Ted Nugent

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Straight Talk - Interviews
Ted Nugent
By Frank Addington Jr.
Mar 26, 2006, 06:03

Political Tedness: One on one with the Motor City Madman

Frank and wife Amanda with Ted

Ted Nugent. The name alone stirs up emotions. Most folks smile and say that they've seen his show, love his music, or have been a fan a long time. Some people are unsure of Ted. One thing for sure, they don't have to agree with him but they can't ignore him.

I was proud to have served with Nuge on the national steering committee for Sportsmen for Bush in the 2004 campaign. I've known him since 1990 or so and consider him a great friend.

Ted is a husband, father, role model, spokesman, patriot and a legendary rock and roll star. Here is an interview I did with him recently. I wrote the questions, emailed them to him, and the responses are in his own words.... here's Ted.

Ted on the YO Ranch

Q.) What drives you?
- the American Dream of being the best that you can be, particularly in this culture war against our hunting & gun rights. I crave good over evil, right over wrong & am compelled to fight alongside all American warriors to bring the real America back to life.

Q.) What's been your greatest accomplishment in life thus far?
- My sons Toby & Rocco, & daughters Sasha & Starr. Brilliant, kind, thoughtful, caring, giving, loving, funny, cocky, hard working Americans all, solidly in the asset column of life.

Q.) What has been most difficult for you to accept in life thus far?
-I refuse to accept or tolerate any abandonment of logic when it comes to affecting my or other's quality of life. Insanity like gun control, Sunday hunting bans, minimum age hunting laws, dove hunting bans, Mao Tse Tung like IRS corruption, government & court corruption, the policies of rewarding pimps, whores & welfare brats & all other mindless liberal antiAmerican buffoonery. It is all completely unacceptable.

Q.)    You've been called the "Motor City Madman" and you are a huge rock and roll star. Yet politically you are conservative and you often speak family values. How do you think most of the rock and roll establishment views you?
-I don't have to guess at people's take on me as I have a wonderful open communication and relationship with a far reaching cross section of Americans and people from around the world. Though ignorant judgemental people make fools of themselves attacking me based on ignorance, I experience mostly respectful dialog across the board from all but the lunatic fringe.

Q.)    Tell me about how you got started in archery. What age, etc.
-Wow! This one could take forever for I was baptized by my father, Warren Nugent into the wonderful world of the Mystical Flight of the Arrow way back in 1952 at the tender age of 3 and have progressively gotten more intense about it every year since. I still crave archery & bowhunting as a powerful positive force in my quality of life.

Q.)    You & Papa Bear became close before his passing. Tell us about how you feel about this great man.
- I was fortunate to be born in 1948 in Michigan and my father, Warren Nugent had already been effected by the great Fred Bear. On our annual opening day family bowhunting trips north we would often stop and visit with Fred at his ever growing Bear Archery shop. Over the years, my admiration and respect increased and I was lucky to become close friends with Fred and Henrietta. I shared his last earthly campfire on his last hunt in October of 1987. Shortly after his death in 1988, what has become a widespread American hunter's themesong erupted in me, and but one listening to the song FRED BEAR clearly defines how I and so many others feel about this great visionary conservationist. I feel his powerful and enlightening presence constantly.

Q.)    Do you ever get emotional when you play "FRED BEAR" and see thousands of young fans singing along?!? Wonder what Papa Bear would think?!?
- I've performed that song at over a thousand concerts for millions of people since 1989 and the emotions are overwhelming everytime. It is always one of my most difficult moments in life doing all I can to pay tribute to the great man without losing it. I am sure Fred would be proud how I have promoted his vision and hunting dreams to billions of people through this powerful piece of music.

Q.)    What are a few of your favorite hunting trips and why?
- I truly cherish every outing with family and friends and being so lucky to hunt every day of every season loads up my happy memory bank beyond the overflow I assure you. Being with my amazing wife Shemane, sons Toby and Rocco and daughters Sasha and Starr and my grandchildren makes every moment afield deeply spiritual and gratifying. Add to that monstrous level of joy the fact that many families have asked that I take their terminally ill children on their last hunts puts it into a realm of emotion and fulfillment the likes of which I otherwise could have never imagined. It never really matters "where", but always with "whom".

