Amboy Dukes - Flight of The Byrd (1968)

Ray Antony Show

[@jakemitchell1671]

Seriously sophisticated music and performance. Wow. Ted's parts are creative and musical as hell. The entire band is amazing.

[@Daniel-tx5vk]

Hell they are

[@michaelesralian1268]

I actually saw Ted (lead guitar for The Amboy Dukes) play in 1968 but not at this performance. It was at Silverbell, north of Detroit. I was standing about 8 feet from Ted in the front row. My ears rang for hours as that bass guitar player really had his amp turned up loud (Ted was loud too) and my whole body was feeling the power of the band. I think the bass player was using a Sun amp and Ted using 4 Fender amps linked in series. The entire band was tight and out of sight. There is nothing fake about them, they were all excellent players. The drummer was great as well. Back then there were several regular bands making the rounds: The MC-5, The Rationals, The Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Stooges, and many more. In this time period, Detroit and Pontiac and Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas was the "place to be" for great rock music. It was a great time to be alive and experience all this fantastic music. Some of these bands never made national fame but all were SO DESERVING as they all had the such wonderful talent. Add don't forget to mention all the super talented black groups like: The Supremes, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Miracles, and many more. This was THE PLACE for music like none other in our history.

[@ac-bh8pj]

cool story, Thank you,. I wish I had been at that show!

[@dynjarren8355]

Thanks for sharing your memories of the Detroit Scene back then! There were some incredible bands playing then and it was a happening scene! I wish I could have seen it all live!

[@larryn2682]

Ted's Fender amps would have been hooked up parallel, not in series.

[@byronlemay2166]

I walked into an arena in 1985? '86? at the San Bernardino County Fair where Ted was playing. He was swinging around like Tarzan on a rope and I could only handle about three songs before I had to leave...it was SO LOUD it drove me out of there. Like a jet engine.

[@aarone9000]

What? Whaaaattt! 😊

[@rnigelwales]

Fantastic Bass riff, stellar drum fills, excellent vocals, cool organ sounds and The Nuge working his Byrdland like that! This song has it all! Birthday, Christmas, and lottery win all rolled into one! Utterly fantastic piece of music. Listen to it Loud with good headphone for an even better appreciation of how good it is. The Dukes were just as good as any of the legendary 60's bands. Love ya Ted!!!!

[@jstar1000]

Drummer and bass player are pretty freaking bad ass too! What a great band.

[@LarryNeie-lj7zc]

Loved the Dukes back in the day. I was 16-17 in '68 and watching this now, well, the girls dancing is the best part. Memories!

[@MikeBlitzMag]

Sadly, we lost band co-founder Steve Farmer on the 7th of April 2020 at age 71. He and his bandmates amassed an impressive legacy at Bob Shad's Mainstream label, as evidenced in abundance here.

[@timdugan1896]

Aw, man!!! I didn't know about that. Sad. 🙁

[@BoomerBends]

Ted's guitar work is really good here. Under appreciated as ever.

[@josephtravers777]

He was shredding before Alvin Lee. Just didn't get the attention at the time.

[@joseberrios7979]

Not by us. He is still the best, just got no respect from all of the copycats. Toe to toe; good luck in a Guitar battle with the Motor City Madman. A thousand knives to yer arse if you mention politics at his show or talk to me when he's doing that thing we all went to see him rocking the house until it's flat. Ruin my concert yelling in my one good ear, with yer bs, you deserve that punch aimed between mouth and nose.

[@Ghost1126]

Its lip synced moron

[@stavivanackerson6563]

I don't care whatever anybody say's TED IS BETTER THEN JOAN JETT....

[@darkoak40]

This is absolutely superb, Ted Nugent is a fantastic guitar player, a true legend!!! I thought the drummer was great too!

[@Pimp-Master]

The band lives by the beat, so he's kinda important.

[@jimboslice9472]

huh!!? compared to who or who?

[@tonyrobles2696]

True

[@timhoovermusicman]

@@jimboslice9472 you.

