Straight to Video
Rock Art Rock
See more in the Rock Art Rock gallery.
polls
Loading ...
Pages: 1 2
Questions and Answers With Ted Nugent
Over the past few months, this column has carried its share of commentary on the Democratic nominating contest. We’ve explored what I recently termed “the Obama/indie-rock love-fest” and a variety of related topics, with our coverage often skewing leftward. That’s simply a reflection of our personal political leanings, but being an equal-opportunity column, it’s only fair to delve into Republican politics at least once in a while. Not content with featuring any old Republican in this week’s installment of the Smoke-Filled Room, we set out to find a musical figure that embodies contemporary conservatism and could shed some light on the state of affairs in the Grand Old Party. We found Ted Nugent.
Nugent, an avid hunter and frequent social commentator, is likely better-known for his off-stage antics and politics than his rock records. But the latter are sorely underrated. The Detroit rocker knows his way around a guitar and is a remarkably durable and consistent live performer. Responsible for the classic live album Double Live Gonzo!, Cat Scratch Fever, and dozens of other muscular rock records, he continues to tour and add to an impressive discography. But his right-wing politics will define his legacy.
We spoke with the gun-toting, red-blooded rocker about politics, James Brown, why suspected burglars should be denied the benefit of a trial and killed, and the proliferation of welfare bloodsuckers.
Mr. Nugent, as his staff insists on calling him, would only grant us an email interview. However, he did respond to my questions with a message titled “The Nuge Responds”, which sort of sounds like “The Dude Abides” and, well, that’s good enough for me.
With Nugent, it’s hard to know where his well-honed image ends and the real Ted begins. Does this man really think that burglars should be denied a trial and executed on the spot? Pardon us for saying, but that seems a little crazy. But he insists that he’s “dead serious.” And that scares us to death.
I’ve made a few changes to protect the innocent and the grammatically challenged (I’m looking at you, Nuge!)—otherwise, here’s the email exchange precisely as it happened.
Crawdaddy!: Tell me a bit about your political philosophy. Obviously, the Second Amendment has a lot to do with it. What’s behind the evolution of Ted Nugent’s political views?
Ted Nugent: I’m addicted to logic, self-evident truth, goodwill, decency, and the instinctual drive to be the best that you can be. The US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Ten Commandments, Golden Rule, Declaration of Independence, and Emancipation Proclamation guide my American Dream nicely. And, of course, all things James Brown, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Rosa Parks, Davy Crockett, Wilson Pickett, the mighty Funk Brothers, and beyond inspire my Gibson Byrdland soundtrack to the above.
Crawdaddy!: People tend to focus a lot on your political leanings (i.e. you’re often referred to as “right-wing rocker” instead of simply “rocker”). Does that bother you? Would you rather your political and musical identities were not intertwined to such a degree?
Nugent: The best music comes from the soul of a person who truly cherishes life and evokes those emotions, dreams, defiance, irreverence, and sheer joy through his musical creative stream of consciousness. Considering that every musical idea worth dancing to came from this glowing experiment in self-government says it all. You can’t rock like this in France.
Crawdaddy!: You recently became embroiled in a bit of controversy when you profanely expressed your dislike for Democratic presidential contenders Senator Clinton and Senator Obama—especially with regard to their stances on gun control. At the time, in response to questions about the show, you said that “trying to explain the intensity of over the top outrageous irreverent rock ‘n’ roll is like trying to explain an orgasm to a eunuch. If some people don’t get it, I am not here to help them through the quagmire.” Do you still feel that way, that this was all just part of having a good time at a rock show?
Nugent: This stunning confluence of music, words, and gestures defined the moment both literally and figuratively. I stand by it on all counts.
Crawdaddy!: Speaking of the presidential race, you joined Chuck Norris in supporting Mike Huckabee on the Republican side of the race. What made him the most appealing candidate and what do you make of Senator McCain—will you be supporting him?
Nugent: Though I dearly admire Mike Huckabee as a profound leader, great American, and personal friend, I, in fact, did not officially endorse his candidacy. I was however there behind the scenes with him throughout. I am convinced that Mike would have brought about an enormous upgrade for quality of life in America overall. John McCain is an American hero, occasionally a decent political employee, but inconsistent as hell on critical issues like border security, immigration reform, tax reform, education reform, court reform, and Second Amendment reform. We shall see. I hope to meet with John soon to remind him what we, the productive people, expect from our chief employee in this experiment in self-government.
Crawdaddy!: You’ve been quoted in the past as saying that you were seriously considering running for office. Is that still a possibility?
Nugent: Yes.
Crawdaddy!: There was even a point in time when you seemed to be the leading contender to become Governor of Michigan. What happened?
