Ted Nugent Praises Metallica’s "Soulful" Groove While Criticizing Pantera

In a recent episode of Ted Nugent’s show “Spirit Campfire” on Real America’s Voice, the ever-outspoken Nugent threw a nod to several rockers who are still out there tearing up stages, mentioning Mark Farner, STYX, and Sammy Hagar as some of the enduring performers. And, of course, he couldn’t resist pointing out the behemoth that is METALLICA, commenting on their relentless stadium shows and their mind-boggling ability to rake in 26 million dollars a night. Casual, right?

When it came to METALLICA’s sound, Nugent had some surprisingly positive things to say. According to him, the band delivers “soulful heavy metal,” something he described as having a more rhythm-and-blues vibe underneath all that volume. He threw in a comparison that only Ted could come up with: “Like if James Brown had more amplifiers and a white bass player.” Classic Ted. And, in typical form, he quickly clarified that he’s not taking shots at METALLICA’s bassist (whoever that might be in his words) but thinks the guy has got the “rhythm groove down.”

This isn’t the first time Ted Nugent has shared his thoughts on heavy metal. Back in April 2022, he had a chat with Meltdown from Detroit’s WRIF radio station, where the topic of the best cover of one of his songs came up. His answer? Disappointingly, he hasn’t heard any version that knocked his socks off. While he expressed his admiration for bands like PANTERA, MOTÖRHEAD, and the RAMONES, he made it clear that none of their covers captured the Motown soul he believes is at the core of his music. To him, they’re all just “terminally Caucasian.” Ouch.

He elaborated, saying that his music has always had a certain grunt and grind, thanks to the influence of the Motown rhythm section he grew up around. He listed some of the musicians he’s worked with over the years, including Greg Smith, Jason Hartless, and Johnny Badanjek, who helped him bring that tight groove to life. While he appreciates the effort put into covers of his songs, like Lemmy’s take on “Cat Scratch Fever”, he still feels that they lack the “thump” that his original tracks had. And yes, he’s still holding on to the fact that Motown is the benchmark for groove.

Then came his infamous critique of PANTERA’s version of “Cat Scratch Fever”—a take he once slammed for having “no soul, no balls, no feel.” In his eyes, the band’s on-stage behavior only confirmed his distaste, comparing them to “Ozzy-like zombies” who represent everything he’s stood against his entire life: drugs and alcohol. Nugent has always been vocal about his sober lifestyle, so it wasn’t surprising when he tied his critique to the band’s apparent indulgence in “chimp-like substance abuse.” His words weren’t exactly gentle, calling their behavior “horrifically negative” and even labeling them as enablers for America’s downfall. Ted Nugent, never one to mince words.

He also recalled a fan posting on his “Nuge Board” message board years ago, where someone praised “Dimebag” Darrell from PANTERA. The fan pointed out how Dimebag was a huge fan of Nugent’s music, even warming up with Ted’s riffs before shows. Nugent acknowledged the sentiment but doubled down on his critique, dismissing the cover as “exceedingly white” and devoid of the soulful pulse he expects in his music. He wasn’t impressed by the “dope, booze, and heroin disconnect” that he saw as characteristic of PANTERA’s performances.

As usual, Nugent balanced his harsh words with a dose of backhanded respect. Sure, he appreciates Dimebag’s talents as a guitarist, but in his eyes, there’s a limit to how much he can respect someone caught up in the drug-fueled rock lifestyle. For Ted, it all boils down to whether someone’s life choices land them in the “asset column of mankind.” It’s clear that he doesn’t see many metal bands making the cut in that category.

Nugent’s latest album, “Detroit Muscle”, dropped in April 2022 via Pavement Music. Produced by Michael Lutz, the record keeps that Motown thump alive, packed with the same gritty rhythm that Nugent believes is sorely missing in today’s rock scene. It’s yet another reminder that, for Ted, the soul of the music always comes first. And if you’re just flailing around, well, you’re not getting a pass from him.