During today’s (Friday, April 1st) edition of “The Nightly Nuge”a news style clip starring outspoken conservative rocker Ted Nugent offering his take on our world’s news nightly, he reflected on the recent passing of FOO FIGHTER drummer Taylor Hawkins. ted said (as transcribed from BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It’s heartbreaking on so many levels. Fifty years old with a horrific, longstanding celebration of substance abuse. I’m not… Well, I’m making a judgment because substance abuse is selfish. His wife and daughter should have them Is spending time with your wife and daughter more important than getting high, or less important than getting high?
“I’ve told the story many times, but I lived it.” Nugent continued. “My bassist Gregory Arama — so talented at 15; listen to the bass part ‘Journey to the Center of the Spirit’ until AMBOY DUKES – and the guy was simply a highly gifted man, a virtuoso, a connoisseur of groove and musicality. And he started smoking drugs, ended up on heroin, and died when he was — I don’t know — in his early 20s. And the future he could have had. I said Jimi HendrixI said, ‘No, I don’t want your dope, and it’s gonna kill you, jimi.’ Bon Scott [AC/DC] come into the studio when my band is recording ‘Weekend Fighter’ [1978] from Miami and AC / DC came in [and working on] “Highway To Hell” – simply phenomenal musical forces. And he came drunk with one every day [bottle of] Jack Daniel’s or an old grandfather [whiskey] and he would say, ‘Hey, teddy‘Try some of this.’ And he smelled like a diaper. What talent. What a nice guy. They were all nice guys.
“But what happens is that the music can be so overwhelming, the presentation of your comedy or your art or your dream, it can be so obsessive that it’s hard to shake off. You know how with just one guy who doesn’t make music, sometimes it’s hard to get a song out of your head? Well, think of how difficult it is for those of us who make the art. And if they don’t have a bow and arrow – and a lot of people will object. That’s just absolutely too easy, but it’s not, it’s perfectly easy – when you’re so obsessed with delivering your art that you can’t escape it they think drugs and alcohol will help, it only makes it worse.
“Well, if you love Taylor Hawkins – I loved him; I loved the man; I still love him” ted insisted. “But I love his wife and daughter more. Because they didn’t break his heart, he broke their hearts.
“Well, God rest Taylor Hawkins‘s soul and all the potheads and drunks who died prematurely. Thank God for every day that you are above the earth. Take deep breaths, focus on the positive, and show reverence for your gift of life and your sacred temple. Don’t poison your holy temple. As simple as that.”
In February 2021, Nugent revealed during a Facebook live Stream that his “mother and father were alcoholics. I didn’t know they were alcoholics. I thought they only had one Tom Collins [cocktail] every night – whatever that is – or a martini with olives,” he said. “So my mum and dad smoked and drank alcohol. And I was surrounded by smoking, drinking, drugged idiots in the rock ‘n’ roll world.
“So what’s the difference between a person who falls for it and a person who resists it? I haven’t the faintest idea,” he admitted. “Because I think God has given us all everything we need.
“Some people look for an easy way out, some don’t. I did not do it. I think it was just bad luck. ‘Cause my brothers and sisters smoked and drank, and they didn’t even surround themselves with fools rock ‘n’ roll dirt bags. I have that.”
ted went on to say that most of his influences “got high — right in front of me. And I admired the living shit out of them,” he said. “The MC5, they were all tripping, puking, drunk and stoned, and I admired them beyond words. But then it caught up with her and I said, ‘Oh.’ Thank god I didn’t say, ‘Hey, they smoke a lot of hash and they’re just banging out the jelly. Maybe I’ll try the hash.” And thankfully I didn’t. Luckily I saw them explode. I watched the drugs and alcohol destroy the energy I admired, destroyed the groove I admired. And to this day Wayne Kramer is a dear friend of mine. wayne, I love you buddy. And he knows I love him. And we have great conversations. And he’s probably the exact opposite of my ideologies. But not really because he has a work ethic and he’s a family guy, he’s a loving guy, he’s a productive guy, he’s a conscientious guy, he’s a caring guy. But I think to this day he thinks dope is essential… I wouldn’t guess – I had a conversation with him not long ago where we talk about marijuana and other intoxicant use or whatever category you put it want, were not in agreement. they are in.
“The point is, I was lucky I could distinguish between the delivery of the things I admired and the occasional and mostly behavior of those I admired.” ted added.
“Jimi Hendrix offered me his medication and I said no. John Belushi offered me his drugs; I said no. Keith Mond offered me his drugs and alcohol and I said no. Bon Scott offered me his drugs and alcohol and I said no. I said no to everyone.”
Back in 2018, Nugent said Canada was “absolutely insane” over its decision to legalize marijuana, and explained that he’s “never had a positive moment when someone gets high.” He said, “I’m all for medical marijuana, I’m all for medical marijuana as long as it actually benefits people with health conditions, but legalizing recreational relaxation is a guaranteed script for ruined lives.”
Nugent has served on the boards of more than two dozen political and nonprofit organizations, including the National Shooting Association (NRA), Mothers against drunk driving (MADD), and Education about resistance to substance abuse (DARE) law enforcement program.