Mathieu Deflem wrote:
 

Hi friends,
A few words about the Chicago shows to fill you in. Well, guess!? It was a TOTAL NUGIFIED blast, both shows at the House of Blues, December 28 & 29. The two shows started with a audio compilation tape (about 5 to 10 minutes or so) of the Nuge's most (in)famous songs, typically the beginning of the songs to teeze us. Then the music would start and the curtain slowly open, the Nuge with his back to the crowd, carefully but surely and unforgivingly getting into a thundering version of KLSTRBK (from the Hunt Music CD) and then blistering into a barrage of classic Nuge hits and rockers, old and new. Among the songs he played (both shows had the same set list or just about) were: Yank Me Crank Me - Great White Buffalo - Cat Scratch Fever - Stranglehold - Fred Bear (acoustic with Marco on fretless bass, sitting by a campfire) - Soul Man - Free For All - Paralyzed - Hey Baby (Marco on lead vocals) - Tooth Fang and Claw - Spirit of the Wild - Kiss My Ass - Snakeskin Cowboys - Need You bad (only 2nd show??) - Wang Dang Sweet Poontang - Motor City Madhouse.

Both shows were about two hours long (Mad Mordigan played half an hour in support). At the first show the Janet Reno routine during Kiss My Ass didn't work perfectly, the entire figure falling down rather than just her (his) skirt, but Ted made a cool joke about it and her manhood was soon revealed! The Nuge also made some Tedlicious observations about how the Chicago guitar players had the right hair style and tattoos but could never match the skills of "Ted ***ing Nugent". At some point he was shaking the hand of a guy on the front row and going on about not hugging guys! And, yes, that guy was me, I'm damn' well pleased to say (shaking my hand, he gave me a dozen guitar picks too!). He also played some other songs during Yank Me Crank Me (a great arrangement, totally different from the studio and Double Live versions!). I thought he played some bars of Homebound at one point (a fellow Nugeneer figured it was Hybernation). During the second show he made a reference to having formed the Amboy Dukes in the Chicago area and then started to play a few bars of an Amboy Dukes tune (I think it was Journey to the Center...). The Reno bow shot and revelation of her/his true identity were perfect this time! The second show was about the same, though I recall the solo during Great White Buffalo being longer and better.

The cool thing about House of Blues is that it is an intimate venue and that seating is general. So you just get there early, have dinner at the place and they let you in first if you care to wait in line for a few hours or so (which I did and I was frontrow at both shows). On Friday in the afternoon, Ted also did a book signing at Borders. He was very very nice, taking time to talk to each of us for a minute or so and siging our book and goodies. Good thing I took along my vinyl copy of Free For All (purchased more than 20 years ago)!

Hey, any doubt, this was all around great! Next year, I'll try and catch all the shows, because, yes friends, when it comes to rocking 'n' rollin' there is only one alpha male!

Best,
Mathieu

P.S. Forgot to say that anyone interested in a momentum of the shows should wait 'til Ted's son Rocco cmes out with drum sticks, guitar picks, etc. to sell them for the right price after the show! Ten bucks for a Tommy Aldridge stick, well worth it! Good golly!
 

