As a devout Beatles fan, I won't say The Beatles, bc they put out 30 yrs worth of great music in a tiny 8 yr window, that blows everyone else out of the water. I can't ask for more. I choose CCR
Working security in front of the stage for Damn Yankees while at college. Before the music started someone in the crowd came up and handed me a phone number, said it belonged to Lori who I’d met at a party the night before. Take me higher was our “First Dance” at the wedding reception.
I have a bit of a long story about Ted. 4 of us guys went to see Ted in concert and the crowd was a bit on the rough and rowdy side that night. We were standing in the crowd about 3 rows from the stage with me on the end with a good looking girl that believed in full body contact dancing. All of a sudden my friend from work nudged me and said trade places Chuck is getting into a fight. I told Rusty that happens with Chuck sometimes. At that moment Chuck grabs this troublemaker by the shirt and belt buckle and throws him over his head towards the stage. As the bouncer starts to grab Chuck Ted stops singing and tells the bouncer to throw the other guy out, Chuck was defending himself. Fast forward 8 or 10 years to an NRA convention Chuck and another friend who wasn't at the concert were in line to meet Ted. All of a sudden Ted looks up, points at Chuck and says "you. Heartland South Bend Indiana. I remember you!" Chuck and Kevin went to the front of the line and talked with Ted for 15 minutes. Ted remembered after all those years.
I have one child, a daughter born in late ‘89. In the previous three years, I lost my best friend, my older brother and my favorite uncle. I felt broken and lost. Then, she came along and brought the sunshine back to my life. She was less than a year old when High Enough hit the airwaves and every time she heard it, she would squeal with delight, giggle and kick her legs like crazy! I would sing along and she couldn’t contain her glee! It was the cutest, sweetest thing ever! The lyrics (minus the “call me baby” line) were timely and hit me straight through the heart. I broke up with her mother when my little girl was one and raised her by myself. To this very day, Tommy Shaw is one of her favorite musicians and singers and High Enough is part of the soundtrack to both of our lives. To Tommy and Jack: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My daughter is everything to me and your song is tied to my memories of her as a baby and throughout her life. She’s 34 now and has two girls of her own - one is learning guitar and the other is looking at drum sets! Rock ‘n’ roll is obviously in their blood! ❤🤘🏼😁
@@anthonykeve8894 - Thank you so much, Anthony! Being a father and grandfather defines my life. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I love every second of it!
I will always be a fan of Damn Yankees! I graduated HS in 1990, and I listened to this album all summer long. I saw them in concert January 1991 with Bad Company. It was a fantastic show. They played the entire album and Jack, Tommy, and Ted each did a song from their past groups. This supergroup was my favorite!
I saw Damn Yankees at the Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 22, 1991. They were touring with Bad Company, except singer Brian Howe had laryngitis (or something) and couldn't perform, so the concert was all Damn Yankees! I think they played their entire debut album (except for one song), plus two songs each from Night Ranger, Styx, and solo Ted Nugent. Fantastic!
I went to the Gulf War in 90’ and I took my Walkman with two tapes, Damn Yankees and Faith No More-Epic. They were the only song I listen for over 8 months. Love Damn Yankees for holding me on when times were bad during those days.
This song is forever linked to the Gulf War for me also. I was in middle school and the local radio station played a version of this song that had messages from the troops to family and friends back home overlayed every night for months.
Thank you for sharing your story and for your service. I'm glad this music helped you get through it all. As I write this, Veteran's Day is today! Happy Veteran's Day!!!
I saw them in the early 90s when I was in the navy at Norfolk Naval Air Station. They played in a hanger on the base! Coolest show ever! Ted swung from a rope and also shot a lit arrow across the hanger with his compound bow. Good times!
One of my life’s highlights involves Damn Yankees. My boyfriend at the time was cousins with the least well-known person in the band. DY performed in our town, and going to the concert, sitting in the front row, and meeting the band afterward will always be one of my favorite memories.
I started my love of music in the mid 70s. Sadly it started waning in the 90s. I just couldn't get into the newer sounds and turned off the radio in the mid 90s and I'm not alone. I do have legacy of great songs to listen to though so I'm still a happy camper. ❤
Yup. Come Again is by far the most solid song on the album. On some other channel, somebody left the comment that said it all: "The only bad thing about this song is that it ends."