[@xiropigado]

This is beyond brilliant, from one of the best albums of the late 60's

[@atomicdruid]

This drummer was soooo great!!

[@danfoss1535]

YESSS

[@nightliter]

I'll say one thing, those backup dancers have a sexy groove going on.

[@Mr05Chuck]

nightliter all in their 70s now.

[@robertschaffer1598]

I bet Ted made sure they passed the audition🤣

[@thephoenixcycle8854]

60s chicks! 😃😃

[@owenevans4532]

They should have fired em.

[@James-dt7ky]

They were called Go Go dancers back then. :-)

[@rmartin7558]

Nobody was playing heavy guitar like that back then. Ted doesn't get nearly enough credit for being a pioneer in hard rock. He was the first metal guitarist in The States that mattered.

[@TSwizzle777]

Well said man.

[@ac-bh8pj]

@@TSwizzle777 fully agree, but the MC 5... 665

[@owenevans4532]

@@ac-bh8pj Jimi Hendrix!

[@aliceborealis]

@@owenevans4532 No kidding. Talk about someone who doesn't get nearly enough credit for being an American rocker!

[@dlwseattle]

Nobody?

[@davidburgess9986]

I went to school with Farmer and Arama. They used to play at some of our school dances. Ted made the band successful with talent and work ethic. I remember hearing them practicing journey to the center of the mind in the Arama Garage across the street from my High School girlfriends house. in Redford , Mi. They were good and got better when they got into the studio. Good times. Good memories!

[@TheRydog61]

Cool

[@allanz00]

I had forgotten just how good Teds playing was until today ,, and this is from a half century ago Lol ! most of the groups today don't make music anything close to this level .

[@carltonaycock8280]

Gotta love Uncle Ted.Rock on!!!

[@DirtRoadGroceryStore]

Didn't know they were that good a band. They would have had a bigger career in today's age of internet. Lotta good bands didn't make it because the radio held them back.

[@Glendoras]

Incredible song! Ted has never been better than he was with the Amboy Dukes. And the go go girls rules!

[@owenevans4532]

Why the hell are they even there? They're killin the vibe of the band.

[@Glendoras]

@@owenevans4532 🤣🤣🤣

[@l3tt3rbox]

this is the Ted that I love!

[@angrysumoxxx]

l3tt3rbox This is the only Ted worth my while.

[@hersheysnake]

@@angrysumoxxx There is only one ted... Did you hit your head?

[@thisismike2]

I was a Ted fan with the typical Cat Scratch Fever stuff.. When I heard this song on the Dr. Slingshot collection, that was it. I was hooked. Ted belongs in the same room with Page, Beck, Clapton, Hendrix.. He brought just as much to the party.

[@blowzo1998]

Yet he will never be considered anywhere near as good as those guys because, unfortunately, Ted is a Republican.

[@williamsherman1089]

He actually did

[@motodork]

@@blowzo1998 it’s not because he’s a Republican. There are plenty of good people who are republicans. Ted is just a horrible human being.

[@CantTellYou]

@@motodork 😂 so true but I still can’t take the “great performer with great ears & talent” part away from him

[@larryn2682]

Ted was never at the talent level of those legends. It's not because of his horrible personality and politics.

[@jennerblankenship7962]

I seen the Amboy Dukes at Indiana Beach when I was 15 they kinda changed my album collection

[@johntilson2535]

You know, I was 11 years old when I first heard the Amboy Dukes' Journey to the Center of the Mind. Having been enamored of rock and roll from the age of 8, especially the guitar driven stuff, this band caught my attention. I'd never seen clips of them actually performing and was too young to have caught their act; even though I grew up in Detroit. Nice to put faces to the band and, ironically, I'd never known about Ted Nugent's membership in the Dukes before his solo days until after I'd seen him live as 'the Motor City Madman' numerous times during my teenage years in the 70s!

[@TheRisingforce2000]

the go go girls are like wtf how are you supposed to dance to this

[@notsure6187]

Weed

[@owenevans4532]

Why are they even there? That's my question.

[@jhorsty]

Early Nuge at his best. Rock On!! Nice to see Byrd #1 in action also.

