The Ambow Dukes' second single was "Journey to the Center of the Mind", which Nugent 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 was an exciting live group and managed to keep a large following.
Ted Nugent dropped the name and signed to Columbia Records in 1975, with Derek St. Holmes[?] (guitar, vocals), Rob Grange[?] (bass) and Cliff Davies[?] (drums) as his back-up. Ted Nugent[?] was his first solo release; the album was a success among the heavy metal community. Personnel problems led to St Holmes' departure before recording Free For All[?] (1976) with Meat Loaf, then unknown, replacing him. St. Holmes returned for Cat Scratch Fever (1977) 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) increased his superstardom even further, though personality and financial problems continued to drive band members away.
During the 1980s, Nugent released a series of generally ignored albums. Near the end of the decade, however, Nugent joined a supergroup, Damn Yankees[?], with Jack Blades[?] (bass, vocals, formerly of Night Ranger[?]), Tommy Shaw[?] (guitar, vocals, formerly of Styx) and Michael Cartellone[?] (drums). Damn Yankees[?] (1990) was a hit, but the group was unable to sustain any momentum.
Returning to his solo career, Nugent released Spirit of the Wild[?], his best reviewed album in quite some time. A series of archival releases came out in the 1990s, keeping Nugent's name in the national consciousness; he also began hosting a radio show in Detroit and owns several hunting-related businesses.
Search Encyclopedia
|
Featured Article
|