Why Damn Yankees Were Paid $1 Million to Disappear!

Why Damn Yankees were paid $1 Million to Vanish
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#tednugent #damnyankees #styx
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
The late 80’s were a difficult time for some high profile rock musicians who enjoyed success a decade or several years prior. Rock N’ Roll bad boy Ted Nugent’s career seemed pretty quiet during this time and some people even counted him out. But he wasn’t the only one struggling at the time as former Styx frontman and guitarist Tommy Shaw was embarking on a solo career having released 3 albums, Meanwhile, Night Ranger’s bassist Jack Blades was reeling with the breakup of his band. It would seem strange that three musicians having lulls in their career would become an attractive prospect to one of the biggest A&R men in the music industry, but that's what happened and Damn Yankees would be born. But despite being successful, Damn Yankees were paid a million dollars to simply disappear. Let’s explore what happened in today’s video.
Geffen Records A&R man John Kalodner seemed like an expert in reviving struggling musicians careers. He helped Aerosmith and Whitesnake reinvent themselves and he had the same plan for Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades and Ted Nugent..
Nugent would establish himself in the 1970’s as one of the bad boys of rock n’ roll, but like many musicians who were popular during that decade, by the 80’s musical tastes had changed and newer sounds and bands had taken over.. Tommy Shaw meanwhile would front the pop-rock/ adult oriented group Styx where he would clash with Dennis DeYoung over the band’s sound. Jack Blades meanwhile cut his teeth singing, playing bass and writing songs for Night Ranger, but the record label according to him destroyed the band telling the LA Times in 1991 “Sister Christian,” Night Ranger’s big 1984 hit, was a ballad, and from that point on, Blades recalled, “Our record company only allowed us to release more ballads, and that really destroyed a good rock ‘n’ roll band.”
Damn Yankees would be born in 1988 when Shaw and Nugent were sitting together at a music show show business dinner in florida. Following the meal, Shaw told Nugent “When it was over we were saying why don’t we get together after we finish promoting our records.” It would be Shaw and his manager who called up Kalodner’s office asking for Nugent’s number & the A&R man would claim that Nugent thought the idea was initially stupid, but after much convincing, he agreed to give it a try.
The early days of 1988 initially saw Shaw and Nugent jamming together on acoustic guitars and coming up with the song “Come Again” which ended up on the Damn Yankees debut album. At that time the band had a stand in player on bass and while Nugent and Shaw felt chemistry, Kalodner felt like the band was missing something. That’s when he enlisted Jack Blades of Night Ranger fame with Blades recalling
“So I flew to New York three days after Night Ranger broke up, and the next thing I knew, the Damn Yankees were happening.”
By 1989 the trio along with Tommy Shaw’s drummer Michael Cartellone would start writing songs and rehearsing. They would come up with several more songs including “High Enough” & Coming of Age. Now, Damn Yankees weren’t the only supergroup in the 80’s as it became kind of a trent as you had groups like Badlands, Mr. Big and Bad English.
The band would end up signing a deal with warner brothers & Damn Yankees would head in the studio in late 1989 with producer Ron Nevison. Released in 1990, their self titled debut record would go multiplatinum. The band hit the road spending nearly a year and a half on the road early 1991 during the height of the After the release of their debut, the Damn Yankees went on an 18-month world tour with the likes of a revamped Bad Company, Poison and Jackyl. The group’s tour coincided with the Persian Gulf War with the band frequently making patriotic statements and incorporating the American flag in their shows. Even the band’s backstage passes gave a nod to American military as you can see here. The band’s name would even inspire the US troops who served in the gulf war with the US Marines who were part of the 2nd Battalion, 12th marrions naming their 155mm howitzer Damn Yankees.
The band would return in 1992 with their follow up record Don’t Tread. Shaw would tell reporter Gary Graff, "We knew each other better," We had an identity as a band. It felt a little

[@rnrtruestories]

We’re Damn Yankees some of Ted Nugent’s best work? Btw guys Friday's "Fan Request" video apparently got flagged for too much profanity, so I have to rework it and hopefully I won't have to move stuff around for that day.

[@Jason_Maier]

Damn Yankees was good IMO ... But I still think Ted's best works were his self titled solo debut, Free for All and Cat Scratch Fever (with his classic supporting crew of Derek St. Holmes, Cliff Davies and Rob Grange). And his live albums Intensities in Ten Cities and Double Live Gonzo.

[@DeathMetalRob]

I think so,regardless of what people think of ted as a person especially today there is no doubt he is a brilliant guitarist.

[@kevv1160]

Totally. Ted has such a deep catalogue of amazing music, but he was at the top of his game from 1989-1999. The solo on Come Again is a masterpiece.

[@dropdog395]

When compared to the virtuosity of his opus "Wango Tango", it's possible that the influence of the other musicians in Damn Yankees raised Ted's bar a notch or two.