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We walk in as the Motor City Madman is holding court. The skinny afro-wearing skin basher is instantly recognizable-it's Tommy Aldridge! From Ozzy, hell, from Black Oak Arkansas! Aldridge has to be the oldest guy playing tonight, which, c'mon, is saying a lot. Yet, he looks virtually not a day older than when he bashed for Ozzy and, who else was it, Coverdale? It's confusing, because Carmine Appice, Ansley Dunbar, Cozy Powell (RIP) and Tommy seemed interchangeable in the '80s, going from one commercial metal band to another, dropping the checks in the bank as they rolled. He was the MAN with Black Oak, who seemingly are back in critical vogue with the Stoner Rock uprising. (Limey heroes, Black Sab; Yankee heroes, Black Oak). Needless to say, Aldridge is still a motherfucker and can take most drummers a third his age to school and back. The Nuge, well, the Nuge is the Nuge, isn't he? 
Terrible Ted was in top form singing about poontang, blazing nasty, bluesy leads, and offending Democrats. Gone are his sissy Paul Reed Smith guitars - he's back wrangling the rock from those big, fat Gibson Byrdlands. Nice. Nugent played all of the hits and repeatedly reminded us that he was from Detroit. It seemed as if he was trying to bond with the Bakersfield home team, a battered-looking aggregation of bikers, mini-skirted rock hags still clinging to '80s groupie-chic, speed burnouts, and middle-class diehards with their kids in tow. Ted claimed this was "the real California" as opposed to us cell phone jacking cretins from L.A. Fair enough, I'll stay in L.A. anyway. Ted went on to slam pretty much all of Washington and vegetarians worldwide in a heartwarming little ditty called "Kiss My Ass." While Ted has gained popularity as a right-winged radio personality, to this reporter his strongpoint is not his political views but his approach to a blues scale. Keep it basic, Ted, leave the podium to the squares. We just wanna hear "Stranglehold" and "Cat Scratch Fever," which you still deliver letter-perfect. As he launched into the lengthy "Great White Buffalo," I donned my loincloth and went hunting for a beer and a sandwich. 
Cheers!
Void
 
 

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BoodBrotherGregrey F. Lind wrote:






Volker-

Thought you might be interested in an encounter with the original
whackmaster himself...Ted Nugent at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina.  First of all, let me tell you this...I am an avid concert
goer and on occassion take my children along with me.  I have two daughters,
aged 12 and 15.  Both are into Hanson, TLC, and all the other recent garbage
being produced.  I decided to take them with me, along with my wife.  Nobody
really cared to go except me as I am a long-time fan of Ted Nugent.  Anyway,
we got there about an hour before the doors opened and grabbed a place in
line.  When the doors were opened, I immediately led my family to the stage,
front and center.  We secured that spot and waited for Ted.  We listened to
two opening bands that were pretty good, but I was anxiously awaiting the
arrival of the Motor City madman himself.  At long last he came on stage and
began the show.  I was mesmerized.  His music filled my soul.  My wife was
getting into it, but my children seemed un-phased.  Suddenly the music
stopped and Ted approached the area of the stage where we were positioned.
I had given my kids the front position by the rail.  Ted began to speak.  He
looked directly at both of my children and said, "52 years, CLEAN and
SOBER!"  He then reached into the sweat bands that adorned his wrists and
removed at least 10 guitar picks and placed them in the hands of my children
as he again stated, "CLEAN and SOBER, got it?"  My oldest child broke out in
tears and I could tell that she was very touched.  We enjoyed the rest of
the show and left for the long 3 hour drive home.  All my oldest daughter
could talk about was Ted and his being clean and sober for so many years.  I
had taught her that it is a good thing to be clean and sober, but Ted's
words had driven that thought straight home, like an arrow through the heart
of a deer!  Suddenly, Ted is the man in our house.  Both kids love his music
and what he stands for!  That can't seem to get enough of him.  I am very
pleased with what Ted had done for me that night.  He had set an example
that I know both of my children now will assuredly follow, although I will
continue to preach to them.  I have shared some of Ted's exploits with them,
including his quest for the hunt.  Guess what?  Both want to go hunting with
me this season.  I just cannot describe everything that the simple words of
a great man have done to assist me in raising two decent children.  THANK
YOU TED NUGENT.  I am and will always be your bloodbrother.

Greg
 
 

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   From the TNUSA Messageboard these Words from JimmyMetal:
   (thanks Jimmy!)

