Rocker Ted Nugent, who performs in Atlantic City on a triple-bill at Borgata on July 1 — with Styx and Reo Speedwagon — took time to answer an assortment of questions for Atlantic City Weekly. Excerpts from the interview, conducted last week, are below.
Aside from everything that has happened off stage with you in recent weeks, how has the tour been so far, and has any of the political stuff affected the show?
Best damn rockin’ tour of my life! My killer band and killer music is at an all-time high-energy groovefest every night. What I do as a "We the People" activist increases the passion and fire of my music and my performance. I am more inspired than ever and so is every audience. Defiance has a soundtrack and it sounds like "Stranglehold."
A lot of journalists tend to stray from your accomplishments as a seasoned musician and focus on your activism, pro-gun stance, and your political views. What would you like to say to the fans that have stayed loyal to you over the years?
Good thinking. Honest people who cherish this amazing experiment in self-government are my American blood brothers. We are simply the best people on earth.
Do you find that you approach a concert differently when performing in a state such as New Jersey, which is regarded as being mostly "liberal?"
Never. The common sense I celebrate everyday in my life is extremely common and sensible everywhere.
You have been a huge supporter and advocate for our military over the years, and through several wars. Have you been a supporter of all of the wars that have gone on, or have you disagreed with any of them?
Once I became educated to the inescapable truism that good must always wage war against evil, I have supported our incredible U.S. military warriors in everything they do. Evil must be honestly identified and crushed wherever we find it. Our military warriors are the best the world has ever known and I know they will always be prepared to charge into that war on terror whenever and wherever they are sent to do so. I hope we always wage war against evil with everything we got.
With the unemployment rate being what it is throughout the U.S., especially for recent college graduates, what would your proposition be to help alleviate some of their frustration of spending at least four years of being formally educated to get a better job, only to graduate and end up with little to no opportunities?
My system will always facilitate and accomplish the American Dream regardless of level of education. One must put their heart and soul into everything they do, get up earlier, try harder and kick ass on the competition. Negotiate the best compensation you can possibly negotiate, then do such an incredible job that you pass up everyone else. Job One is to work no matter what. Producers are good, non-producers are bad. Period.
With the upcoming presidential election, a lot of young adults are getting ready to vote for the first time. What "words of wisdom" would you give them about voting?
Study the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Vote for believable, passionate, no-nonsense people who convince you that they demand excellence of themselves and policies that reward excellence and respect the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
You have been called a lot of things by a lot of different people. In the end, what legacy do you want to leave behind?
I defy all things status quo and created the soundtrack to go with it.
Click here for the Borgata show information.
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1. Jshootz34 said... on May 22, 2012 at 02:53PM
“Yeah, I have a question/comment: Who cares about Ted Nugent aside from Ted Nugent?”
2. GSmith said... on May 22, 2012 at 03:16PM
“"The common sense I celebrate everyday in my life is extremely common and sensible everywhere." Scintillating. He actually sent that in an e-mail interview? Google "Chainsaw Rally."”
3. Bethann2343 said... on May 22, 2012 at 05:02PM
“Great interview! Ted has grown up, but he has never grown old!”
4. rodflash said... on May 22, 2012 at 06:56PM
“"Producers are good, non-producers are bad. Period. "
Then Ted is bad. He contributes nothing to society any longer, and his poisonous rhetoric is like heroin to the minds dulled by years of Karl Rovian right wing propaganda. He strives to legitimize everything that is bad about our nation. When it was his turn to serve, he soiled himself and refused to bathe for weeks prior to his pre-induction physical.
Nugent is a fraud and a charlatan, and he should have his head chopped off (Hey, it's OK to say that ... Ted set the bar.)”
5. Agent Provocotuer said... on May 23, 2012 at 04:48PM
“
...... Ted Nugent is a total FRAUD!!!! ..... and his music sucks too!!!! ...... rodflash hit the "nugent" right on the head !!!!!”
6. Agent Provocotuer said... on May 23, 2012 at 04:51PM
“
...... Ted Nugent is a total FRAUD!!!! ..... and his music sucks too!!!! ...... rodflash hit the "nugent" right on the head !!!!!”
7. Anonymous said... on May 24, 2012 at 11:25PM
“This Yankee-doodle-DUMMY was so afraid to defend his country that he shit his pants in order to dodge the draft. Brave. Why to the smallest brains have the biggest mouths?
Total fag.”
8. Anti-Guns said... on Jun 28, 2012 at 03:52PM
“Take away the guns and there will be peace.
”