Staunchly conservative musician/political activist Ted Nugent has stirred up some controversy with his recent comments on a newly shared video found on his official YouTube channel. That clip (see below) went up on January 01st as part of his ‘The Spirit Campfire‘ series and is titled ‘Talk Music With Uncle Ted‘.
While Nugent touched on various music and musicians he enjoys, the video also found him going in on several high-profile musicians, including four Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inducted artists, including The White Stripes, diamond-certified pop punkers Green Day, and Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello. Fellow Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer Eminem was also roped into Nugent‘s rant.
Nugent apparent unfamiliarity and jabs at Morello could be viewed as surprising, given that Morello had previously stated back in 2017 that he maintained a “good” friendship with Nugent, despite their obvious political differences. Morello told The Guardian at the time:
“Ted Nugent’s a good friend to me. We have very similar views on freedom of speech. His libertarian edge and my anarchist edge overlap considerably. Sometimes, if he says something outrageous that will fire up his racist base, I’ll text him to say, ‘Dude. What are you on about?’ We’re able to talk about it as friends as opposed to people on the opposite sides of the barricade.”
Speaking in this new episode, Nugent had a lot to say about the above-mentioned musicians. Notably though, he hung the majority of his issues with them on their political stances, rather than their actual musicianship [transcribed by theprp.com]:
“The guy in The White Stripes, I can’t think of his name, but he played the halftime show with Eminem for the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. A big deal. …Don’t they always lose? The Lions are a football team in Detroit, by the way…
Jack White, is that his name? Jack White. No, I think The White Stripes, is that his name? Anyhow, he was great. It wasn’t like a 10 like Sammy Hagar or James Brown. I think Sammy Hagar and James Brown and Steven Tyler, those are tens. Angus Young of AC/DC, that’s a 10. The guy’s a maniac. Billy Gibbons in the blues, rhythm, and blues, soul music category, he’s a 10.
Now, is that his name, Jack White? Jack White, he’s not a 10. He’s like a four and a five, but he really delivered real rock and roll. Real Detroit piss and vinegar. And Eminem, the guy’s a… Both of those guys, Eminem and Jack White: total idiots.
They don’t want their country to have secure borders. They think men should destroy women’s sports. Well, that’s not… that’s exactly what they stand for. When you hate Donald Trump, you you want men in women’s sports to destroy women’s rights. That’s what these guys stand for. They don’t think our border should be secured. They think we should invite jihadists in who announce they want to kill the infidels. They announce they want to kill Americans. And Jack White and Eminem say, ‘Yeah, that bring them in. Bring those guys in.’ Freak idiots.
But their music is soulful. Just like Green Day. Green Day, there’s not a brain amongst them, I don’t think. But man, can they play really, really killer stuff. Like Tom Morello, Is that his name? Tom Morel? Morello, who played with Springsteen and Rage Against The Machine., when actually they are the machine. Come on Tom, you got to know that. You’re not raging against the machine. You are the machine.
They don’t believe that America should have secure borders, which means they don’t believe in America. Which means they want to have a great successful life in America, but they don’t think you should be able to have one. Hey, Tom, come on my show. Explain… make your case. Good luck.”
Nugent‘s views expressed above are likely in response to Morello‘s frequent opposition to continued immigration raids conducted by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (aka ICE.) Morello has also repeatedly taken aim at U.S. President Donald Trump with commentary and onstage gestures. Furthermore, the innovative guitarist has also been vocal in attempting to dispel various disparaging conservative talking points aimed at himself and Rage Against The Machine over the years.
Earlier in the episode, Nugent did have nothing but positive things to say about at least one modern artist however, sharing praise for YUNGBLUD. Referencing the latter recently working with Aerosmith‘s Stephen Tyler and Joe Perry, Nugent stated of the rising British alternative rock/rap star:
“Now, I got to tell you this, what’s this YUNGBLUD guy? Limey freak madness. This guy’s the real McCoy. Watch this YUNGBLUD that’s working with Stephen Tyler and Joe Perry. It gives you hope that the really piss and vinegar, the James Brown, the original Chuck Berry, Little Richard is alive and well and this kid called YUNGBLUD. What a great name, YUNGBLUD from England. He’s a screamer. He’s a squaller. I was texting back and forth with Steve and Joe and he said, ‘This guy’s just like us.’ which we’re the last of them.”
