Happy Birthday today (Dec. 13) to Ted Nugent. The rocker is 70. Other birthdays today include singer Amy Lee of Evanescence (37), drummer Morgan Rose of Sevendust (50), bassist Dana Strum of Slaughter (60) and guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers) turns 70. In remembrance, drummer Pat Torpey of Mr. Big would have been 65.
No matter what your opinion of Ted Nugent, you can’t deny the guy rocks! Ted Nugent first gained fame as lead guitarist with the band The Amboy Dukes, who scored a hit in 1968 with “Journey to the Center of the Mind”. He would then embark on a solo career with a string of hits in the 1970’s including “Stranglehold”, “Cat Scratch Fever”, and “Wango Tango”. He was also a member of the supergroup Damn Yankees which formed in 1989 and also featured Tommy Shaw from Styx, Jack Blades from Night Ranger and future Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone. In 2011, Ted Nugent reunited with singer Derek St. Holmes (who was the singer and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent’s successful early solo career) for some live shows. A new album entitled The Music Made Me Do It was released in November. I got to meet Uncle Ted at The Chance in Poughkeepsie a some years back after a show (see photo below.) The band actually had a catered bbq in the parking lot of the venue following the concert. I remember having some great pulled pork and brisket. Good times. Cheers to Uncle Ted on his 70th birthday today!
Featured image photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images