[@TheEricroberson]

88 not 98 he has the facts wrong

[@JamesStreetStation]

One of my fav bands of all time. I crossed paths with Tommy in the Nashville airport a few years ago. I waited until he was done talking to a flock of fans, then approached him quietly and told him he was one of my guitar idols. He seemed humbled by that statement, and then we just conversed for a bit before we had to part ways. One of the most down to earth guys I've ever met. I regret not being able to attend his current bands (at the time) performance on Broadway that night, so I'm hoping I can see him at some point in the near future. They say "don't meet your childhood superheros, because they'll always let you down". That couldn't be further from the truth with this encounter. He was, and still is one of my inspirations in playing guitar, and just being a regular, humble human being.

[@jscho8674]

I got to meet him too. He called me "Sweetie", and turned me in to mush. Lol. Great guy, love his playing and his voice.

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

Pretty much everywhere in life, when managers and lawyers show up, it's screwed.

[@markfrost2707]

it's the opposite, actually

[@garymartin1045]

Yeah, just ask Grand Funk Railroad.

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

@@garymartin1045 Yeah - and what's left of Badfinger.

[@stevemino142]

​@@markfrost2707 And how do you figure it's the opposite?

[@YouTubeHandle42069]

I saw Damn Yankees on base at Fort Jackson SC in 1993. Very cool for us soldiers in training!

[@rippinaroundeverywhere9249]

I was there also!!

[@cowpuddles4851]

Lol so the rumors were true? We thought the drill sergeants were bs-ing us at Benning when they said Relaxin’ Jackson recruits got to see concerts.

[@todaywithbk]

​@@cowpuddles4851that brings back memories as the D/Sgts at Fort Leonard Wood said the same thing about Fort Jackson.

[@cowpuddles4851]

@@todaywithbk Man such good times. Didn’t appreciate it back then though!

[@SteveDehaeseleer]

Ted Nugent is very pro-military and was behind all their shows on military bases. In recent years he has been invited to places like Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan.

[@chas4life]

I bought the first CD... and for many years I wondered why nobody was listening to the band. Phenomenal album.

[@WhatsCookingTime]

They just came at the wrong time they never had a chance to blow up grunge came in. It sucked they would have been the greatest

[@umpman04]

Yea I agree. I myself, I thought grunge SUCKED ! ! ! @@WhatsCookingTime

[@charliesaucier3352]

@CookingWithMichaelD Grunge was pure garbage! Very low talent bands and music. Same thing happened in the late 70's with the movement towards the talentless, crap punk/new wave sound. That movement caused the decline in the great hard progressive rock sound that produced, IMO, the greatest era of rock music from the late 60's to late 70's. Many of the great bands from that time never recovered. In the end, like Grunge, the punk/new wave sound was just a flash in the pan and not very memorable.

[@nicole-uo9cd]

I still have that first Damn Yankees CD. I thought it was (and still is) great! I also wondered what had happened to them. I now know that it was "the powers that be" that pushed grunge music and cancelled the glam rock/hair bands that dominated the 80's music scene. The same thing happened to KIx, another favorite of mine and way underrated band at that time. "Don't Close Your Eyes" was their best known song, but definitely not a very good representation of their body of work as a whole. Their last album, "Show Business" just wasn't given the promotional push from their record company that it deserved...

[@scottgrindrod]

@@charliesaucier3352 bro, one Dead Kennedy song has more talent in it than most Hair Metal combined. If you took 10 songs from 10 different hair metal bands and played them for a 20 year old, they'd probably think it was one band because they all sounded EXACTLY the same. Your comment has powerful "Ok Boomer" energy.

[@severinlourenco8355]

I recently saw Nightranger in concert with Jack Blades performing Damn Yankees best songs from both of their records, amazing show.

[@DSchea]

Yeah I saw em with Bret Michaels. They were bad ass live

[@SopranoPizzaJMFNJ]

Same 😂 Night Ranger played & sounded Great!

[@marinajane7749]

I saw NIGHT RANGER (original members) back in the 80’s @ “Summers On The Beach” in Ft. Laud.

[@RockDawg77]

@@marinajane7749 That's really cool.

[@angelcitystudio]

I saw Jack Blades with Tommy Shaw in Vegas. It was AWESOME!!!

[@jeffreygorey5540]

I saw Damn Yankees live. The Nuge was crazy, swinging around in loin clothes like Tarzan and shooting a compound bow on stage lol

[@davidday8417]

He did the same thing in his solo career swinging out picking up fake boulders and throwing them into the audience and in his own words rock his balls off !! Ted is 1 of the most underrated guitarist ever to dawn a stage or write music !! I have seen him 8 times and I personally I think he’s the 1 of best guitarist to ever play !!

