Ted Nugent 2014 Tour

(Tedquarters)

American popular culture is enchanted with its rock stars. Of the many rags-to-riches narratives that dominate factual and fictitious accounts of the "American Dream," the hard-rockin', party-startin' axe god remains one of the most desirable archetypes in modern history.

For good reason.

The prerequisites for the lifestyle are two fold. In order to qualify, one must balance both musical skill and a persona worthy of public spectacle.

Hard rock legend, Ted Nugent, is seminal in both those realms. In fact, he's overqualified. While there's no denying the lasting power of brutal musicianship throughout his solo career and tenure with outfits, Amboy Dukes and Damn Yankees, he's rocked headlines even harder.

No stranger to contentiousness with media outlets, Nugent brought his no-holds-barred world perspective directly to AL.com in anticipation for a tour appearance in Mobile. Before you can catch him at the Soul Kitchen, Monday, July 25, you can read his thoughts on himself, the Gulf Coast, the Republican National Convention, police brutality, and Pokemon Go!

Boyd: I've heard stories about your past appearances in Mobile. Apparently, you like it loud! A downtown business owner that is originally from Detroit tells me he recalls hearing your set for another mile away from our Convention Center. How does it feel to return to the Gulf Coast at this point in your career?

Nugent: I love America! All of America! I've been jammin' the Gulf Coast for more than 45 years and always feel right at home with the real workin hard playin hard rockin hard honest to God real soulmusic lovers there. Lord have mercy! The unbelievable memories just keep on throttling along!

B: What can fans expect to see and hear from the Motor City Madman tour? A lot of the old? More of the new? All solo set, or can fans expect classics from the Amboy Dukes and DamnYankees?

N: They can expect and we guarantee the most intense, highest energy, outlando ultraFUN rockout of their lives. With killer worldclass musicians Greg Smith on bass guitar and the amazing 21 year old Detroit animal Jason Hartless on ThunderDrums, my songs have never been tighter or more ferocious than this 2016 Sonic Baptizm summer. My songs are so much fun to play that it is truly nerve wracking to choose my favorite 2 hours worth. We jam out on old songs, new songs and weave in some unheard stuff on occasion too. My worst song is stimulating beyond words. My best songs are downright scary.

B: From your Facebook page, you said this tour is the greatest tour of your life. What allows these Motor City Madman performances to stand out from the numerous tours you've participated in prior?

N: I'm having so much fun on this tour it's stupid! Playing with Greg & Jason fulfills my ultimate musical dreams every night. The audiences are drunk on the most intense soulmusic in the world and the energy level has a life of its own. We so love these songs that they literally have a life of their own. We are simply THE tightest, most grinding band on earth. If you're not having fun with me, you're weird.

B: Your shows are legendary for bringing out people who aren't afraid to let their freak flag fly. Who do you care to reach out to most with your legendary guitar playing?

N: Thank God there are still armies of all American killer guitar driven soulmusic lovers across the land! My guitar tone alone is insane. We have tweaked these new amazing Blackstar and Kustom amps to unbelievable richness, heavy, edgy, fat, greasy guitar tone heaven.

B: What descriptors would you use for the ideal Ted Nugent fan in 2016? What do they talk, walk, and dress like? What do they feel? What do they believe in?

N: I started rockin' nationwide with my original Amboy Dukes in 1965 and have celebrated our wonderful musical connection pretty much every year since. Looking out into the audiences all these years, especially this year, I am beyond humbled at the demographic diversity of my fellow music lovers. They come in every imaginable shape, color, ethnicity, creed, spirit and attitude. The best word to describe us is sh**kickers! I surely live the ultimate musical connection with my America BloodBrothers and I sincerely thank you all very, very much!

B: You're coming to Mobile right as the Republican National Convention will come to a close. In recent memory, you've been one of the Republican Party's most outspoken supporters in the entertainment realm. What are your expectations for the RNC this week?

N: I pray to God they finally rediscover their scrotum. The GOP has been spineless for so long, many hard working Americans feel terribly betrayed and very let down. Indicators are somewhat encouraging with the Trump hellraiser phenomenon, but we sure hope the stand-for-nothing so called "moderates" finally wake the hell up and respect the best, most productive, law abiding, patriotic Americans there are. I expect them to unite and genuflect the sacred alter of the US Constitution once again.

B: Are you personally prepared to give Trump your full endorsement?

N: Yes. The heartbreak of runaway corruption, abuse of power and indefensible criminality by our government and media should, must inspire all good we the people Americans to wake the hell up from the embarrassing self-inflicted curse of apathy and start demanding Constitutional accountability from our elected employees. How radically non-sheep of me! To think that the democrats didn't flinch to offer up a lying felon scam artist and a communist as candidates is a clear and ugly signal as to how far we have plummeted as a society. Sad, sad day in America. Trump November 2016 could truly be the long awaited wakeup call America desperately needs.

B: There's a lot of discussion in the news and social media about alleged law enforcement brutality, terrorism, firearm safety legislation and racial bias. How do you view the narratives in recent headlines? As an artist focused on activism, in what ways do these topics influence your music and performance?

N: These and many other issues are surely critical in America today during this embarrassing culture war between honorable Americans dedicated to be in the asset column versus less than honorable Americans more than happy to choose to squat in the liability column. That anyone could be so dishonest and scamming to actually claim America needs so called "firearm safety" legislation is all the proof one needs to know how scamming, corrupt and oath violating so many punks in government and media have become. I have stood and saluted so many flag draped coffins of US Military hero warriors who have given the ultimate sacrifice that I don't need anyone to tell me that freedom is not free. How dare any American not be an activist? Activism is the fundamental duty of all we the people Americans. It has been the shameful self-inflicted curse of apathy that has ushered in the Obama led anti-Americanism running amok in our government, media and academia. Such ferocious independence, defiance and pure honest to God real Americanism certainly drives the intensity of my music and my life.

B: You're a celebrated hunting enthusiast. For the past couple weeks, children and adults alike have been on an urban hunt, of sorts, attempting to catch Pokemon on the wildly popular Pokemon Go! phone app. You're likely to see some people playing the game when you come to Mobile. Is there anyone in your life that's addicted to this new fad? You know the pleasures of hunting animals well. What do you think about virtual Pokemon hunting as a substitute to the real thing?

N: I am convinced that the childish, silly, time wasting game is a manifestation of our cultural deprivation and just how spoiled and small minded so many Americans have become. Pathetic stuff. At least I get pure venison protein from my real world hunts.