Ted Nugent (born December 13, 1948) aka the Nuge, "the Motor City Madman'", and most recently "Uncle Ted" is a guitarist from Detroit, Michigan, originally gaining fame as a member of the Amboy Dukes, and recently gaining fame (and notoriety) for his support for hunting and conservative political views. Some of his best known songs include "Stranglehold," "Free For All," "Dog Eat Dog," "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang," "Cat Scratch Fever," "Motor City Madhouse," "Great White Buffalo," and "Wango Tango." Nugent gained acclaim for his raucous, intense live music, and still tours frequently today.
The Amboy Dukes' second single was "Journey to the Center of the Mind", which Nugent, an ardent anti-drug campaigner, claimed he didn't know was about drug use. The Amboy Dukes ( 1967), Journey to the Center of the Mind ( 1968) and Migration ( 1969) sold moderately well, establishing a fan base for Nugent and the other Amboy Dukes. Personnel changes nearly wrecked the band, which became known as Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes. Though the group's studio recordings rarely sold well, the band managed to keep a large following.
Ted Nugent dropped the band name and signed to Epic Records in 1975, with Derek St. Holmes (guitar, vocals), Rob Grange (bass) and Cliff Davies (drums and producer) as his back-up. Ted Nugent was his first solo release. The album was a smashing success among the heavy metal community, due mostly to Nugent's immense personality and aggressive guitar and vocals. Personel problems led to St. Holmes' departure from the band before the recording of Free For All ( 1976), with the then unknown Meat Loaf replacing him. St. Holmes returned for Cat Scratch Fever ( 1977); the album was another hit, as was the titular single. Nugent had begun dressing as a caveman for live shows, which were growing more and more extravagant. Double Live Gonzo ( 1978) furthered his fame, though financial problems began to mount.
