“There is no question that my record sales took a serious hit for my being so outspoken on such volatile … issues. So be it. I am incapable of backing down, and have no regrets for standing up for what I believe in,” Nugent wrote. “I’ve always been right, and my haters have always been wrong. I so dearly cherish this glorious experiment in self-government that I will be damned if I will ever be silenced or compromise my spiritual obligation to do my part for all things America. I turn up the heat constantly. My incredible career is far beyond any dream I could have ever imagined.”
It’s unfortunate that Ted Nugent is now known more for his political opinions and outrageous statements than his music.
After all, he’s an icon of rock ’n’ roll whose onstage presence is just as powerful as his political presence—and he’s bringing his music to the Aqua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on Friday, Aug. 30.
Nugent wasn’t made available for a phone interview, but he was willing to answer some questions for the Coachella Valley Independent via e-mail.
He’s known as the Motor City Madman, an appropriate moniker given his history as a recording artist and stage performer. His career began in earnest in 1964 as a member of the Amboy Dukes. In 1968, the band—which was undeniably ahead of its time—released Journey to the Center of the Mind, a hard-rock classic which stood out in the era of psychedelic rock.
Nugent is known for his opposition to drugs and alcohol, and he has acknowledged in previous interviews that he didn’t realize the title track of that album was a reference to the psychedelic drug experience. However, he did acknowledge the album’s place in rock history.
“I was certainly very fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated virtuosos far ahead of their time and much better musicians than myself,” Nugent wrote about the Amboy Dukes. “The superior rhythm section of Dave Palmer on drums and Greg Arama on bass guitar was a very powerful musical force to reckon with. Though I came up with some pretty inventive guitar maneuvers and songwriting, the full credit should go to my fellow bandmates for thinking way outside the box at the time.”
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