[@leestewart72]

People's tastes doesn't decide what plays on the radio, a few dozen music executives decide. They tell people what's cool, and what isn't cool anymore. They wanted to push grunge, and didn't want anything to get in the way of that. We've been manipulated by big media for decades.

[@Ruefus]

Nah. Its fun to blame the Man....but having grown up during that time, music shifted. Which happened in the 50s, 60s,70s........its always been true. The 80s excess had every long-haired, 2 guitar, bass, drums and vocal band you could find putting out a record. A lot of it *really* sucked.

[@elijahmiller912]

That's why you are a slave to the economy. Shut up and get back to work, the rich need more money. Maybe buy another $6 phone for hundreds or spend hundreds for food when God gave you everything you need for free. How about another grand on a $20 tv so the fbi and cia can brainwash you some more. Work work work, spend spend spend, billionaires thank you

[@RobinDale50]

@@RuefusYou knew it was over when Znuff Znuff appeared.

[@robeddy3722]

@@Ruefus If those bands had been allowed to create rock and roll instead of ballads, I think the Grunge movement wouldn't have had nearly as much traction. The record companies are directly responsible for every Hard Rock band "needing" a ballad. THAT is what killed "the 80's excess".

[@craigwillms61]

Radio? What's that?

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I miss the 80's. The entire decade was an amazing time for music lovers

[@HeadbangersLocal]

It was the height of the musical party. 🤘🏻

[@robertthomas7239]

Damn Yankees came out in 1990.

[@HeadbangersLocal]

@@robertthomas7239 they formed in ‘89 so we’re safe . 😂🤘🏻

[@colinerikstanhouse6385]

As a Gen X 'r, I approve this message ! Lol For real tho the 80s were a magical time, I'd love to relive that decade over and over !

[@jeffreyval9665]

The most talented musicians and best era of music for every genre was from the 60's-90's. Music has been dead the last 20 years. Talent is no longer required. Today's biggest stars would be lucky to get gigs singing for free drinks in rundown clubs if they came out in that time period.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

I saw Damn Yankees at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Even though it was a free show for Marines and Devil Docs, they performed like they were trying to earn every bit of money on the base. They were there with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Walsh, and Drivin’ n’ Cryin’. (August 22, 1993)

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Drivin and Cryin were such a great band. When I was stationed in Georgia I learned about them and loved their music.

[@curiousgeorge8438]

It's devil dogs, and marines are devil dogs, this coming from a 8 year marine veteran. Not bashing you just educating

[@MudtoyTT]

I'm surprised they let his draft dodging ass on base, Nugent is a coward!

[@davehardan8323]

​@@curiousgeorge8438Yeah I thought devel docs was some new navy first aid crew

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

Hope you didn’t drink the water there!

[@jesusisalive3227]

I miss them! I wish they would release another album! "High enough" is a classic!

[@PinkyJujubean]

I saw them live with Slaughter and Jackyl in 91 or 92. It was in Michigan so it was half Damn Yankees songs and half Uncle Ted songs. It was a great show. All three bands were on fire that night

[@daBEAGLE1017]

That wouldve been an awesome show to see.

[@alangray9117]

I stopped seeing nugent when he started bringing in his politics into his shows. It ruined it. We yelled from the front row shut up and play. Now that loser can't sell out a state fair concert.

[@anthonyperotti151]

It was at The Palace in Auburn Hills…I was there too👍🏼

[@michaelharrington75]

​@@alangray9117 Ted is right on politically. He believes in America being top priority, and completely backs the constitution.

[@Melgib21]

Forgot about Jackel

[@RolandDeschain1]

'High Enough' came on my play list just last night. Great song.

[@ciscoytube5352]

Just want to compliment you on your progress. Putting yourself in front of the camera takes a lot of balls, and your inflection has gotten a lot better. Keep it going.

[@kennyramsey4773]

THOSE.....SHAW/ BLADES HARMONIES.......ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!!

[@jeffkolln5291]

So many bands got destroyed by Record companies wanting them to play Top 40 and Ballads.

[@kurtmac]

Absolutely correct! We cannot even begin to make a list of bands that were destroyed by ballads!

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

True! Many bands that truly ROCKED, were led into doing ballads! The previous routine was to release the rocking songs first, then releasing a ballad as the 3rd single. Somewhere along the line, the record companies wanted to release the ballads as the first single! It became a joke, and dampened a lot of potentially good rock bands! Like the Damn Yankees with “Higher”! A great song, but shouldn’t have been the first single released!

[@bige2012]

And shitty short lived grung.

[@OGDailylama]

It wasn’t the companies. It was the USAs NSA & CIA using the industry to control men. They took manly bands & turned them into womanly bands to get men to subside to women. It was & still is our government using our intelligence agencies to produce a Milgramesque (Milgram Experiments) society of weak men that answer to women.