Nugent: My threat to bring self-evident truth back into my beloved home state of Michigan was genuine and sincere. I thought that the Republican candidate at the time could do the job. I was wrong.
Crawdaddy!: You’ve also been quoted discussing your potential gubernatorial platform, saying: “To show you how radical I am, I want carjackers dead. I want rapists dead. I want burglars dead. I want child molesters dead. I want the bad guys dead. No court case. No parole. No early release. I want ‘em dead. Get a gun and when they attack you, shoot ‘em.” Seriously? Or, like with the Clinton and Obama comments, is it a bit of an act?
Nugent: Dead serious.
Pages: 1 2
35 Comments
Ted is soooo cool.
Ted is so right!
I believe Matt, in the introduction to the interview, expressed Crawdaddy’s leftist leanings, and that what Ted said “scares us.”
You don’t get more Republican than the Nuge, and this interview exposes him (in his own words) with utter hilarity, as the backwoods idiot he is. Nothing wrong with that, IMO.
Aren’t we already on the Planet of the apes?
I think that when Ted says suspected burglers should be killed he means if a burgler breaks into your home you should kill him and I totally agree !!!!
Ted may be a bit over the top, but he’s no idiot. The sheep that swarm to Obama, that’s a different story.
Hey beer., you wanna see “scares us”? Check out The Nuge’s on-stage banter http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=757_1187963465
Ted talks a heap of sense. It may be extreme for some people, but as someone whose mom was recently mugged by a waste-of-skin little puke that put her in the hospital with a cracked skull, I wholeheartedly agree that we shouldn’t keep protecting these douchebags. Trial? Do they give their victims options? No? Why should we give them options? Screw that. If people believed in some of these “extreme viewpoints” more clearly, perhaps there would be less victims in this world.
Ted makes a helluva lot of sense. Too damn bad we cant get a Republican into office with the guts and insight of Ted Nugent. The USA would be a helluva lot better place for it…..
If these political leftists won’t stand up for liberty, they should be replaced. It’s a great thing that Mr. Nugent is willing to speak for what he believes and lets the truth land where it belongs. Thank you, Ted, for speaking the truth.
Fuck the Nuge. What an asshole. He speaks for so many mouthbreathing fuckwits.
BTW, he himself is a”child molester,” due to his statutory rape of some 15 year old chick back in the 1970s. No trial–shoot him!
What is sickening is the lack or respect of person and people’s property. I’m with the Nuge, if you have the balls to want to violate someones life or property, expect to get them blown off. Call an Ace an Ace. If you are a vololator, no way in hell will you ever be a victim. The true victim should never be put in jail for defending himself or family. The The US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Ten Commandments, Golden Rule, Declaration of Independence, and Emancipation Proclamation, 2nd amedments were put there for a reason and should stay and be respected as is and remain unchanged. Liberals should not change them and turn the US socialistic. The US parties need to stop pissing away our money over differences or giving it to our enemies and should start doing what is right for America and its citizens. yes the Nuge may seem over the top and seem a little dramatic, you have to look beyond that and try to understand the common sense behind his thinking….. I understand him because some of the same things piss me off, not just because he says it. I wish America would have the balls to stand in unison and say no more Mr. nice guy! and vote out the people who want to distroy America as we know her. Globalists are traitors and want to sell us out. Keep jobs here. Vote people who are nationalists into power who do what is right for America.
One of the reasons America is so great is that idiots like the Nuge can speak without fear of being put to sleep.
Fuck Nugent said – Wednesday, April 16, 2008 07:59 PM
“Fuck the Nuge. What an asshole. He speaks for so many mouthbreathing fuckwits.
BTW, he himself is a”child molester,” due to his statutory rape of some 15 year old chick back in the 1970s. No trial–shoot him!”
Hey Ahmed, you are so full of it. Always with your false accusations. Where is your proof?
Did Ted concur with himself? Hi-larious.
Gotta wonder why a magazine with the history Crawdaddy has would run an interview with this enormous asshole and not express a single opposing view, or take him to task for anything.
He used to come on Detroit rock radio and say things like “old enough to bleed, old enough to breed.” So shall we shoot him with no trial now?
Oh, and just google “Ted Nugent underage girls” and you’ll get a few thousand hits.
Ted is pretty well versed on the second amendment. Not so much on 5-8.
SHOOT FIRST AND ASK NAMES LATER
If he was speaking without fear, why wouldn’t he do a real interview and not just respond to email questions?
Michiganders know about this guy. He’ll never run for office, his past is too well known. He’s lucky though, he won’t suffer the fate he wants for OTHER child molesters.