Q.)    Your favorite trophy?
- My favorite trophies are every head of game my children and wife have killed because the overall experience is so deeply gratifying.

Proud Papa with son Rocco

Q.)    My father bowhunted with you last year in Canada. He was skeptical prior to the hunt and came away a Ted fan. It takes a lot to impress my dad. A few weeks after the hunt he was at our home and heard a DVD I was playing and you played the first few lines of cat scratch fever and he knew the song! I was blown away. Perhaps if more people were exposed to the real Ted they'd know your heart is for what is best for our sport. Say someone reading this interview is skeptical. What should they know about your intentions for bowhunting?
- The only way a person could be skeptical of me is if they have had their head buried in the sand all their lives or they are just plain goofy enough to listen to petty rumors. I have dedicated my life to properly and effectively promote hunting, conservation and gun rights in the major media of the world since way back in the 1960's. That anyone could be unaware of my amazing Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids or the enormous list of awards I have received for conservation, youth, law enforcement and military benefits, all in the name of hunting and 2nd Amendment rights on every imaginable media there is, represents a souless disconnect to the world around them. Particularly during this insane culture war against all that is good, hunting and gun rights being the tip of the spear, such apathy and intentional disconnect is an indictment to the desouling of America. I have nothing to say to my critics or those who are skeptical of me as I am much too busy doing good anyway. I only pray that such disconnect is being condemned for the embarrassing counterproductive negative that it is and that as soon as possible, these people rediscover what an experiment in "self government" is supposed to be.

Q.)    You are in a blind and see an animal you plan to harvest. Walk us through what happens next as you prepare for the shot...
- First of all, I don't harvest animals, I kill them. And in order to follow God's tooth, fang and claw orders as a conscientious, reasoning predator, 99% of my hunting responsibilities have already taken place elevating my overall predator level of awareness by disciplining myself to be the best that I can be. I become one with the beast, one with the spirit, one with my bow and arrow and one with the wind. That mindset connects me with the soul of the good mother earth and her magnificent beasts so that I read her pulse to know the moment of truth. Killing game at spitting distance with a sharp stick is serious business. Gargantuan fun, yet serious nonetheless. I say a Prayer for the Wildthings and follow God's rules.

Q.)   Please finish this line... "Today's sportsmen/women all need to...
- "be members of the NRA and their state hunting organizations at the very least. We all need to be as active as we possibly can be with our elected officials, the media, schools, church groups, youth groups and society in general always standing up for and promoting hunting rights and 2nd Amendment rights upgrades. Every state in America drastically needs improved, more logical user friendly regulations, or better stated, de-regulation.

Q.)    How many people see you annually between your shows, your interviews and your concerts?
- Recently in a single week, I articulated the good hunting and gun message to more than 1 billion people worldwide. Cooking wild game on Letterman, Conan, promoting turkey hunting on Howard Stern, Bob and Tom, Rush Limbaugh, Larry King, the BBC, live simulcast concerts around the world and more print and electronic media we could possibly list here, I fight hard to show the world how perfect hunting, fishing, trapping and self defense are. On an average, I impact millions weekly with a sincere, fact drenched message for the good guys.

The heart of a hunter and patriot, rockin on stage

Q.)   How did your VH-1 show rate? What about your current reality show---how's it doing?
- SURVIVING NUGENT was #1 on VH1 and CMT, while Wanted Ted Or Alive remains #1 on OLN. TED NUGENT SPIRIT OF THE WILD has the most viewers on The Outdoor Channel as well.

Q.)    Any political plans?-To be as active "we the people" American as I can possibly be. I may run for governor of MI in 2010.

Well my friend, since 1990 I have watched you in action. You are the real deal. I am proud to call you a friend and I hope that you will continue to do what you do for all of us. You have however inspired me to speak up a little more on controversial issues and last year at a show someone called me a "right wing bow marksmen." That is your fault Ted---you inspired me to speak out. Thank you.

Frank Addington, Jr.
"The Aspirin Buster"