[@billr2375]

Pre Grunge...last of the 80's very early 90's sound...was fun, alive, loud and good. Did see them, touring with Bad Company---Great show, Chicago 90'. First saw Nugent at our High School, 72'..he graduated from the towns Catholic boys school--hard to believe.

[@TowManDave00]

The first Damn Yankees album has some killer tunes on it

[@stevenlornie1261]

second album is pretty good too

[@clemclemson9259]

disagree I never ever cared for them Tommy Shw yes.. Nugent no thanks I men NO thanks I hate his "playing"

[@davemoyer505]

You boys made your mark- big time!!!! I’d recommend you all go enjoy the latter years of your life, doing whatever it is you love to do. And if by chance you get together again, down the road, rock us fans like a hurricane! Love the YANKS!!!!🎸🥁🇺🇸❤️

[@williamboyle8918]

Damn Scorps ?

[@davemoyer505]

@@williamboyle8918 ha! Good one there. 👍😁🇺🇸❤️

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

Nobody from the band is reading this.

[@williamboyle8918]

@@ZiddersRooFurry douchelord

[@davemoyer505]

@@ZiddersRooFurry I know that- just sayin.🇺🇸❤️

[@woody2875]

I went hunting with Ted in 1997 and he told me that the secret to cooking great meats was to saute the meat with the blood of a few good record executives

[@penoyer79]

that sounds like something ted would say

[@michaelwatne9274]

Love that statement "Eddie, I know everybody in that band, Trunk" Good stuff, thanks for the additional info behind the scenes. Loved seeing them in concert with Bad Company when they toured the US during the Gulf War, very patriotic tour at that time.

[@prometheus7504]

I saw them in concert while at basic training. They came to the base and put on a show for us. It was great

[@roverwanderernomadvagabond6392]

how do you feel about Nugent shitting his pants to avoid military service?

[@prometheus7504]

@@roverwanderernomadvagabond6392 seems a shitty thing to do

[@phasegen]

What I thought was interesting was how Damn Yankees started a tour opening for Bad Company and finished the tour with Bad Company opening for them. It also felt like they had Styx, Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent opening for them as well. That was a really good concert.

[@jasonwilliamshuck]

i saw that tour. DY was GREAT. in the era of super over-the-top concerts (Motley Crue/Def Leppard/et. al.) their stage was super simple/stripped down and they just ROCKED! I remember at the very end, the roadies came onstage to tear down gear and prep for Bad Co, and Nuge just kept jammin on guitar. he had a wireless pack on and he was just lying on his back on the stage shredding alone until 3 roadies picked him up and carried him offstage. he kept jamming until the soundguy cut his sound off.

[@Darthsinned]

Was there too

[@duncanhawkins9548]

I saw a show when they were still opening for bad company.. both bands rocked!

[@Darthsinned]

Saw same concert

[@RobKimbro1966]

Saw Night Ranger a few years ago and they still sound just as amazing now as they did at the height of their success.

[@serpephone]

NR is still an amazing live band!!

[@billkeithchannel]

'94-'95 was when record companies decided to push alternative music into the mainstream and kill off 80's style music that was still hanging in there.

[@JohnRay1969]

Are you sure "record companies decided" to push alternative music? People's tastes change. It's natural progression. Just my opinion but I won't give record companies the credit for my taste. I decide what I like and always have. And what gets played on commercial radio has never been my taste. I think you mean "grunge" not "alternative". "Alternative" music is by definition the alternative to what gets played on commercial radio and therefore is always changing, it is not a genre. In the '80's it was a lot of New Wave and Punk, the '90's was goth and postmodern punk, since the turn of the century it has become increasingly more online independent releases are the alternative to the commercial radio releases. I still enjoy alternative music and more than ever a lot of it will never make it to commercial radio regardless of genre. Listener supported radio stations (usually college stations) will feature current alternative music due to the lack of corporate sponsors and prescribed playlists.

[@eq1373]

​@@JohnRay1969yes...they pushed it

[@WhatsCookingTime]

No earlier decision was probably made in 90 or 91 track the charts from January 92 until December of 93 top 40 charts rock-trac see The changing . Yeah couple still had big albums. But by spring 1993 it was all over for the 80s style beans

[@TroyShahanMusic]

It was ‘97 when the boy band Hanson came out. Then, the corporations pushed the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync. Music started to be marketed to 3rd and 4th graders. So much for the loyal customers. The industry shifted to bubblegum pop records, and it’s been garbage ever since. I loved the 80’s bands. I didn’t ask for Pearl Jam, and I’m not even sure Eddie Vedder ever composed anything - He just made dumb noises. I want my 80’s bands back!!!!!

[@billkeithchannel]

@@TroyShahanMusicSounds like a 30-year cycle. Early to mid 1960's was a heavy push for bubblegum pop music. I will admit that I did buy "10" (at a secondhand store). If I had $1 every time I started singing the chorus for _Evenflow_ out of the blue I could retire.