[@ragingbull3406]

Bass player killin' it!

[@user-qg2uf8jp3h]

Ted Nugent, and his different versions of The Amboy Dukes : One of the Most UNDERRATED Guitarist / Bands in ROCK HISTORY !

[@lukewarmwater6412]

I dont listen to any new ted. nothing older than little miss dangerous for me, thank you.....

[@markmiller1212]

Preach it!

[@wigglyjoker8575]

@@lukewarmwater6412 you're missing out if you haven't listened to Spirit of the Wild, just so you know.

[@lukewarmwater6412]

@@wigglyjoker8575 found that one on dvd in the 90's. still have the cassette somewhere...and yes, you are correct, great album!!

[@wigglyjoker8575]

@@lukewarmwater6412 well that's good to hear! I can understand not liking Craveman, but I personally enjoy it. Besides that I haven't heard If You Can't Lick Em or anything after Craveman

[@Rowlandph]

I remember dancing like that...Everyone did, then...And the girls looked better than now!..LOL..TRUE!.. :)

[@brandonharmon8612]

REST IN PEACE STEVE FARMER I LOVE YOU

[@shanemckenna9416]

Love that girl in the middle. Women were just sexier then.

[@owenevans4532]

I hate the way they ruin the vibe of the performance

[@stevebeaudry4688]

Very underrated as a guitarist due to politics but very cutting edge and innovative , and that Amboy Dukes were clearly a top flight psychedelic rock band !

[@larryn2682]

It's not his politics, even though it doesn't help any.

[@nozzledrich]

@@larryn2682 You again dummy. What dem shithole do you reside in?

[@TheRolfano]

Yes as said in another post by someone else…. It’s not that he’s a Republican IT’S that he’s just such a HORRIBLE person! Lol I agree. Love his guitar playing…hate when he speaks lol

[@wheelinthesky300]

Ted's way ahead of most 1960s guitarists here -he's really more in the Hendrix, Clapton, Page category.

[@BBQFanNo1]

True indeed. Very few guitarists outside of those above you mentioned and Blue Cheer had a sound in 1968 that was ahead of most others.

[@danielbixel8633]

Ted never in the same league as Hendrix. Never will be.

[@TURTLES_FOR_LIFEEE]

@@danielbixel8633 That is true. I like Nugent, but lets get real.

[@jimmurphy834]

Guess you never heard of Peter Green

[@psycheadfuzzfreak830]

@@BBQFanNo1 what bout Black Sabbath

[@petedazer3381]

The bass player was killing it.

[@Vabrejuro]

One of a kind Nuge . That type of stuff just don't happen twice.

[@brainiac1890]

That was definitely ahead of the time. Nice to see him in his early days.

[@milesoneal3939]

Great musicians. And the band was more than the sum of its part, as most great bands are.

[@54spiritedwill54]

Wow, some real early metal guitar here from the Nuge.

[@piratepete842]

Those dancing girls remind me of my old friend Bunny..she danced at the whisky back in the day🐰

[@rediryou]

Bass is kickin on this one.

[@maskedmusician2002]

I haven't heard that song in ages, what a Nuge Classic! John Drake sure had a great voice, too.

[@davidshaffer434]

John Brake was his name. Not John drake

[@shadygrady65]

Wow, this was a nice overlooked gem.

[@thatismattjohnsonjohnson3146]

And Ted nailed all 6 chicks behind the drummer. Way to go Ted!!

[@tomandrews9063]

I’m 25 live in London, Perusing the rock n roll life… if there’s one song to make me feel like giving up it’s this!!!

[@tomandrews9063]

Those changes are so far ahead of their time it’s terrifying

[@larcon19]

Yeah...great bass player!

[@davideckler9195]

I try not to let Ted's views influence my love of his music. It's too bad Steve (and Greg, and Andy) was pushed into the background on this video. Dave Palmer was an entertaining drummer. I love the first 3 Amboy Dukes albums.