 1.       What a tour !!!!
 

Hey guys, I'm new to the board and I caught the Kiss & Nuge tour 7 times and what a tour it was!!! Unfortunately, I missed Uncle Ted twice (in Jones Beach, LI & Scranton, PA) due to traffic. I go to tons of metal shows and as Uncle Ted has stated this WAS the metal/rock tour of the year!!!!! 
Anyway, the highlight of this tour was catching Kiss & Uncle Ted in Binghamton, NY last Friday (9/15) in the FRONT row DEAD center. The show was general admission, so I got there 4 hours before the doors opened to get the best seat in the house. Uncle Ted was also playing "Fred Bear" w/campfire for one of the first times (he wasn't playing FB earlier in the tour). Trust me, I was right in front of the camp fire and it was awesome. The only downer for this tour was having Skid Row on the bill, as they suck and their set time could have went to Kiss & Uncle Ted. But no big deal. Uncle Ted was on his game EVERY time I caught him and it makes one wonder, does this guy ever slow down??? If anyone wants a concert review let me know.

Now I met Uncle Ted at his book signing in NYC (I posted a review in the GD forum) this past Wednesday (9/20) and my buddy and myself asked Uncle Ted a few questions. There were some questions about Uncle Ted playing in Canada w/Kiss, but he clearly told us that was never planned as he schedules touring around his hunting. That also explains squeezing in the NYC Irving Plaza show between Providence, RI & Syracuse, NY (instead of coming back after Canadian dates). 

I also asked Uncle Ted about Derrick St. Holmes possibly touring in the future. Uncle Ted told me that he likes singing the hits himself (its more fun for him), but he wouldn't rule it out in the future. 

Someone asked how the Kiss guys are. I have met them all a few times (at signing "functions") and they are really cool, like Uncle Ted. I'm sure Uncle Ted has a good friendship w/Kiss, as they go way back and have toured together many times. 

In regards to the Irving Plaza show, does anyone know the set list??? How long did Uncle Ted play for??? I hope Uncle Ted cracks out "Just what the Doctor Ordered," "I love you so I told you a lie," and "Wango Tango" in the future. 

Anyway, I would like to close this post w/a "borrowed" line...."How about a big round of applause for your Uncle Ted!!!!"
 
 
 

 2.     Met Uncle Ted in NYC
 

Hey guys I hope I'm not to late w/this, but I met Uncle Ted at the Borders Book store in NYC this past Wednesday (9/20). I found out about this at the LAST minute and I blew off work to meet Uncle Ted. The Nuge was in NYC mainly to promote his new book on the Geraldo show (on the same day), which you all know about. 
I had never met Uncle Ted before and he was REALLY cool. I had heard that the Nuge could be rude, but that was NOT the case. The guy who told me that must be a Clinton supporter!! I was tipped off about the signing by a friend of mine who went to the Syracuse, NY book signing (on 9/16). 

My friend and myself were the first two people there for the noon-2PM signing (we arrived at 10:30am). The Nuge arrived w/his wife dead on time and he shook everyone's hand on line who attended (before he sat down and signed). I got four items signed: my book (of course), a classic live Nuge 8x10 photo that he sells there, my Cat Scratch Fever original gatefold album cover, and my Free For All (remastered) CD booklet cover. 

I also got a picture w/Uncle Ted and I asked him questions about music (in regards to Meatloaf & Derrick St. Holmes). You could shoot the breeze w/Uncle Ted about anything, as he was more than happy to rap w/the fans. 

The only "odd" thing was the light turnout, as not many people knew about it. I thought a NYC signing would be a madhouse, especially since the Syracuse, NY signing was packed. Go figure. But I didn't care, as a larger turnout might have had the line move like a production line. 

To Uncle Ted, thanks for being cool and I hope you come back to NYC to do another signing (for whatever you are promoting) in the future. But you might want to promote it better, as it is still listed as NOT confirmed in your signings section on this site. Trust me, not many people knew about the signing (not in the papers or radio) and people I told about it (after the fact) were shocked that they didn't hear about it. I was told that it wasn't even mentioned at the Irving Plaza NYC show (3 days earlier). BUT after reading about your "altercation" w/the idiot protestors in SF, I can now see why you might have wanted to keep this signing in particular (NYC) lowkey. Again, thanks for the great day Uncle Ted!!!!
 

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