[@conrad98gtp]

Fun fact: Damn Yankees asked Rik Emmett from Triumph to join, but he turned it down. He also turned down Boston and Asia. He was over the "Band thing" at that point.

[@garthkolbeck8674]

Rik Emmett is a very smart man!

[@ralphus555]

Love RE. Didn't know that!

[@WhatsCookingTime]

At that time Boston was done Asia had one hit years before

[@JOEMAMMADRINK40Z]

yes, yes, a great band....... FOR ME TO POOP ON!!!!

[@chrispetersen4863]

Rik was another amazing (underrated/unknown by many sadly) musician and songwriter. Triumph songs still give me chills on the rare occasions I hear them these days.

[@tylerthompson1842]

They were a phenomenal live band

[@Meatball2022]

Saw damn Yankees 4 times in concert. 4 of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. They were amazing

[@clemclemson9259]

sorry to hear that

[@LuoJun2]

I was deployed in Gulf War I when Damn Yankees came out. Never saw them in concert, but everyone in the 82d Airborne had their album. They were the most popular band in the world at the time.

[@bartmix8994]

No, they weren’t. Not even close.

[@joeseabert8391]

Any chance you were a 12b?

[@DanDonahue-dr9og]

Allgay

[@AK-ec3id]

The energy of this band was amazing. The magic of their combined virtuosity aligned perfectly. Loved this band. 💙

[@Lonewlf7676]

"Don't say goodnight. Say you're gonna stay forever!" I still have their first album. One of THE best albums of my teenage years in the 90's! I would ABSOLUTELY go see them if they did a reunion tour!

[@nathanahubbard1975]

Unfortunately they did that second album that was a total letdown.

[@markfrost2707]

eh..

[@samsmomm]

I had almost forgotten about Damn Yankees. This was interesting. Thank you.

[@waterlec8718]

Ted plays his ass off... You pay 50 bucks for a ticket to see him, he'll give you $100 bucks worth of playing BACK to you ✅👍

[@jeffrussell777]

Musically it was Good and Solid ...for they all are top shelf....I couldn't believe Ted was doing something so commercial staple sounding....for His Double Gonzo is to me ICONIC / Strangle Hold is Timeless....as is TED ...could really still see him doing something Musically for his Mind showcases the Power of Never Fucking it up with Drugs and Alcohol.

[@hehjr47]

Damn Yankees was one of my favorite bands behind 38 Special. You just can't go wrong with that line-up.

[@ethanshelbyskateboarding9980]

Yes you can by getting rid of that trophy hunting pile of trash,Ted Nugent

[@blakenorthrup]

Agreed. 38 rocks!!

[@ethanshelbyskateboarding9980]

Yes you can just by that trophy hunting piece of XXXX Nugent being a member

[@thearchitect817]

That’s crazy because I’ve been jamming them the last few days. Take me higher and the Woooo Woooo Woooo song 😃

[@williamskogen9895]

Three of my favorite albums of all time, Damn Yankees two albums + ShawBlades. Also my favorite concert, got to see them in Jacksonville, FL.

[@whathahk]

The things we don't know! Interesting! Love rock history! Thanks for you work! Loved the DY!

[@dw8840]

I had Dont Tread on CD and I remember when "Coming Of Age" and "High Enough" were all over top 40 radio just before grunge cane out, before the end days of hair bands.

[@michaelhawkins6149]

We saw Night Ranger just a few months back and they were rocking just like when I saw them open for KISS in the 80s. Incredible. I love Brad Gillis. They did 2 Yankees songs...fantastic.

[@Colonel__Ingus69]

I seen Damn Yankees in Norfolk, Va. at the Naval Air Base around the time of the gulf war. Joan Jett opened for them and they played in an airplane hanger. I hope they know how much we appreciated their patriotism and support, something my shipmates and I will never forget!!!

[@hectorvasquez3605]

Same here n dokken opened up. They played my hometown corpus Christi TX at the military naval air base

[@bobthebear1246]

God this all sounds so Spinal Tap 🤣

[@Fektthis]

Yes. There can be no bigger Super Patriot than good old Ted. Didn't bathe for two weeks and shat himself a few times before going to the draft board to get out of serving in Nam. You know, cuz he was busy being a pedo. Yep a true Super Patriot...

[@MudtoyTT]

Patriotism is not a word that will ever be associated with Nugent the draft dodging coward.

[@deesnutz42069]

if Ted is such a patriot, why did he dodge the draft to have sex with kids instead of fight in vietnam?

[@terrylong6457]

Saw them twice. Loved it. Took my youngest son . He loved it. Wish they had never gone away. Saw Ted in 1969 in my hometown. Five bands. One was Ted with the Amboy Dukes.