Ted Nugent does not deserve the dignity of an intelligent response!!!! Simply put…he is a complete IDIOT! One does not have to delve into his brain…HE DOESN’T HAVE ONE. Oh, to conclude, those (folks?) who agree with him have no right to consider themselves, even loosely, associated with this magazine or rock ‘n roll, for that matter. Ted’s biggest thrill besides killing, would be to “kneel” submissively, in front of George Bush!!! with a “mouthfull” of treson!!!!
Ted Nugent is one of the leading assholes in his state. The next good song he writes will be the first one. I wouldn’t turn my head to watch this ignorant jackoff perform.
CANDY ASS FUCKS!LISTEN TO WHAT HE’S SAYING NOT HOW HE SAYS IT
GET OFF YOUR ASS GET A JOB AND IF YOU STEAL MURDER OR RAPE BE PREPARED TO DIE
VOTE if you dont vote your comments are a waste of my time and every one who reads them if you dont vote shut up I dont agree with ted but he speakes what he thinks is right which is better than alot people these days who say what is policticly corect and not what they think!!!! I VOTE AND SO DOSE TED!!!VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE if you dont vote your comments are a waste of my time and every one who reads them if you dont vote shut up I dont agree with ted but he speakes what he thinks is right which is better than alot people these days who say what is policticly corect and not what they think!!!! I VOTE AND SO DOSE TED!!!VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
Nugent is another right-wing chickenhawk who avoided service in Vietnam but loves seeing other people’s kids go to war. Ted only shoots at things that shoot back.
oops! I meant to say that Ted only shoots at things that DON’T shoot back.
No right to consider themselves associated w/ rock ‘n roll, huh? Let me tell you somethin’, xxzeon!! There are PLENTY of us conservatives out here to ABSOLUTELY LOVE Rock ‘N Roll (Heavy Metal–Esp. Hair Metal tian Hair Metal being my forte’) a part of it whether you like it or not(Always have been, always WILL BE, bub!!!)!!! Yessiree, as far as I’m concerned, Rock ‘N Roll rvatism go together like Mom Pie (Or should I say, HUMBLE Pie?! J/K)!! To quote Ron Keel EST of the members of Keel we have our “RIGHT TO ROCK!!!” so quote Cinderella, “If You Don’t Like It, I Don’t Care!!!”. It’s left-wing politics like yours that’re leadin’ this country down the drain ds The New World Order!!! I’m with Rush Limbaugh when he says, “I hope Obama fails!!”. Obama is a JOKE!!! He’s THE ABSOLUTE WORST President we’ve had since Carter, tell you somethin’ else: If there’s one thing we DON’T NEED in this here country is SOCIALISM!! And that’s exactly the destructive path Obama’s leadin’ us down!!! Don’t be like Ted Nugent?!! What’s that ya say?!!! I’d proudly take ol’ Uncle Ted over ANY of the left wing nuts who run this here Website ANYDAY!!! It has been said that there are TWO TYPES of people in this here world: Those that live their lives by preference (Liberals) who live their lives by CONVICTION (Us Conservatives)!!! Which, sir, do you live your life by, hmmmmmmmmm?!! ‘Nuff said!!!
I think I am going to have to disagree with Cyberman.
Obama is worse than Carter. At least after Carter we were able to recover, thanks to Reagan.
I don’t even think our nation will survive long enough to vote the piece of communist crap out of office. He makes FDR and Woodrow Wilson look like Reagan.
I have never seen a president work so hard and so fast do everything in their power, and several things not in their power, to devistate this country.
Obama has spend more of money in the first 2 months of his presidency then Bush did in all 8 years of his presidency and I thought Bush was out of control. And with Obama, there does not seem to be an end in sight.
We are losing our liberty so fast that by the time you read this post it will be all gone. Thank you, you moronic, brainless, twits who voted for Obama. “I want change, I want change”. Yeah thanks. I JUST WANT THE CONSTITUTION BACK AND FIRE ALL THESE POWER HUNGRY BUTTHEADS OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT!!!
Nugent is a parasitic troll. You shouldn’t feed him your attention/energy.
Nugent rules. Period.
It may be from having read the garbage ol gutless chickenshit chickenhawk nuge spewed or for having wasted my time reading his interview, kinda like the chickenhawk or the egg. Hey Teddy what’s say we do a ‘High Noon’, just you and me. I stopped really living a while ago so either you but me out of misery or I put the people with any sense out of theirs by shutting up that bug mouth of yours!
Nugent is an ignorance-fueled, self-promoting redneck. Definitely not worth wasting even the few seconds it takes to type this on..
What a complete jerk. Why waste space with this crap?