Theodore Anthony Nugent (born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He 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 Gibson Byrdland, his bluesy and frenzied guitar playing, and his energetic live shows. 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. 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 later years, Nugent has drawn attention for his outspoken conservative political views, as well as his vociferous advocacy of hunting and gun ownership rights. He is a board member of the National Rifle Association and a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He has made a number of controversial and threatening statements against advocates of gun control; in one case, the Secret Service investigated him based on his comments about President Barack Obama.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes band on his radio programmes and when Ted pursued a solo career in 1975, he played some of his records, but by that time the 80's arrived, many hard rock acts that Peel pursued in the 70's, rarely got airplay.
Shows Played[]
- 02 October 1975: Just What The Doctor Ordered (LP - Ted Nugent) Epic
- 1976
- 15 June 1976: Stormtroopin' (LP - Ted Nugent) Epic
- 17 September 1976: Street Rats (LP - Free-For-All) Epic
- 1977
- 24 May 1977: Cat Scratch Fever (album - Cat Scratch Fever) Epic EPC 82010 copied to PM014
- 24 May 1977: Out Of Control (album - Cat Scratch Fever) Epic EPC 82010 copied to PM014
- John Peel's 70's Mixtape 3A: Wang Dang Sweet Poontang (album - Cat Scratch Fever) Epic EPC 82010
- John Peel's 70's Mixtape 3A / PM014: Homebound (album - Cat Scratch Fever) Epic EPC 82010
- John Peel's 70's Mixtape 3A: Death By Misadventure (album - Cat Scratch Fever) Epic EPC 82010
- 1978
- 01 February 1978: Home Bound (7") Epic
- 09 February 1978: Just What The Doctor Ordered (2xLP - Double Live Gonzo!) Epic
- 07 November 1978: Smokescreen (LP – Weekend Warriors) Epic
- 13 November 1978: Need You Bad (album - Weekend Warriors) Epic
- 1979
- 13 June 1979: Saddle Sore (LP - State Of Shock) Epic
- 18 June 1979: 'Satisfied (LP-State Of Shock)' (Epic)
- 20 June 1979: I Want To Tell You (album - State Of Shock) Epic
- 1980
- 03 June 1980: Flesh & Blood (7”) Epic