[@davidh1970]

I know Nugent and Jack Blades are still friends because Ted made a surprise appearance at the Night Ranger show in Traverse City, Michigan during the cherry festival this year. They did a great rendition of Coming Of Age..

[@SteveDehaeseleer]

Friends to the point that Jack asked Ted and wife Shemane to be the godparents to his kids - that's why at the show in traverse City you saw, when Jack brought Ted out on stage, he introduced him as "the godfather of my kids!"

[@drewgeraci8434]

GREAT episode! There hasn't been much info on Damn Yankees but I learned a lot today.

[@TxTrucker713]

DY is my favorite band, and Don't Tread On Me is my all-time favorite song. I'm 40 now, and I got my 3 year old Grandson head banging to their hits as well.

[@alexp6016]

Damn Yankees was one of the greatest supergroups of all time. All of these guys are just awesome.

[@MrZappaman420]

saw Damn Yankees play in Moline, Illinois back in the day, they kicked ass!

[@MeemsKaso]

You're forgetting that while on stage, Uncle Ted brought his bow & one arrow out and from across the stage was a poster of Sad-am Hussein...to which he resoundingly pulled back on his bow, arrow engaged & hit Hussein...bullseye! I saw Uncle Ted first time in 1978 when he came onstage flying across the audience in a loin cloth as he held onto a thick rope. I saw Damn Yankees 3 times and have seen Uncle Ted solo 7 times. Styx one time back in the day & Night Ranger 3 times. Seeing the three of them together was a beautiful sight!!

[@Richard-xv1xu]

The solo on Come Again is one of the best ever written and didn’t get enough respect.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

"AWWWW YEAHHHHHHHH" - Tommy Shaw, in that solo!

[@dakbre412]

I was so luck to see Damn Yankees perform at Naval Base in Virginia Beach. I even received Ted Nugents 1st edition magazine of bowhunting, which I had signed by band when backstage. Loved them and still play their music

[@Brigand231]

Almost got to see them in Columbia SC in 91 or 92(?) with Jackyl, but couldn't make it. Met Ted at the airport the next day and shook his hand. He's a lot more down to Earth in person.

[@TheKvl]

Saw them in Raleigh,Nc shortly after returning from Desert Storm, Great concert. Bad Company was also there.

[@aarond23]

I do remember lots of fans wondering what happened to Damn Yankees even though all the Seattle stuff was going on...there was still a fanbase out there.

[@jamessimpson4577]

True, and they were free to serve that fan base. Which, to a man, they chose NOT to do. So what does that say about what they thought about their fan base?

[@TheEWFX29]

@@jamessimpson4577 They were always a bland band that was a reason, with the other formula bands why 80s music is so disparaged in some circles these days. Styx was always a formulaic band and it continued with DY. But no one really cares about them and would rather have the original bands reformed than the bland formula corporate rock that this turned into.

[@gars129]

@@TheEWFX29 Yeah its weird how almost every hair band struggled to properly do anything else. Nearly all of them attempted to get more metal or imitate grunge but in a really polished way. I guess Motley Crue did attempt industrial metal and failed miserably after that pretty decent S/T in 1994. Only bands that managed to change were either bands that were still not famous (Pantera, Alice In Chains), or Bon Jovi which had a lot of label support and did not try to be edgy. GNR will always be a mystery since they didnt release anything after 93 but had a lot of goodwill and label support.

[@bullheimer]

i was in A school in Millington TN and their tape, in my walkman! gave me new life and I overcame the despair of being stuck in Millington for an entire year! Thanks DY! Still listening on Hair Nation!

[@GlueTubber]

skanker inn!!!

[@Wishpool]

Damon Johnson (Brother Cane, Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd) was tapped to play guitar, sing/write some songs for Damn Yankees' 3rd album "Bravo" that was never released. Tommy Shaw also played on the album, but he was too busy with Styx to commit much time. Songs were recorded and band promo photos were taken with Damon. I'd love to hear some of those tracks!

[@eriklarson9137]

Damon is a MONSTER!!!

[@JohnDoe-ls2ww]

Wow. Totally forgot all about High Enough. Damn that brings back memories

[@jscho8674]

They were so amazing live. I got to see them twice. The first time I spent waaaaay too much money to a scalper for front row seats, and the band did not disappoint. 😊😊😊

[@musicworldtreasures]

Why did you say " Eddie I Know Everybody In That Band Trunk"? It was funny!🤣🤣😂😂

[@davidurban3357]

Damn Yankees debut is one of my all time favorites, similar to Night Ranger 'Dawn Patrol'...loaded with great tracks.

[@stevehicks8944]

I wore both albums out in my cassette tape player on road trip throughout the eastern U.S. and the Midwest. Still enjoy Damn Yankee’s music!

[@blucheer8743]

Shaw and blades were a pretty good song writing team I saw them years later after DY in a club they were really good

[@ritast.johnstiles8008]

Loved these guys together Great music!