I am English and never heard of Damn Yankees. Their music sounds good. Why couldn't this type of rock and grunge live together? This what you get when record companies are run by people who are only in it for the money, with no love for music. Nirvana became popular in the UK, but we had our own Britpop scene with Oasis, Blur, etc.
I couldn't have clicked on this video any faster. My dad loved Styx and Night Ranger, I remember how excited he was when he got this album in 1990. I was 10 at the time and had no idea who the other bands were, he explained everything about those bands to me, and then I understood why he was so excited about the album. Every time I hear these songs it brings back good memories of a time before he passed away. Thanks for this video.
@@ProfessorofRock The only cover I know of "High Enough" is "American Idol"'s Constantine Maroulis & Amy Spanger in the Broadway version of "Rock of Ages". It's a shame it got cut from the movie version; I would've loved to hear it sung as one of the musical numbers.
Honestly, Come Again is one of the greatest songs of that entire era. The most incredible vocal harmonies, the peak of Nugent's guitar abilities, and Shaw's soaring vocal leads. The song still gives me goosebumps to this very day.
The Dang Yankers are the best hard rock supergroup of the early 90s. Nugent played in his prime and "Don't tread on me" is certified ass kickery. I challenge anyone to play that song cranked up to maximum volume.
If you put these guys in a band together this is exactly the song you would expect to get, you can hear the different elements of each artist being brought to the table. It really fit the music being played on the radio at the time but like you said grunge changed the scene completely. Weird to get paid not to work. Great episode professor!
Surprised you didn’t delve into all the versions of the video for “Relax.” There’s the official “S&M” version you mentioned, the version with the characters & footage from Brian DePalma’s “Body Double” in which the song appeared (also not mentioned and I think there were even two versions of it, an explicit and non-explicit), and the “laser version” which was likely made to survive on music video channels. Although it went to no. 20 (I think you said?) on the US dance chart, I don’t know of any mainstream or “alternative” club in the country that wasn’t playing it at least twice a night in the heyday and keeping it in rotation seemingly forever. It’s up there with “Blue Monday”, “Situation”, “Everyday is Halloween”, “You Spin Me Round”, etc. It was HUGE in clubland.
My favorite instance regarding "High Enough" is from early in the pandemic lockdown. Tommy played the song with Victoria Shaw (no relation) on her program Songwriters Under the Covers. He played this and several of his Styx staples. It blew my mind to hear and see Tommy who was 67 at the time and thinking that the clock had stopped on him. He looked and sounded exactly like he did at the height of Styx and when Damn Yankees were together. Even his goatee didn't impede his youthful appearance.
I saw Styx last month and they were incredible! Tommy played a new song with an old banjo he bought from Dan Tyminski! Another great artist of the Bluegrass scene! I'm so glad I got to see them! STYX has always been a favorite of mine!
"Hallucination" - The first "Shaw Blades" album from 1995 was really AWESOME!! If you don't have it yet - find it!! They did a second one & it was pretty good, but the first one was the best!!
My dad and i were installing my new car stereo set up in my 87 Chevy S-10. Lol...my dad is somewhat of a sound guy. He asked me how i wanted the equalizer to sound..i said i want my ears to bleed..now mind you i spent $2000 in 1990 for this set up so yes it could make ones ears bleed...he asked me to give him a cd to use. THIS was the cd i chose. My dad had never heard it..we listened to the whole thing twice he loved it...that cd never left my truck for 3 years....its a great memory.
Man did i love this album, Sr year of HS and had it on tape so back then you really had to listen to the entire album no skipping. That summer ( 90 or 91) went to see them at Great woods in MA. A concert i will never forget. They played a few of each of their other bands songs and at the end of Rocking in America ( NR) Tommy Shaw walks out with a compound bow hands it to Ted ( of course we all know he was a huge hunter outdoors guy) Ted loads an arrow and pulls it back, Blades walks up and Lights it on fire. Just then a life side Sadam Hussain comes across the back of the stage ( remember this was at the beginning of the gulf war) Ted shoots the arrow Hits the moving Sadam Target and fireworks go off it was AMAZING! I still tell people about that show to this day. Man did i love that Album ( Coming of Age was my favortite song)
Always felt this Dawn Yankees album was the pinnacle of the rock era. It’s just perfect. It will never get old and I still listen to it heavily all these years later. An absolute masterpiece. Sure wish they would reunite and release that third album for the fans before it’s too late.
