.

      Dana from ET.com 🙂

   2. Dana I think Ted thinks about what he says and enjoys most of the attention unless Secret Service show up at his door…LOL! Teds Music is pretty good IMO but without the attention he gets he most likely would have been forgotten. His personality I think is much like Steven Tyler hyper and prone to nonsense when he gets nervous. They both fall back on silly quotes and gibberish. Obviously quite different views on the world they live in. I agree though with you he is seen as a clown much the way Tyler, Simmons, David Lee Roth are. Again I would guess it is a defense mechanism in part when they are nervous or stressed.

   3. Most of the time, Ted’s guitar makes more sense than his mouth! 😉

   4. LOL!!!

      D 🙂

   5. Dana, Ted is an odd dude that’s for sure. Don’t agree with everything he says, but I can tell you two things:

      1) He puts on one of the most bad ass rock and roll shows live that you will ever see
      2) “Stranglehold” is one of the best rock and roll songs in history…you cannot listen to it cranked up and not get goosebumps

   6. Hi David,

      In my opinion, the best thing that ever happened to uncle Ted was Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw and Michael Cartellone. Damn Yankees was a great band, saw them live quite a few times.

      On one of the tours, Bad Company opened (not the Paul Rodgers version. They were touring in support of Holy Water which is a great album nonetheless) and that was a heck of a show. I saw them twice on that tour.

      D 🙂

   7. Absolutely agree…wish they would get together again…Funny how Ted was able to “stay in the background of that band”

   8. Maybe Ted finds it hard to feel sorry for people who’ve destroyed or ended their lives with drugs.
      I know I do, how many actors and musicians are known not for their craft but their drug use or death.

   9. Hey Scott,

      Not sure why your comment came back as a reply to me, since I didn’t make the remark about Ted commenting on people who have died from OD’s.

      The truth is, I really don’t have an issue with SOME of things that Ted does or how he thinks, my issue, as Mike so astutely put it, is with the way in which he conveys his thoughts. He seems to be quite insensitive, thoughtless and careless at times. I think he would garner much more respect for himself, and his opinions, if he wasn’t so gruff, demeaning and rude when presenting them or maybe he should just stick to making music.

      Dana from ET.com 🙂

   10. I’m not sure how my reply came to you either, but I don’t think Ted meant to be demeaning. I think his point was that drugs are stupid and a waste of time and that can never be said enough.

   11. Just be thankful you’ve never experienced addiction.

   12. I have experienced addiction and managed to get past it and I’m eight years clean. I have three friends that are gone because they couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t have gotten addicted to something I never tried but I thought drugs were cool until they took over my life. I wish I’d listened to people like Ted it would’ve saved me a lot of heartache and trouble. I was stupid and had no idea what I was getting into.

   13. I agree with you Dana,
       I don’t have a problem with Ted’s beliefs or values. I have a problem with the insensitive and overbearing way he presents them without regard to others with different values and beliefs. Its as if his perception cancels everyone else’s. He is welcome to speak his mind, which is one of the great things about our country–you know what people are thinking–at least most of the time. What if he kept all this emotion and opinion bottled up inside? That wouldn’t be good either. When people are free to express themselves, they are less likely to yield to the majority for the sake of being accepted. In my opinion, Ted expresses his views in a way that actually promotes a spiral of silence in others.

5. Ted, was a draft dodger during Vietnam war, he never wants to talk about, ask him Eddie Trunk.

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   1. Is that common knowledge? What is yr source?

   2. Google it. It’s true.