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(see all)If a “lightning rod” is known for causing controversy, then Ted Nugent is a Tesla coil inside a thunderhead.
An outspoken critic of the U.S. government, Nugent recently created one of his biggest firestorms yet with various public comments about Barack Obama, including referring to the sitting President as a “chimpanzee” and “a subhuman mongrel”—comments for which the Detroit-born rocker later apologized, pulling back his criticism ever so slightly by calling Obama a “liar violating the Constitution.”
Whether all the criticism and controversy is deserved is up for debate, but one thing that isn’t is Nugent’s musical prowess—after all these years, he’s still one of the best guitarists on the planet. Nor is he slowing down: Nugent released his fifteenth original studio album entitled “ShutUp&Jam!” in early July and is currently on his way to a city near you amid a massive nationwide concert tour.
GroundSounds recently caught up with Nugent to discuss the controversy, the music and his own personal prescription for a perfect world. Enjoy.
When I started to put questions together for this interview, the thought occurred to me: You’re one of the most polarizing figures in music today, but not because of drugs and alcohol or domestic violence as is often the case for controversial musicians, and all of which you’re vehemently against, but because of your outspoken views on politics and society. I suppose my question is this: Do you secretly enjoy stirring the pot, or is it all just a byproduct of standing up for what you believe?
I have been certain for a very long time that an American’s most important duty is to speak up, ask questions, demand accountability from our elected employees and spotlight abuses and cockroaches at every opportunity. I seek no controversy and am indeed heartbroken that such common sense, truth and logic creates controversy. I want to admire my president and government representatives, but the runaway fraud, deceit, racism, corruption, abuse of power and out and out criminality by my government must be addressed, exposed and rectified. I raise hell because a soldier died for my right to do so. Being the hopeless optimist and believer in the indefatigable American spirit, I hope, pray and believe that we will pull ourselves up out of this embarrassing suicidal tailspin into the lowest of lows where so many Americans live to take instead of give. I see guilt catching up with the bloodsuckers and America returning to being the best that we can be and outproducing the rest of the world again. I believe the status quo must always be challenged. Sheep don’t like that. Tough shit.
Your new record “ShutUp&Jam!” seems to suggest, at least according the title, that you’re ready to put some of that controversy aside and focus on the music. If that’s the case, can we expect to see a softer, kinder side of Uncle Ted going forward than we have in the past?
Why of course we can, right after I become a gay pirate. I shut up and jam all the time, just like I fulfill my American “we the people” duties of raising hell and demanding accountability and honesty from my government employees and lying media. So make that a big, over the top, Motor City Madman “HELL NO!”
This is the first recording you’ve done with Derek St. Holmes, lead vocalist on some of your classic hits including “Stranglehold,” in almost 20 years. Why has it been so long, and what’s changed, if anything, between the two of you?
Derek is my Motown Blood Brother and he sang his ass off on my 1995 “Spirit of the Wild” masterpiece, plus he has always joined us on the classics off and on pretty much every tour forever. Stranglehold is a monster unto itself every night, but that magical, originally identifiable St. Holmes vocal touch elevates into the uncharted stratosphere of soul music. We simply agreed enough with the occasional appearance, let’s do this full-time again, and everyone is genuinely moved. The world hasn’t grasped Derek’s incredible guitar talents as yet, for he is one of THE best guitarists anywhere anytime. We create killer fire-breathing music together.
I’m curious about your creative process when you go into the studio to make a new album. From where do you draw your inspiration and how does that inspiration get transformed into an album that you’re proud to release to fans?
Wrapping up the greatest fun tour of my life in 2013, then enjoying the greatest hunting season of my life with my incredible family and friends, it put me in such a wild-eyed, glowing, positive happy place, that these songs simply erupted off my guitar neck unto themselves every time I cranked up the mighty Gibson Byrdland through my amps in the living room every day! I am a very, very lucky guitar player because I am surrounded by indescribable positive inspiration everywhere every day. Killer licks, grooves, lyrics and song titles simply erupt off my guitar neck with a life of their own. I am merely the facilitator.
What’s your favorite part of the new album? Are there any tracks that stand out to you as being definitively “Nuge”?
The whole record represents my current life’s dreams and beliefs, some more serious than others, but each and every song represents my lifetime orgy of intense and dynamic human relationships and experiences via the American grinding, grooving R&B&R&R music that I love today more than ever. It is impossible for me to pick favorite songs or licks or solos since they all add up to a body of work that for me is more powerful than the sum of its parts.
Final question: Just for fun, I wanted to give you a chance to fix all the socio-political and economic problems that plague our country and, on a larger level, the global human society. So: What’s Ted Nugent’s idea of a perfect world?
God knows America would be the greatest again if she operated just like the Nugent family. No takers, no whiners, no gangsters, no dopers, no drunks, no criminals, no bloodsuckers, no excuse-makers, no crybabies, no punks, no Obama supporters. Everybody in my life, family, friends, band, crew, management, Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild production team, our Sunrize Safaris guiding and outfitting business, all our volunteers for our Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids and military Freedom’s Angels charities, everybody puts their hearts and souls into being the absolute best that they can be, driven to be as productive as possible so as to be an asset to their families, neighbors, fellow Americans, mankind and the good mother earth. HELLLLOOOOO!! Boy that’s a mysterious recipe huh! We cannot be brainwashed otherwise.
http://www.TedNugent.com