I got out of the Navy in Dec 1992, and the first concert I went to was Damn Yankees! I loved both albums so much, I couldn't believe how well they meshed! Even as they haven't produced a new album, I'd still go out of my way to see them again! Seen all three since, and it's not the same...
I saw Damn Yankees twice and WOW! what incredible guys. All awesome, the vocals were impeccable and the stage performance was great! They just "fit" together. Tommy is a very gracious person. I've met him several times over the years and he's always very interesting to talk to. My oldest son has talked with Jack Blades and found him to be pretty awesome as well. I really wish this band could have continued at least part time. Michael is such a fantastic drummer - very solid! And well, Ted will always be Uncle Ted LOL!
STYX has resumed touring with Tommy, Night Ranger are doing the same with Jack Blades in the fold, and Michael is currently drumming for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ted retired from touring -with 2023 being his farewell tour. - *HOWEVER; I would LOVE to see them reunite!* Long live quality rock!!!
I saw them at the Armadillo World HDQ ‘s. Austin TX baby! Did you know Led Zeppelin played in Austin at the municipal auditorium? Oh Van Halen played the Dillo before they were signed.
Tommy and Jack make magic together. I also love the albums they've recorded as Shaw Blades. Saw them live twice, and the shows were so much fun. They obviously enjoy working with each other, and as others have said, their voices blend soooo well.
I still listen to their self titled debut album. One of my all time favorites. Had the tape in high school, the CD in college, and now a digital version on my phone. The whole album rocks. High Enough is my favorite track and one of my all-time favorite songs.
This was my fav album my Sr year in high school in 90-91. And got to see them in concert with Bad Co. This album was way more than 3 hits. That whole album was fire!! Great episode Professor!
Thanks for the nod to Badlands. Even though it went by in a blink, they were an awesome blues rock driven band. Highly recommend their first effort “Badlands”. All killer no filler.
I remember when "High Enough" came out in the fall of 1990, just starting my senior year of high school. It's crazy to think that it came out 33 years ago and it seems like it wasn't that long ago. I bought the CD and just about wore it out. The song got to #3 but should have been number one. There were many good songs and artists out around that time period, which made it difficult to score #1 songs.
I loved Damn Yankees. As a kid in the late 70's Tommy Shaw was the epitome of "Rock Star". So fast forward to me in high school and Damn Yankees come together, being I was also a big Uncle Ted fan and a huge Night Ranger fan. I was all in. Loved both albums, so much talent and writing skills in that band. I miss these guys playing together.
I just saw Night Ranger in S. Utah a couple weeks ago. They did Coming of Age and High Enough. 40 years after I saw NR for the first time opening for Sammy Hagar. I've seen Ted a couple times too. Some friends of mine and I were going to see Styx in either 83 or 84 and went screw off in downtown Kansas City before the show. Went to one of the upscale hotels to look around. Who walks out of the elevator while we're waiting in the lobby? None other than Tommy Shaw and JY. Pretty cool. All I could say was....hey guys.
I know High Enough was the "song" on this album, but i thought Come Again was the best song they did. Such a powerful track using all the band's talents like Ted's solo and Tommy and Jack's rhythm and tandem choruses with Correllone's drums. I can listen to this song and album over and over
I remember a MTV interview years ago while they were making an appearance on a live radio show. The performance was acoustic. But they had a wager how long it would be before Ted picked the electric back up. 😅
Another great episode. I loved this album & the follow up. I think today's music climate would be ok for them to release another album. There are a lot of 80's rock bands doing well. Just saw Skid Row last year & they sounded amazing.
Before "High Enough" became a huge hit, they toured as the opening act for Bad Company. I saw that show. When they came back around again a year later, Bad Company was opening for Damn Yankees! Saw that show too! To me, "Come Again" is their best song.
This songs brings so much joy every time I hear the first arrangements just before the verse... one of my favorites song... and then always looking forward to that solo!
Knew it had to be Damn Yankees from your thumbnail of Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades. Yeah it's a shame the record business could not handle the Greatness. It was like the Metal version of the Traveling Wilburys LOL!
Hey, can you find something on Ted’s other super group, “Damnocracy” with Jason Bonham, Sebastian Bach, Scott Ian and Evan Seinfeld? Can’t seem to find any of their work…
I know this has nothing to do with the featured song, which I love by the way, but am I the only 80's teen who HATED Peewee Herman? I thought the entire character/act was STUPID and, to this day, CANNOT figure out why everyone thought it was so great.
