Known globally as the 'Motorcity Madman', the gun slinging, loin cloth wearing guitarist TED NUGENT is as known for his uncompromising Rock n' Roll attitude as his vocal promotion of hunting. Not only does he revel in his appreciation of game hunting, the outspoken musician also extends his lifestyle to television programmes, courses, instructional videos and cookery books. This parallel persona to his brand of raucous arena Rocking and prodigious album output has seen Nugent's national profile maintained at a high over three decades. As such, Nugent has become one of the few instantly recognisable characters of the Rock genre and a household name in America.

Under the guidance of guitar teacher Joe Podorsek from the Capitol School of Music on Grand River Avenue, Nugent first picked up his instrument of profession in 1957. His debut live performance, at just ten years old, was at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in the summer of 1958 with Joe Podorsek and the Capitol School of Music Revue.

Nugent first came to national attention fronting THE AMBOY DUKES, an act that released a string of Hard Rockin' albums throughout the late 60's and early 70's. The band had built itself up to the status of a major concert draw with Nugent's instinct for self-promotion famously culminating in "Guitar battles" with the likes of FRANK MARINO and MC5's Wayne Kramer. From 1967 onwards, THE AMBOY DUKES had published a stream of rustic though high quality records such as 1971's 'Survival Of The Fittest', 1973's 'Call Of The Wild' and 1974's 'Fang, Tooth & Claw'. However, as time went on, and band membership ebbed and flowed, THE AMBOY DUKES morphed into the TED NUGENT band.

Nugent's first eponymously titled release, issued in November of 1975 and produced by Tom Werman, featured a band comprising of ex-SCOTT vocalist / guitarist Derek St. Holmes, AMBOY DUKES refugee Rob Grange on bass and drummer Cliff Davies. The guitarist had arranged his business dealings with the AEROSMITH management team of Leber / Krebs and duly scored a fresh recording contract with Columbia Records. Nugent's first steps into a solo career proved a resounding success, with the record achieving a Billboard top thirty placing.

However, friction internally saw the exit, then return, of St. Holmes. Heavyweight vocalist MEAT LOAF makes an appearance lending backing vocals to 1976's 'Free For All'. Touring in the USA witnessed a run of supports for BLACK SABBATH in December 1976. BAD COMPANY bassist Boz Burrell contributes backing vocals to 1977's 'Cat Scratch Fever'. This record proved a huge international hit, promoting the band to arena sell out status. The title track also scored at radio, giving Nugent a life time anthem in the process, whilst 'Wang Dang sweet Poontang' also clearly marked itself out as an all time Rock classic. With his star ascending, Nugent deftly enhanced his role of the â??Wildmanâ? guitarist by dressing in animal skins, coyote tail and Indian headdress whilst using a rope to swing out onto the stage.

Nugent would issue his piece de resistance during February of 1978 as 'Double Live Gonzo', probably one of the most raucous live albums ever recorded hit no. 13 in the U.S. Billboard charts. Both St. Holmes and Grange jumped ship to form ST. PARADISE in 1978 with former MONTROSE drummer Denny Carmassi. St. Holmes went on to create the short-lived WHITFORD/ST. HOLMES with AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford. Replacements for the November 1978 'Weekend Warriors' album were vocalist Charlie Huhn and former DIRTY ANGEL bassist David Hull.

For 1979's 'State Of Shock' Hull lost his place to bass player Walter Monohan and promptly teamed up with ex AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry in the JOE PERRY PROJECT. 'Scream Dream', released in 1980, continued the momentum equalling Nugent's best chart position so far matching 'Double Live Gonzo' at no. 13.

Nugent switched labels to Atlantic Records in late 1981, re-recruiting St. Holmes, Huhn having toured with GARY MOORE and joined Germans VICTORY, and adding a fresh rhythm section of bassist Dave Kiswiney and erstwhile VANILLA FUDGE / CACTUS / KGB drummer CARMINE APPICE. Many would view this next period of Nugent's career as considerably tamer than previous, studio albums often going for a more refined approach.

Major line up ructions occurred upfront of the 'Penetrator' album, as Nugent dispensed with his entire band. Aiding him for the next effort were Portsmouth born ex SHY / WHITE SPIRIT vocalist BRIAN HOWE, and the ex BILLY SQUIER trio of bassist Doug Lubahn, drummer Bobby Chouinard and keyboard player Alan St. John.

