I was watching an episode of Anthony Bourdain‘s travel-food show No Reservations last night that took place across the United States Southwest. The episode began with our MC5 and Stooges-raised host visiting Alice Cooper‘s restaurant and ended with him spending quality time with Ted Nugent on his Texas ranch/compound.
I noted to my wife, rock nerd style, that it was funny that he traveled through the Southwest to hang with two Detroit rockers. Then, the Nuge takes Bourdain to his favorite Texas BBQ brisket joint and the men are seen swigging beer to wash down their tasty cuts of beef. Seconds after catching mysef and acknowledging that it would be too nerdy to say to my wife, That’s funny, I thought Nugent was straight edge, deciding instead to write Townsman Hrrundivbakshi (a Nuge expert) on this matter as soon as the episide ended, Ted says to Tony, “I think this is the third beer I’ve ever drank in my life!” All was right in the world, and at that moment it was clear I’ve retained too much rock minutia over the years.
What’s a sign that you’ve retained too much rock minutia over the years?
Um, having a friend who is a Nuge expert?
being no fun at a trivia game party, because you know all of the answers before the questions are done being read.
When you know more about artists that you despise than most true fans!
I don’t know, and I’m not into the trivia as much as some of you guys–but I saw that Bourdain show maybe six months ago and thought the same damn thing.
I would have never thought the Nuge to be straight edge.
Maybe he’s only had three beers in his life but I would have thought plenty of whiskey, smoking weed, plenty of sex, and eating raw deer meat was his way of life…(but only deer killed by his own hands mind you…)
Hrrundi, seriously, we need you to confirm the Nuge’s belief in a drug- and alcohol-free existence. It’s a big part of his anti-hippie bias, isn’t it?
From a 2002 profile in Salon:
He’s a rock star (since releasing his first album in 1967) who has been clean and sober (no drugs, alcohol or tobacco) his entire life; a Christian, a hunter and a conservationist. He hosts a radio show, edits and publishes a magazine (Ted Nugent Adventure Outdoors Magazine), produced a PBS series (“Ted Nugent’s Spirit of the Wild”), is a board member at the National Rifle Association and is a national spokesman for Rush Limbaugh, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, DARE and MADD.
http://dir.salon.com/story/audio/nonfiction/2002/07/24/nugent/
The idea that a grown man with a reputation as a teetotaler would choose to drink his first three beers on a foodie TV show is ludicrous.
I’m calling bullshit on “Ted Nugent Adventure Outdoors Magazine.” I just searched high and low for subscription information and the only references I could find were people talking about how he’s the editor and publisher. I say it was a business trial balloon he floated once and it took on airs of fact.
My “too much minutiae” story goes just a few years back when a friend was DJing at the local bar and a mutual friend (but relative stranger) said, “Yeah! Cheap Trick!” and I said something about other bands from that time in Illinois, and probably that I liked the others better, to which he replied, “They’re from Illinois?”
We played a trivia game a few weeks ago and the question was, “Name the six original members of The Rolling Stones.” One of the people immediately said, “That’s wrong, there’s only FIVE!” and at the same time my wife said, “It figures Rick gets this one.” I corrected the person that didn’t know who Ian Stewart was and named the other five on the spot. For good measure I let everyone know who came after Brian, who replaced Mick Taylor, why Bill Wyman quit and who has essentially taken his place and even tossed in an “I wish Don Was would leave The Stones alone” lament.
I think they were three turns past mine before I shut up. I need help.
This thread is a bit like asking a drunk to pinpoint the cocktail that lead him to cause a commotion in the bar the night before. We need some unbiased testimony from some people with a sense of perspective. Let’s get the wives/girlfriends/significant others on here to offer some examples.
You know too much when you know both of these facts:
That the B-side of “Satisfaction” is “The Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man”
and..
that the catalogue number for Rubber Soul is Capitol (S)T 2442 and that it was released on December 3, 1965.
By the way, the fact that Nugent was in a band with Tommy Shaw and somebody from Night Ranger and does not have drug or alcohol abuse to use as an excuse means he’s an even bigger loser than I realized.
Other than acknowledging that the Nuge wrote exactly four good songs his entire career — and that he isn’t actually a complete retard — I have nothing particularly nice to say about Uncle Ted. he reminds me of many professional wrestlers: they play dumb, slinging nutrition-free hash at the masses — but they’re actually very smart (or maybe clever is the better word) people, who really like what they do and who make a whole hell of a lot more money than I ever will. They entertain, they amuse. Life goes on.
I have no idea about Uncle Ted’s tee-totalling ways. I agree that Ted taking his first sips of beer on a foodie TV show was either: a.) really stupid multimedia pandering; or b.) complete bullshit.
HVB
Good point re: Ted’s abstinence and Damn Yankees, misterioso.
To clarify, if I understood correctly, Ted was drinking his THIRD beer of his lifetime. It sounded as if he had had two beers in his lifetime prior to the taping of that show.
HVB, thanks for your insights. I knew I could count on you!
I’m not sure I can trust a man over 50 that’s only had three beers. In Ted’s case, I just can’t trust him cuz he’s a douche.
My presence here and that I have that “it would be too nerdy to say to my wife” feeling on a daily basis.
Knowing that Gary Wright put out a new EP in 2009 called “The Light of a Million Suns” and then updating his Wikipedia page is probably my latest exercise in R&R minutiae.
That’s brilliant, funoka!
Try topping THAT, rock nerds!
Mickavory, sure you may know the catlogue for Rubber Soul, but do you know the records directly in front and behind it (according to catalogue numbers)?
TB