@@ProfessorofRock I saw them in Asheville, NC in 1992. Bad Company was also on the tour. Festival seating, so close to the stage. We had just graduated from high school. It was amazing. Edited to correct the year. Memory did not serve me well, haha.
I grew up in Detroit area, and was all in with this band. Tried to see their night at The Whiplash Bash, but couldn't find any tickets after it sold out in about 5 minutes. I did go to the next Whiplash. Michael was already playing drums for Ted's band (didn't even really notice it was him), and then about 1/3 of the way in, the other two came out as a surprise and did a major chunk of the concert as a Damn Yankees show. Then back to Ted and his band and music to close it out. That was a very pleasant surprise.
One of the best shows I've ever seen. Bad Co. headliner. Unfortunately, Bad Co. couldn't take the stage. Damn Yankees was the opening act, and since there was no headlining act, Damn Yankees played the entire show. Got to hear their hit songs, and all the Night Ranger hits. A lot of the Styx songs. And, Ted's stuff as well. Awesome show!
HS grad of '87. When Damn Yankees hit the scene, it was like they were one of the few groups who were "holding the line" on rock music, as if they were defenders on a battlefield. They did their part, that's for sure. High Enough is a legendary song and rest of their catalog isn't shabby, either.
Adam, please do a video on Silent Lucidity by Queensryche. What a beautiful song! I haven't heard it in about a decade and since losing my wife 3 years ago I just listened to it again today and it's taken on a whole new life and meaning. I never realized this was a song as a lesson on how to let go of grief. Such a wonderful song and it actually had me in tears today. Still remember listening to it when it came out in 1990 and at the time it was just a beautiful song but now it's on a whole new level for me.. Thanks!
The Damn Yankees was one of the best “supergroups”. After all, 3/4 of the band were my biggest influences. Tommy Shaw has always been a beast! Guitar wise and vocals. It was Ted Nugent that originally got me into playing guitar. And Night Ranger is still one of my all time favorite bands of all time.
I saw the Damn Yankees in concert back in the day. It appeared to me that ol’ Theodore Von Nugentstein was bored on stage and only came alive when he ripped into a solo. I was quite pleasantly surprised by Tommy Shaw’s guitar playing though. The real gem on that first album of course is Piledriver. That track alone is worth shelling out your hard earned duckies for the vinyl. Not waiting for a reunion. I prefer my Nugent straight up, not watered down.
I'm a week behind on videos so I'm watching this on Veterans Day. I absolutely loved Damn Yankees because I already loved everyone in the band. But what really set them apart for me was them coming to play on a base in a hangar for a few thousand of us in the service. It was a great memory, was just what I needed at the time and much appreciated.
I will always love Damn Yankees. Their first album tour was my very first rock concert at the Hult Center in Eugene, Oregon. They opened for Bad Company and killed it. I borrowed my mom's station wagon and drove 2 hours just to see DY. I was a huge Styx fan before then, and getting to finally see Tommy play was wonderful. I had been working at a theater in the projection booth...I can still remember to this day. I had the local radio on and was working on putting the newest movie together when a new song came on the radio I'd never heard. All of a sudden I heard a voice that I knew well...holy crap that's freakin' Tommy Shaw! Everything stopped as I went over to the radio and just listened. And then the trip to the record store to get the CD. Man what a great collaboration! I still have that first album on my phone to this day. The only concert that I've seen that I rank higher is when the final original lineup of Styx played in Portland and I finally got to see them live. Amazing music. Thanks for the behind the scenes on this one and for all of your content!
Professor, you did it again! You took what would oseem to be a small little while , in my life, and made it an anchor point, to reflect on the soundtrack of the person I used to be. Thank you, yet again. Nolstalgic ,that's the only real time travel.
Awesome video, Professor! I got to see the Damn Yankees in Toledo Ohio, 12-29-92. My second concert ever. They were the headliner with Jackyl and Slaughter as opening acts. Great show. Great memories.
