By Jeb Wright

The man known affectionately as Atrocious Theodosius is back with a primal scream, guitar heavy, celebration of his 6000th concert.  Yep, I said 6000th concert.  As amazing as that sounds, what is more unbelievable is how Uncle Ted has been able to keep the energy flowing, the fingers fretting, and the spirit alive, while playing live shows over the course of five decades, six if you count his earliest days as a guitar slinger. 

The new DVD has a set list that features most of Sweaty Teddy's classics including "Cat Scratch Fever," "Free For All, "Stranglehold, "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang," "Wango Tango" and "Stormtroopin'."  The Motor City Madman threw in fan favorites "Dog Eat Dog," "Hey Baby," "Baby Please Don't Go," "Weekend Warriors" and "Need You Bad" as well.  Plus there are few songs from his latest album Love Grenade and a few surprises such as "Soul Man" and "Jenny Take A Ride."  The DVD, titled Motor City Mayhem, is loud, obnoxious, in-yer-face and 100%  Nugent. 

Ex-vocalist Derek St. Holmes makes an appearance and sings and plays his ass off, bringing Nuge's oldest fans back to the days when they were cranking up Double Live Gonzo for the first time.  Unlike Double Live Gonzo, however, Motor City Mayhem begins with a smokin' hot babe crawling out of a cake wearing nothing but a bikini made out of the old stars and stripes.  Never a dull moment is had when you are hanging with Uncle Ted. 

We didn't have much time with the outspoken guitarist before he had to leave to go to Africa.  Ted could have easily turned this interview down but, even as he was packing his bags and sharpening his arrows, he took time for Classic Rock Revisited and answered a few questions about the new DVD, why Derek St. Holmes is not in the band, how his family and friends have helped make him who he is, and if the rumors of a new Damn Yankees tour are true.  

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Jeb:  The obvious question is this.... How in the hell did you stick around long enough, strong enough and good enough to play 6000 concerts?  Was this truly a milestone for you or just another in a long line of gigs? 
 

Ted: Clearly, God loves me more than He loves you, for He loaded me up with pure animal attitude, spirit and piss and vinegar with a fiery passion than cannot be deterred. Thank God my parents loved me enough to intensely DISCIPLINE me to try like hell to make intelligent, responsible choices in life, and as a perfectly fallible human being.  I have blown it more than once, but I was at least smart enough to stay away from life destroying drugs, alcohol and tobacco and the resultant energy overload combined with my love for the music is virtually unstoppable.

My incredible band mates, American music BloodBrothers, Mick Brown and Greg Smith, will tell you that every gig we perform is THE most important musical adventure in our lives. We call upon The Beast each and every night, but we must admit that rockjacking, DeFKNtroit, on the 4th of July, celebrating my 6000th rock out, surrounded by loving family, friends, hunting buddies, heroes of the US Military and THE most gung-ho music lovers on earth, is off the charts. Total spiritual erection time.

 

Jeb:  Your old guitar teacher must have crapped his pants playing with you during your 6000th concert.  Have you stayed in touch all these years or did you get in touch for this occasion?

 

Ted: Joe Podorsek is the Master SoulBrother, FunkBrother, BloodBrother and he and I have indeed kept in touch all these years. He is the consummate professional so he was right at home up there. 

 

Jeb:  You mixed it up pretty damn good on the set list.  How did you decide what to play for this momentous occasion?  Was it hard to leave out "Kiss My Ass?"

 

Ted: Every night is a bitch picking from my astonishing song list. "Kiss My Ass" is surely a favorite, but curfews are a painful reality. I literally love all my songs and then some.

 

Jeb: The songs on the new DVD with Derek St. Holmes guesting on vocals are fricking amazing.  Why isn't he back in the band?  Is it the money?  You can't deny there is some heavy fucking mojo when the two of you take the stage together.

 

Ted: Derek is indeed a world class Detroit soul talent, and I love him and his gifts immensely. He is so underrated its a crime. Being that as it may, neither money nor ego have anything to do with my choosing to be a trio. When the dust settles after major decision making in life, particularly in this case, I am 100% certain that the throttling three-piece band is indeed my dream musical statement/adventure.

Derek has a standing invitation to join us anywhere, anytime, and he brings a kick of fire every time he jams with us on those earth moving classics. But I must tell you that I rarely hear his name brought up in my ongoing, and far reaching, communications with bands, fans, and never from concert promoters. As a trio, there is no question that we have delivered, by far, my most intense and impacting musical performances in my amazing career. The music is my boss and guiding light.

 

Jeb:  Forty years of touring and 6000 concerts is amazing.  How have the following people helped you to be successful? 

 

Mama Nugent
Hugely powerful as the ultimate mother of love and support.

 

Poppa Nugent
Enormously powerful for his militant discipline for good, bad and ugly considerations. 

 

Fred Bear
Outrageously powerful in his defying leadership in the pure animal primal scream guidance to my soul cleansing, spirit of the wild, raw, healing by nature bowhunting lifestyle.

 

Your children Sasha, Toby, Rocco, Starr and Chantal
Life itself!

Shemane
My Goddess of spirit love!
 
Doug Banker
A pivotal force in managing my biz and logistics so I don't get burned while I pursue my insatiable cravings to just make music.
 
Derek St. Holmes, Cliff Davies and Rob DeLaGrange
Phenomenal musical geniuses who put their heart and soul into my musical dream that imprinted a timeless soulfulness on my timeless classics. 
 
Ted Nugent
The funniest black guitarist of all time.
 
Jeb:  Okay, we are going to have to keep this short so only a couple more.  Damn Yankee rumors are damn well starting to crop up all over the damn place.  Is there any damn truth to them?
 
Ted: Man do I wish! Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades and Michael Cartellone are another example of how God truly loves me, surrounding me with such world class musical masters. Beating our calendars into submission is the only obstacle. It would be great, but at this time nothing is coordinated...but I ain't giving up!
 
Jeb: How do you deal with people who put you down for being who you are.  For example, there was a blurb in Classic Rock in the UK about the two songs you did with the Amboy Dukes for your lifetime achievement award and they called you a 'buffoon." 
 
Ted: There has always been soulless fools in the world. That I cause them much anguish by living the ultimate life is simply a bonus for me. I find it hysterically funny.
 
Jeb:  I respect the hell out of you and the way you conduct yourself, on and off stage.  You inspire me.  However, I do kinda miss the days you kept church and state separated, so to speak.  You used to just rock out and save the politics for off stage.  Am I being part of the problem with that attitude? 
 
Ted: I think you are mistaken, but certainly no problem. Even some songs and lyrics I wrote way back in the Amboy Dukes days had driving forces of defiant independence and WE THE PEOPLE activism. I've just gotten better at it. Why do you think you love "Kiss My Ass" so much?
 
Jeb:  Last one: That girl who popped out of the cake at the start of the DVD.. YOWZA....  Her red, white and blue bikini surely made me stand up and salute.  I have a birthday coming up... think you could talk her into doing that cake thing at my party?
 
Ted: I'm so sorry, Jeb. I ate her.

www.tednugent.com