[@jphickory522]

Yes - Ted’s passionate belief in personal freedom and responsibility, a strong work ethic of the citizenry and a limited and moral government is highly controversial

[@robertdog]

Hahaha hopefully you've outgrown the twat you were seven years ago. Personal responsibility and a moral, just government are exactly what any country needs to thrive.

[@stephenlandry9343]

Look at young Ted go! Blazing and unstoppable Trail !!

[@durbinjoseph]

I can bet the people who are making bad comments on this video and music were born in the 70's. They did not experience the changes happening in music in the 60's. I bet they also liked "what was his name, you know the guy who killed himself and everyone thought he was so much like John Lennon. You know the original grunge god....! Wake up kids! The sixties and seventies shaped the music. You cannot say the music of today, because most of it is crap.

[@byrdsmaniac]

That drummer is awesome!

[@XC797]

Great Rock band. Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes are timeless . 5 stars for this group

[@genetunnney]

Nice to see Uncle Ted jamming with Austin Powers and the Fembots.

[@QueenCityAvenue94]

Shut the fuck up, this line up was better than anything your uncle ever did on his own.

[@tylercrossalone]

QueenCityAvenue94 haha that's funny. no

[@TOBERT001]

Love this track......and there are so many more on their first three albums. Seeing it on KZbin so many years later is amazing. Ted Nugent in a sharp suit. John Drake would not get away with that outfit even at a 60's/70's theme night. Happy memories.

[@eandatoo]

It’s Austin Powers! Yeah baby, Yeah!

[@heathinvaderstudios]

i sure hope there's footage of the Amboy Dukes performing with Rusty Day as their frontman. Rusty was the all-time best!

[@timdugan1896]

Yowza!!!

[@PopeFlores2]

This song was written after Drake (singer) was drafted into the Army. I got to see them open for Hendrix!

[@danmainka1685]

The drummer is amazing!

[@frugalgunner5475]

crazy ted and gogo dancers :)

[@garykovach343]

Bad ass music!

[@ralphwhittemore5041]

Unclr Ted isn't in the Hall They've got no Credibility. Run DMC And Joan Baez Right.

[@ronshuman7656]

i thought id heard all the songs ,in the 60s..missed this one.

[@victorjohnson7512]

Love the go go girls.

[@supernova4521]

Radonjic Dragan >>> says A great video of the legendary group ! My rating is 10+ for this very rare video ! ........ BRAVO Unfortunately, there are not many such beautiful videos from that time ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[@mheldypacs111]

Ted wore his guitar higher back then. That was for more control and speed. Don't know when he decided to go lower with but he plays it down more know. Some of those early Amboy licks were incredibly fast.

[@jimboslice9472]

beautiful! the days when he just played and didnt open his mouth and remove all doubt

[@timhoovermusicman]

Was there ever a day that you weren't stool pusher?

[@jimboslice9472]

@@timhoovermusicman just like Hed Spugent, u removed all doubt,,, must be another draft dodger,, sad

[@timhoovermusicman]

@@jimboslice9472 there was no draft when I was 18. Once again you have majorly failed.

[@auntjenifer7774]

Groovy tunes ? Check. Surely suggestively dancing women ? Check. Big hair ? Check. Flashy suits? Check. Are we having fun yet ? Oh yeah !

[@mykedubya]

great bass lines by Greg Arama as well! This shit wouldn"t be easy to play even now, some nice changes in this one

[@JustChiminin]

Greg Arama, one of the best rock bassists.

[@jchapman1975]

@notfragile33 Yes, no argument here. Greg Arama was in Ursa Major with Dick Wagner (The Frost?) after the Amboy Dukes, and they had one great album that was loaded with great bass lines.

[@James-vx8ci]

Always wanted to take a journey to the center of my mind 😎😜✌️

[@jesuscampos8136]

I guess those chicks can dance to anything 😉

[@supesII]

The music was 10 years ahead of its time so they really didn’t know how to dance to it in 1968!

[@jesuscampos8136]

@@supesII more like 10yrs behind 😆

[@jchapman1975]

@notfragile33 The bassist is a monster! Listen to that bass line.