[@randypullman1155]

Absolutely a fire cracker of a band. Everything is accurate. Grung was center stage and the DY did not get the promotion they deserved. Now we're a lost generation looking for a DY album with the perfect chemistry even if it's covers of great rock and roll.

[@rosariocannistraro3561]

The ironic thing about it all is grunge lasted as long as a wet fart , By the early 2000's 99.9 percent of those bands they hyped so much as being so much more "real" than metal couldn't sell out a porta potty a few years later .

[@roberteltze4850]

​@@rosariocannistraro3561local college in the middle of nowhere used to bring in massive bands: Van Halen, AC/DC, Queensryche, Def Leppard, etc. Then grunge hit. They tried to stay with the times but the first grunge band they brought in sold a paltry 1000 tickets. They were burnt so badly they haven't had a rock show since.

[@anon_laughing_man]

Grunge is dead. Rock and metal live on. LOL

[@Dragonette666]

@@rosariocannistraro3561 grunge was astroturfed

[@Jeffersonian1975]

I hated the whole grunge, or heroin rock when it came out back then. Come to think of it, i still do. Miss the the real rock and roll

[@aaronyoung5667]

The highlighted Night Ranger in the yellow and blue shirt is Brad Gillis. Jack Blades is in the center wearing the blue jacket.

[@da_blade5040]

Ive Always Felt that besides The Travelling Willburys, Damn Yankess was one of The Best Super Groups!! A Great Mix of Sound snd Vocals!! TRULY AWESOME!! 👍💯🤟🎸🇺🇲♥️♥️♥️

[@alanmakowski9368]

Badlands were maybe the best All-Star band put together. Along with Damn Yankees.

[@DukesMusic84]

Frank Zappa hated the industry for pulling shit like this. In 1978 he owed Warner Bros 4 albums. He delivered them all on the same day, they were 4 songs each.

[@weedian710]

Dude, I totally thought you were KZbinr Samurai guitarist until I saw your face. Y’all have a similar voice. Love your videos glad to see your growth on here.

[@ABoyd1852]

I kinda thought the same thing too. Their voices are VERY similar.

[@skator8423]

I never noticed that

[@rnrtruestories]

Oh are they? I do like his channel will have to go compare

[@weedian710]

@@rnrtruestories Very much so IMO. Both of y’all are awesome, all the best!

[@MrReddog1970]

Great Info ! I never knew this , The Damm Yankees were EXCELLENT !

[@flyoverkid55]

They were the right guys in the right place at the right time. That kind of " lightning in a bottle" is hard to contain, and can be somewhat capricious. They made some kicking jams, and then found their paths diverging. Ask Diamond Dave about that.

[@NikkiDocherty3174]

Obe of my favorite bands at that time and of all time. Excellent talent in one band... and that harmony!

[@WhiteOak09]

I saw them with Skynyrd and Bad Company at Charlotte, N.C. and it was a Awesome Show .

[@repentnow1720]

"I know everybody in that band" YES !!!! Far too accurate! : )

[@Whookieee]

What I remember most about them was in the High Enough video, Nugent is chewing gum

[@joeldukes303]

Damn Right. It was on all those compilation cd’s named “Monster Ballads” an sh!t like that. Hahahaaa!!

[@dsnyc5789]

Cartelone went from living in a Basement apartment in Astoria, to playing at Radio City. Awesome dream come true. He also managed to forge a career for the next 30 years: Winning!

[@REMBRANTTUBE]

The Fans Want A Reunion & Another Album!!!! 🇺🇸🎸⭐️

[@bigrev1722]

One of the few bands from this erra I would pay to see again, today. Each member a talent.

[@joebrooks7366]

Saw them live on the Don’t Tread tour with Bad Company. Hands down the LOUDEST concert I’ve ever been to. My friends and I literally couldn’t hear each other when we tried to talk to each other after the show. A GREAT show!!!

[@roberteltze4850]

Their tour with Bad Company was their first tour. They started out as the opening act but as their popularity grew (and they blew Bad Company off the stage every night) they switched to alternating opening act. Unless they toured with Bad Company again after the Don't Tread album, I don't know about that.

[@scottkramer5981]

Seen the same tour at Philly, then went to Allentown for another show and we left after we seen Damn Yankees, didn't stay for Bad Co the second time.

[@Shakerhood69]

I saw them with Bad Company too in Pittsburgh, was an awesome show!

[@atatterson6992]

The Nuge, "Hunting is more important." LEGEND

[@tmapes1989]

Saw Damn Yankees and Bad Company back in '90, when I was stationed in Utah!!! Great show!!!

[@MariahTahmisian]

Interesting story. Love Damn Yankees!!

[@CraigArndt]

Ted is retiring. This is his last year, spending time with family. Don't blame him.