My introduction to them was the movie Nothing But Trouble. They had a song in the movie that only appears on the soundtrack album. It's my favorite of their songs. It's called Bonestripper
I am a huge Styx fan, and Tommy Shaw has always been my favorite of the songwriters and lead vocalists in the band, and, while I was never into his music, I am originally from Michigan, so I was fascinated when I found out that Tommy was in a band with the Motor City Madman. "High Enough" probably sits in my top 20 favorite songs of all time. It is a quintessential power ballad and truly does out do many of the more famous classics from the component pieces of the Damn Yankees earlier (and later) bands. One minor quibble with Nugent's comment that sparked the name... does Tommy REALLY consider himself a Yankee, considering that he was born and raised in Alabama? I guess if you look at it from the original use of the term instead of the Civil War appropriation... lol
Another amazing video! Asia (Members from King Crimson, Yes, The Buggles, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and GTR (Members from Asia, Yes and Genesis)were also great super groups from the early mid 80's.
Got to see them live and they put on a fantastic show. The Nuge gets his bow out and shot a deer silhouette over the crowd; probably get him arrested in these soft days. They were awesome
Great overview, sir. Always wondered what happened to them. Still have the cassette somewhere. Absolutely unbelievable that anyone at Geffen said they'll never get those songs on the radio!
Damn Yankees is one of my all time favorite bands. I just love their music! I personally loved all the 80's rock music era and was bummed when the 90's grunge came about. I wished the hairbands could have survived a bit longer. I love hearing all the background stories you provide, thank you for keeping these rock memories alive!
I was fortunate enough to see these guys live while I was in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in the summer of 1993. When my drill sergeant announced everybody would be going to a concert on the base he said it was some band called Yankee Doodle. But luckily, once we got there after marching from the barracks to the parade field they were playing in there was a big banner on stage announcing it was Damn Yankees. And it was an amazing show. One lucky soldier was drawn and was brought up on stage and Ted gave them his guitar. Such an amazing memory I still have to this day.
@bpalm74 pretty cool stuff, I always missed out on the good stuff on base, but overseas, I was very fortunate. I got to meet John Elway and Robin Williams at the same time. They were in Kuwait for a uso tour. Robin autographed by boonie hat and Elway autographed a football for my buddy. I can't begin to tell you what a kind and considerate man that Robin was.
I saw Ted Nugent on his own in Victoria BC. A small venue but Ted still gave his all. Made a Tarzan entrance swinging on to the stage, on a long rope. Not too many large vines in Canada. One nut ran on stage and grabbed Ted around his neck. Nugent kept playing. Didn't miss a beat, till security ran on stage and pulled the fool off Ted. Later I learned the nut got on stage due to a lapse on the part of my friend Kevin who was supposed to be watching that side. Ted is a mad man.
Don't Tread was a album I couldn't get enough of. Was in mid 30's and a ranch hand. The high energy really worked for me. Some of the more cowboy among us not so much. Hahaha great times. Hippy Bob with my earrings and cowboy hat and boots.
I was top Radio DJ in the 1980's while starting my own career as a singer/musician working with & associated with countless music legends since. The end of the 1960's thru the early 80's produced the greatest music of all time. Unfortunately music began shifting into an awkward & painful transition where all the great Classic Rock (& even R&B groups) fizzled in popularity losing their way replacing the hard driving testosterone of 70's Rock with pop-ish weak cheesy sounding keyboards & overprocessed ballad like vocals. I can name 100's of groups who went this route including HEART, STARSHIP, Billy Squier, KISS, & too many more to mention. I loved ALL the guys in Damn Yankees in their respective orig groups...but not so much in their much softer over processed Pop supergroup formations of the late 80's sounding more like the HONEYDRIPPERS rather than LED ZEPPELIN which is precisely what happened to Rock! Even Rick James lost his way after 1984 following a massive long string of consecutive Hits! Any1 who was there in the midst of this shift in music remembers it well. My former bandmates of the mid 80's were either in or produced many of the top groups U remember & for me still seems like yesterday. Rock became "Classic Rock" just like Coke became "Classic Coke" after both f%cked up & changed what had been great into something very weak!lol Of course even that period of late 80's into the 90's sounds great compared to what we have now which isn't even defined by a genre defined by anything but being directionless cheap copies for the millionth time of stuff done before. In retrospect I feel honored having lived & experienced the greatest time in musical history from 1968 thru 1983.
I was in my 20s during most of the 80s and thete just hasn't been a time before or since that's put out so many of the styles of music used today. You know it was a great decade of music when it's refered to as Classic!Hell, some of those bands are still selling out stadium tours!!! I would know having seen Def Leppard in 2018 or was it 2019 said the OG stoner. LOL... EDIT: I started watching this video then realized, why am I watching a time I lived through as an adult (18-28) and what a perfect age span it was!!! LOL
Where You Goin Now popped up on one of my video suggestions, a song that I had forgotten about, but now its on all my playlists! Im finding that alot more songs from the 80s are on my current "favorites" playlist!