[@waykoolrecords]

Far Out Man !

[@fernandopinto7033]

Q SOM! Q PAULEIRA!ISSO É ROCK!!!!

[@solfly6]

Good God is this Groovy!! That coat is amazing!….prefiguring Glam…. Glamadelia!

[@insanetubegain]

I didn't mean it in a bad way, it just looks uncomfortable. Everyone has their own comfort zone. I like my guitar about midway, I don't care if looks cool or not, it's comfortable, and allows me to play at my best.

[@patrickjones1459]

Creepy in all the right ways.

[@boosted7855]

Ted didn't party but I'll bet thousand he nailed all those chics

[@baxworld]

Damn!!! This is Amazing!!!!

[@crspcritter]

Psychedelic breakfast for my head - ✊🏻👍👌⚡️

[@nikolaosmosxakis3395]

very good...................................................................................................

[@jaelge]

Man, that smacked of Vanilla Fudge type Progressive/psych.

[@therebeldevil3996]

GROOVY BABY!!OH BEHAVE!!

[@amsedelm]

Good drummer.

[@MarkSmith-ln8oz]

This is actually pretty cool

[@zerothehero753]

Aw, wow... Look at them go-go girls!!! ... ... ... Ooooooooooohhhhhhh...

[@rickgoddard6925]

Tooth fang and claw! Love it!

[@Acein3055]

I bought the album in 68 when I was in 8th grade. One of the few albums I bought. Good tune but was pantomimed, notice no guitar cord going to the amp.

[@louisborselio8608]

I came here for the GO GO girls

[@newellgirl]

I only know the amboy dukes from the nuggests Lp with "Baby Please don't go"..really surprised by this song its great..Buffalo Springfield had that great song "for what its worth" yet when i listened to their other stuff i wasn't as impressed (maybe need to apply the "play it more principal!")..the amboys are really cool here and you can see why Ted Nugent went on to bigger things..

[@ronshuman7656]

whos the bad ass drummer..man

[@dragan4658]

Original Drummer was Gail Uptadale, 1965-1967. But David Palmer is the one in the video 1967-1975, he was with the American Amboy Dukes as they were known in Britain as there was a band already called Amboy Dukes there, at that time.

[@owenevans4532]

@@dragan4658 Both named for Irving Shulman's The Amboy Dukes

[@nomiclas]

this must be the first version of MTV unplugged.

[@timothyedsall9424]

The Amboy Dukes drummer has a definite Keith Moon sequel about him. Pretty cool

[@matsgoalkeeping2448]

Dave Palmer (I believe that’s his name) is the drummer here.

[@beckylungren4269]

Super cool and super good!

[@TheHyproglo]

Gotta love the 60's when bands always had a few wenches dancing to their tunes :)

[@newadventure5609]

Groovy, baby!

[@ronwilson5476]

Ted would be up with Page and the others if he wasn’t a Patriot! Semper Fi Mad Man!

[@webman1956]

Love Teds music but he is a nutcase.

[@ronwilson5476]

@@webman1956 He is a hunter/fisherman just like the rest of us NORMAL Michigan boys. He speaks his mind and is a law abiding citizen and is surely outspoken so if being outspoken means he is a nutcase then me and a whole lot of other men from my state are nutcases.

[@johnkoval1898]

When Uncle Teddy was only Nephew Teddy.

[@croiners4166]

Wow!

[@MrKingsley16]

Ted Nugent is an American Treasure, straight out of the Great State of Michigan!!

[@brucepappas6298]

The blonde dancer behind the drummer is very beautiful.

[@jeff1586er]

A drunk in a fuzzy bikini. I was there Lansihg 1969.

[@hisoverlorduponhigh90]

Signs of what was to come, Ted and his Byrdland.

[@Birdlives247]

He has strings on the guitar. They can be seen at 1:34. I know because this library computer stops the video every 20 seconds. I remember seeing a poster for an Amboy Dukes show, on a telephone pole, in Georgia in 1971. I've wished I had gone to the concert ever since, even though this song is not too fantastic.