[@vanessaa7602]

THANK GOD!!

[@bls8959]

@@vanessaa7602 Butthurt liberal

[@SteveDehaeseleer]

He is still appearing with friends on stage (Jack Blades and Nightranger and Tommy Shaw with Styx this fall) and doing fundraisers (like the one in Florida this year with Skynyrd); he's just retired from touring. More time with his growing family; less hotel/interview/rock-out/hotel madness. At 75 as of last week, I can't blame him.

[@andrewjames9996]

@SteveDehaeseleer Eddie Trunk calls touring " a young man's game." Many had to carry one because they were terrible with money or signed bad contracts. Nugent now calls hotels "prison".

[@RunTFC]

Classic Priest shirt! My compliments.

[@robertvance1873]

Now is When We Need Them to Reunite for the 3rd Album Their Sound and Amazing Song Writing is The KICK IN THE ASS The World 🌍 Needs because Everything Sucks

[@Pryor1973]

Jackyl, haven’t heard them in a long long time!

[@SteveDehaeseleer]

They didn't last long.

[@pizzamon795]

Ted is just so damn cool

[@DMDvideo10]

I saw them in an Auditorium show, i was 4 rows from the stage right in front of Shaw. They were promoting the Don't Tread on Me record. Man they were amazing to watch!

[@christinesommerfeld9815]

Great work on this documentary of Damn Yankees.

[@rnrtruestories]

thanks

[@Skorpio420]

Eddie "I Know Everybody In The Band" Trunk... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gars129]

The first Night Ranger album just has so many good songs. Its kinda of a waste that their last two albums have so many uncatchy songs.

[@geraldfriend256]

Yeah they sophomore slumped hard. All you hear from# 2 on is Sister Christian, so….

[@RH-tv9hk]

Saw them live and they did indeed put on one helluva show.💯

[@srhatfield]

The record label knew that "Grunge" had landed and the Damn Yankees didn't fit that mold, so they paid them to go away and save their cash for another Stone Temple Pilots or Pearl Jam clone.

[@Deborahtunes]

Exactly. Both Tommy and Ted said that the label wanted them to record grunge music. Of course they refused...

[@MJEvermore853]

@@Deborahtunes, I’m glad they didn’t lower themselves and play grunge music. Good on them 👍

[@Deborahtunes]

@@MJEvermore853 ~ Me too. I hated grunge. The trash bin of music...

[@jlloyd2004mcs]

It’s because nobody wanted to hear about “Uncle Ted” singing about having sex with an underage girl anymore.

[@Fasnic]

Both Shaw/Blades albums are fantastic!

[@diaryofanaxeman539]

Hard Rock and Metal didn't get killed off by Grunge, the Record Industry just gambled on Grunge and went bust over it .

[@Road_Rash]

Just to play devil's advocate for a minute, Eddie Trunk actually does know every guy in practically every band... he's interviewed most of them... I don't think they're calling him for advice, or a shoulder to cry on at 3 in the morning, but he does actually know them... just sayin'...

[@silentskystudios]

Don't Tread is one of my all-time favorite records. Such a great album, and every song on there is fantastic! I still hold out hope for a reunion!

[@Jeremy-ko8zw]

There's a video of Ted with Night Ranger 7/4/23 playing Cat Scratch Fever and Coming of Age. Jack said, " the rumours may be true" but that may just be jacking up the crowd a bit. Jack recently had to take a break for some heart-related issue, but you can't tell it now

[@gregkuhn7123]

@@Jeremy-ko8zw - Ted's retired now....

[@Jeremy-ko8zw]

@@gregkuhn7123 he's retired from touring but he played a local show in Michigan on July 4th the videos on KZbin

[@Skycladatdusk78]

They were such a great early 90s band, Don't Tread was my favorite album of theirs. It's a shame that follow up never came out.

[@drlarrymitchell]

Shit...if it shuts Ted Nugent up, I'd kick in five bucks.

[@markp6062]

HA! good one! thanks for sharing this stuff I didn't know.

[@chrispetersen4863]

Loved the sound, musicianship, and energy that Damn Yankees had and projected! Grew up listening to Styx and Nuge as an elementary school kid (right there with the Beatles, Wings, Beach Boys, Pink Floyd and UFO), then loved all the great music we had through the 80's all the way into the early 90's and was lucky enough to see DY live in the very early 90's. Later on got to see Tommy with JY and the boys (Minus Dennis DeYoung) of Styx multiple times from the early 2000's through late 20-teens and their shows never failed to rock hard!

[@bruce9942]

That's great and they still are awesome as memories, I seen tommy shaw, his voice was gone ten years ago and Ted is done retired . God bless you guys and wish you all a beautiful retirement, you have kept me rockin All those years, I've seen you all so many times, simply beautiful artist, Rock on !!!!