However, the line-up that ventured over to Britain for a one-off Hammersmith Odeon date in February 1984 comprised of Howe, bassist MARK BOALS, previously singer for SAVOY BROWN and later to team up with Swedish guitar virtuoso YNGWIE MALMSTEEN as a vocalist, erstwhile 707 keyboardist / guitarist Tod Howarth and long-time drummer Cliff Davies.

Nugent dabbled in the world of celluloid by making a cameo appearance in the hit TV series 'Miami Vice' but soon got back to his main business of making music.

1986's 'Little Miss Dangerous' album, now minus Howe who had defected to a resurrected BAD COMPANY, saw a whole host of guest contributions. Included were BLACK N' BLUE's Jaime St. James and Tommy Thayer on backing vocals, drummer Carmine Appice and former RIOT man Sandy Slavin also on vocals, bass from ex-THE BABYS man Ricky Phillips and former SPIRIT and JO JO GUNNE man JAY FERGUSON with drums courtesy of Michael Mason. Ex-ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and ALICE COOPER member Duane Hitchings also contributed. Lead vocals were supplied by former TANÉ CAIN guitarist Dave Amato alongside Nugent. The same year found Nugent guesting on the massive selling BERLIN album 'Count Three & Pray'.

Predictably the Nuge's latest band unit had a short life, Amato later turning up in AMBUSH, MASTEDON and REO SPEEDWAGON, and by 1988 St, Holmes and Kiswiney were back in together with new recruit drummer Pat Marchino. The resulting album 'If You Can't Lick 'Em... Lick Em' boasted co-writing credits with BON JOVI main men JON BON JOVI and RICHIE SAMBORA for the track 'That's The Story Of Love'. Ted arrived in Britain in early '88 to promote the album with a one-off show at Hammersmith Odeon opened by KROKUS.

The two 1991 releases by Thunderbolt Records although billed as TED NUGENT are in fact material dating back to AMBOY DUKES days.

Bad boy Hip Hop Rappers the BEASTIE BOYS teamed up with Nugent for their 1992 album 'Check Your Head' being blessed with the appearance of TED NUGENT for 'The Biz Vs. The Nuge'.

The 1995 album 'Spirit Of The Wild' witnessed a welcome return for Derek St. Holmes. Also featured were bass player Michael Lutz and a returning Denny Carmassi who had mid term made his mark with HEART. Splitting away yet again DEREK ST. HOLMES busied himself with a solo album 'Now And Then' and put together BIG PEOPLE, an all star band including 38 SPECIAL's Jeff Carlisli and PAT TRAVERS. One showing of particular note in 1997 came on 22nd February at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, when Nugent strode onstage to join METALLICA's gig to blast through a version of 'Stranglehold'.

Nugent launched his own beef jerky line in 1998 with 'Ted Nugent's Gonzo Meat Biltong'! Nugent was back on the road in 1999 forming part of the 'Rock Never Stops' bill alongside SLAUGHTER, QUIET RIOT and NIGHTRANGER then as special guest of the KISS farewell tour in America. Former WHITESNAKE, BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and OZZY OSBOURNE man Tommy Aldridge was on drums.

2000 found the man involved in the recording of a third DAMN YANKEES album. However, despite a full album being recorded for the revived Portrait label these recordings would remain shelved. By the summer of 2001 Nugent was back out on the road in America guesting on the arena shows of the veteran alliance of LYNYRD SKYNYRD and DEEP PURPLE.

In 2001 a live album 'Full Bluntal Nugity' emerged. Recorded New Year's Eve 2000 at the Palace of the Auburn Hills in Michigan the band line up includes Tommy Aldridge on drums and Marco Mendoza on bass. Both men had recently completed a series of globe trotting dates with THIN LIZZY prior to hooking up with Nugent.

At least one of Nugent's 2001 tour dates would witness a display of generosity from the legendary wildman when at Clarkston, Michigan the guitarist allowed over 2'000 recently laid off Ford Motor Company workers into the gig for free. To take advantage of the offer all the redundant workforce had to do to gain entry to the gig was display their Ford ID badge.

Ted would dash into the studio to cut a brand new track 'Comin' Down Hard' for use on a film soundtrack. With both Aldridge and Mendoza unavailable the guitarist drafted erstwhile BROWNSVILLE STATION man Michael Lutes on bass and drummer Tommy Coufetos Jr. for the session. Touring would resume into the Fall albeit minus an injured Aldridge. Coufetos Jr. took the veteran's place.

