Ted Nugent

For his self-titled album, see Ted Nugent (album).
"Motor City Madman" redirects here. For the WCW wrestler, see Mike Moore (wrestler).

Ted Nugent
Nugent performing in 2017
Nugent performing in 2017
Background information
Birth nameTheodore Anthony Nugent
Also known asThe Nuge
Motor City Madman
Uncle Ted
Born (1948-12-13) December 13, 1948 (age 75)
Redford, Michigan, U.S.
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • political activist
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
DiscographyDiscography
Years active1963–present
Formerly of
Websitetednugent.com

Theodore Anthony Nugent (/ˈnuːdʒɪnt/; born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist.[1][2] He goes by several nicknames, including Uncle Ted, the Nuge, and Motor City Madman. Nugent initially gained fame as the lead guitarist and occasional vocalist of The Amboy Dukes, a band formed in 1963 that played psychedelic rock and hard rock. 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), were 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.[3][4] 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.[5] 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. In 2023, he embarked on a farewell tour known as the "Adios Mofo Tour".

Since the 2000s, Nugent has drawn attention for his outspoken conservative political views and his vociferous advocacy of hunting and gun ownership rights.[6][7] He is a board member of the National Rifle Association and a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He has made a number of threatening statements against advocates of gun control; in one case, the Secret Service investigated him based on his comments about Barack Obama. Since 2015, Nugent has been one of Donald Trump's most outspoken supporters,[8] and has performed at several of Trump's rallies and campaign events.

  1. ^ D'Angelo, Bob (April 21, 2021). "'I thought I was dying': Ted Nugent Tests positive for COVID-19". fox23. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Glor, Jeff (May 4, 2012). "Ted Nugent explodes at notion he's not a moderate". CBS News. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Moseley, Willie G. "Ted Nugent's 1962 Gibson Byrdland". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "Should Politics be Kept Out of Music?". August 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ted Nugent Paid Meatloaf $1,000 To Sing on Free For All Album". 104.1 Jack FM. March 17, 2010. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Root, Jay (May 4, 2012). "Bearing Arms and Cranking Up the Controversy". The New York Times. p. 21A.
  7. ^ "Ted Nugent: Romney Camp 'Expressed Support' After Controversial Comments on Obama". United States: ABC News. May 4, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  8. ^ Payne, Chris (December 16, 2015). "Ted Nugent: 'Donald Trump Is the Hellraiser America Has Needed'". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2024.