These days, legendary guitarist Ted Nugent is known just as much for his outspoken viewpoints as he is his music. But few can deny his influence on the rock genre as evidenced by the numerous big-name artists that have covered his songs and that have name-checked him as a musical inspiration. Pantera, Motörhead and The Ramones have all taken a crack at Nugent’s songs, and while the “Motor City Madman” appreciates the effort, he’s not that much of a fan as evidenced by a recent interview with Detroit’s WRIF radio station. Nugent was asked to name the best cover version of one of his songs. “Unfortunately, I never have,” Nugent said. “I’ve heard the versions of ‘Cat Scratch Fever’, and I love Pantera and I love Lemmy [Motörhead} and I love the Ramones, but God, are they terminally Caucasian or what?”
Nugent cited Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer as examples of bands he respects but that lack “soulfulness.” He said: “There’s a real Motown soulfulness to what me and my boys deliver; there’s a grunt and a grind. And I love musicians who put their heart and soul into stuff — I love Metallica and I love Slayer and I love Megadeth and I love ’em all. But when I listen to music, I wanna hear a groove; I wanna hear some grunt. I wanna hear the bass and drums of Motown like [my bassist] Greg [Smith] and [drummer] Jason [Hartless] create, what Johnny Badanjek and Earl Elliott created, like what Cliff Davies and Rob Grange created, what Jack Blades and Michael Cartellone created, what Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert… You know what I mean? I like a sexy, grunting rhythm. And I hear it from Metallica sometimes, and I love their heavy metal stuff — it’s killer. They’re unbelievable musicians and [they have] an incredible work ethic; they’re all in the asset column of life and music. But when I heard Lemmy’s version of ‘Cat Scratch Fever’, I thanked him, and I do appreciate it. And when I heard Pantera’s version of ‘Cat Scratch Fever’, I thanked them, but I think they’re angry at me because I called them Caucasian, which I think is a racial slur somewhere. The Ramones did ‘Journey To The Center Of The Mind’ [from The Amboy Dukes], and again, God bless ’em, I love ’em and I’m honored that they would choose my songs, but what Greg Arama [bass] and Dave Palmer [drums] did on ‘Journey To The Center Of The Mind’ as kids, teenagers — 15 years old they were; I think 16 years old — there’s a Motown funk brother pulse to my songs and my rhythms. And those guys kind of flail away at it. And again, if you’re a big fan of flailing away, God bless you — flail away.”
Ted later clarified: “I’m not condemning it, but I’m critiquing it. And it’s not quite the thump that my original songs [had].” Nugent said that Pantera’s version of “Cat Scratch Fever” in 2006 had “no soul, no balls and no feel.” Nugent’s new album, “Detroit Muscle,” was released on April 29.