News of Nugent's impending 2002 album 'Craveman' also revealed a high profile special guest reported to number AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, METALLICA's James Hetfield, SHERYL CROW, KID ROCK and GREEN DAY's Billy Joe Armstrong. The album would be recorded by bassist Marco Mendoza and drummer Tommy Clufetos. Also included would be Clufetos's father, Tommy Sr., laying down saxophone for the 'Pussywhipped' track. Songwriting contributions came courtesy of a whole host of friends and collaborators. DAMN YANKEES and BROTHER CANE's Damon Johnson hooked up with Nugent on 'I Won't Go Away' whilst Ted's other DAMN YANKEES comrades TOMMY SHAW and JACK BLADES on 'Damned If Ya Do' with Blades also gaining credits on 'Crave'. Also featured would be the cut 'Comin' Down Hard' as included on the 'Escanaba In Da Moonlight' movie co-written by Michael Lutz and Alto Reed, the latter known as saxophonist for BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND. Two tracks, namely 'KLSTRPHNKY', originally entitled 'Clusterfunk', and 'Damned If Ya Do' were originally slated for the abandoned DAMN YANKEES sessions.

Nugent's mammoth summer tour to support 'Craveman' would also include promotion slots to plug the man's new cook book 'Kill It & Grill It'. With Ted off the road rumours in December suggested both Mendoza and Aldridge were to form up part of the WHITESNAKE line up for 2003. Meantime Ted himself united with ZZ TOP, DOUBLE TROUBLE and KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD for the 'Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers' North American tour, commencing 25th April at the CenturyTel Centre, Bossier City, Louisiana. Holding down bass duties would be BARRY SPARKS, previously involved with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN and the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP. Upon completion of Nugent's shows Sparks joined veteran German Rockers the SCORPIONS for studio work before touring with Japanese act B'Z. The bassist's 2004 solo album 'Can't Look Back' would see a guest guitar contribution from Nugent.

Nugent found a surprise success with a VH1 commissioned reality TV show entitled 'Surviving Nugent' - The Ted Commandments. After strong ratings for pilot episodes a full blown series was filmed, focusing on Nugent's family life and hunting pursuits at his ranch in central Texas. Contestants would be made to skin carcasses, fire weapons and live outdoors to win cash prizes. Unfortunately Nugent gashed his leg with a chainsaw in one of the opening episodes, the Rocker requiring forty stitches in the wound.

Nugent put himself directly in the firing line in June of 2004 by performing alongside Country star TOBY KEITH with a series of special concerts for US armed forces in Kandahar, Afghanistan and Falluja and Tikrit, Iraq. Naturally, he would be back in the limelight for the US October presidential elections, releasing an exclusive track entitled 'Stand'. A deliberately politically charged track, 'Stand' opened with the lyric line "I don't need John Kerry to wipe my ass". In December Nugent appeared with a reformed DAMN YANKEES original line up at ALICE COOPER's Arizona 'Christmas Pudding' concert to raise funds for the non-profit, Christian based Solid Rock Foundation.

2005 brought news that Nugent was working up new material for a fresh record and collaborating with both Country & Western star Toby Keith and members of GODSMACK on the song-writing front. Manning the rhythm team for TED NUGENT's Summer 2005 dates would be Barry Sparks on bass once more with 'Wild' Mick brown of DOKKEN on the drums. In June the Recording Industry Association of America revealed Nugent had sold over 14 million albums in the USA.

Ted took a break from the band to film a VH1 television series entitled 'Supergroup', a reality show also starring guitarist Scott Ian of ANTHRAX, Evan Seinfeld of BIOHAZARD on bass, vocalist SEBASTIAN BACH and Jason Bonham of BONHAM, UFO and FOREIGNER on drums.

As part of his 'Roling Thunder' 50th US tour an historic 6000th concert of Ted Nugent's career took place on Independence Day, Friday, July 4th 2008 at the outdoor DTE Energy Amphitheater in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan with Greg Smith on bass and Mick Brown on drums. Nugent's presence was widespread throughout the year and across all medias. A live CD and companion DVD 'Sweden Rocks' was issued via Eagle Rock Entertainment. His latest book, advertised as "10 chapters on how to fix America", and titled 'Ted, White & Blue: The Nugent Manifesto' was published in August via Regnery Publishing. Nugent also made his feature film debut in the movie 'Beer For My Horses', which starred Toby Keith and also featured Rodney Carrington, Claire Forlani, Tom Skerritt and Willie Nelson.

Ted Nugent reunited with the AMBOY DUKES on 17th April 2009 to receive a Distinguished Achievement Award at the annual Detroit Music Awards. The group also played 'Journey To The Center Of The Mind', marking the first performances of the band since 1968.