A LITTLE TOLEDO INTERVIEW FOR YA ALL. Toledo 1. Journey to the Center of the Mind is one of the greatest psychedelic rock songs of all time and the one that launched a string of killer riffs and hits from you - from Stranglehold to Fred Bear and so many others - When you look back on that song, that time in your life, what comes to mind? What were you trying to do with rock n roll then vs what youre trying to with rock n roll now? NUGE-My musical motivations, thank God, remain unchanged. The original authorities continue to drive my musical dreams. Bo Diddly, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Wilson Picket and all the original masters of soulful, passionate R&B&R&R. Each day we push ourselves to increase the spirit, energy, tightness and soulful groove of every song, every concert. These pure driving forces are timeless. 2. The Grande Ballroom has joined the ranks of few fabled and now dismantled rock venues in America. You spent a good amount of time there in its hey-day. Looking back, what do you think made the Grade legendary? NUGE-The unlimited love for powerful music drove the audiences to push the bands beyond the limit which made for a serious competition to play and perform better and better all the time. The pure instinctual attraction to this primal scream high energy music had a life of its own and snowballed constantly. It remains this way for my band today. 3. People want to know; Youve been a subject of some controversy lately, including in Toledo, with folks calling for you to cancel gigs based on political statements youve made. For the people in Toledo, a city which has long supported Detroit rock n roll, how do you respond to this kind of backlash? Is it hurtful? Empowering? Does it matter? What do you have to say to fans who are offended by your personal political beliefs? NUGE-The hate and lies are not so much a backlash to me personally as they are to the self-inflicted curse of political correctness, which is basically a maniacal denial to cling to lies instead of reality. It is not hurtful to me one bit on a personal level, but it is heartbreaking that Americans will hate and lie against fellow Americans in this insane culture war against earning your own way. Yes it matters because the Last Best Place will live or die based on honesty versus denial. I would say shutup and jam to the whiners. 4. How do you tie in your right to free speech with your role as a rock n roll icon? By that I mean do you think youre statements should hold more or less weight than others? Or, do you care about that at all? NUGE-My statements should be measured by the evidence that supports them, giving no consideration whatsoever to the nonsense of celebrity. I indeed care about America and our we the people duty to remain engaged in this sacred experiment in self-government. Way too many Americans are getting and expect a free ride. Thats very un-American. 5. Obviously, youve received a lot of criticism over the years for statements youve made, is there one quote you would restate if you could? -None. 6. Hunting and rock n roll traditionally have little connection culturally. Where do you draw those lines, whats the connection for you personally? I rock ferociously hard every song, every gig, every night, every year for 50+ years. NUGE-I attribute my longevity, overall health and unbridled youthful craving for the music to the definitive balance in my life that my hunting, outdoor and quality family time I orchestrate every fall and winter between tours maximizes. Such a quiet, down to earth lifestyle literally cleanses my soul, clears my head, relieves my ears and fortifies my spirit to once again grab my guitars and unleash a stream of incredibly intense musical consciousness. BONUS ROUND - 7. My girlfriends dad insists that he sold you a Mercedes at a dealership in Detroit and that you made the purchase in overalls with a duffle bag of cash ... Is this true? NUGE-I purchased my first personal vehicle, an classic Mercedes 280SL from Arcure Motors in Ann Arbor in 1970 with a $10K check. Kept it for 25 years and sold it for a bit more than I paid. Killer car!
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 05:27:59 +0000
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