@@dimitriberozny3729, Palmer wasn’t the vocalist for The Firm… that was Paul Rodgers of Bad Company actually. Saw them twice in concert, both times were excellent.
Back when I was a captain for a regional airline I met Brad Gillis (who is awesome) on a flight to Boise Idaho sitting in 1st Class. He introduced me to the rest of Night Ranger. We were staying at the same hotel that night and they invited me to dinner with them. Of course you have to eat with Night Ranger when they invite you. Jack is super cool and welcoming. Everyone was. They say, Never meet your hero’s. That is not at all true with these guys. I’d do it again tomorrow. It is still one of my all-time favorite layovers.
I've been to many heavy metal and hard rock concerts, but Damn Yankees are the ones who blew up my ear-holes. Uncle Ted's guitar solos were great but PAINFUL. The first concert I attended where I honestly needed earplugs. Great band. They definitely took the volume High Enough lol.
I'll always remember Patton Oswalt mocking the video for High Enough when Nugent is playing guitar in the hail of gunfire. "He's deflecting the bullets with the power of rock and roll! Where were the Beavis and Butthead copycats when this video came out? We could have wiped out the mullet haircut in one afternoon!"
Favorite group of all time. Seen them live 32 times. They need to put out a few more albums. According to interviews with Michael, close to 30 tracks were completed over the years.
I’m pleased to see Badlands mentioned near the beginning here. A lot of people are not aware of that group unless they knew of the connection to Ozzy and Black Sabbath. The singer Ray Gillen worked with an 80s version of Black Sabbath, while the guitar player Jake E Lee worked with Ozzy Osbourne for two albums and tours. Badlands is incredible guitars and powerful vocals.
Was lucky enough to see Badlands in a long ago defunct club in Toronto called Rock n' Roll Heaven. Absolutely smoking show. It was the tour for their second album. RIP Ray.
I have only found your channel recently & have been binge watching. At 65 I remember all this music from when it came out. Loved it then and now but knew virtually nothing about who was creating it or in some cases who sang it. Really enjoying finding out, even at this late date, the who, why and how behind the memories. Thank you.
It’s funny how from ‘82-‘92, the variety of popular music genres was changing so rapidly. From punk to metal, glam rock, synth pop, and every niche in between. Grunge comes along, and just dominates. 1991 you couldn’t turn on any radio and not hear it - but just 4 short years prior Guns N Roses had released Appetite, and that was huge. The music shift during the 80’s was crazy. As a kid glued to the radio, I was in for the ride. And as a budding guitarist, I felt on top of the world with so much cool stuff constantly coming out. Now as an adult, I couldn’t name you 10 bands from the last 10 years. 2013-2023 it all sounds the same to me, in general. One genre, maybe two. I’ll admit, I wasn’t a huge Damn Yankees fan. I was in to bands like Metallica, Megadeath, Anthrax on the heavy side, GNR, Crue, ACDA, Aerosmith on the straight up rock side, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani and Impelliteri etc on the virtuoso side, and then Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc on the grunge side. (oh, and somehow I was also a big Eric Clapton fan and Black Sabbath fan, preferring the older stuff, and of course Led Zep goes without saying). No wonder my tape (and cd) collection took up so much space!
Wait a minute. You haven't heard of Imagine Dragons, Kongos, The Lumineers, The 1975, Greta Van Fleet, 21 Pilots, Echosmith, Bastille, Glass Animals, or BTS? (OK, I admit I had to spend some time remembering some of these groups.)
I can totally relate. Ace Frehley was the reason I started playing guitar and I also like Ted Nugent very well. Yes, I too had my struggles with Stranglehold. The full octave bends (accuracy) was particularly tricky for me. The first guitar solo I learned verbatim was Ace Frehley's "Parasite".
For my first concert, I went to see KISS live (Love Gun tour) when I was 12. Life changing experience, decided that night that I would play guitar. Ace was my first guitar hero, and Ted was my second. Eventually moved on to EVH, Rhoads, Satch, Malmsteen, etc, but I owe it all to Ace and the Nuge.
Great story professor, I always stated that "grunge" killed real rock now I know it really did. its a DAMN shame, theses guys all incredibly talented and gracious enough to share their talents with each other made High Enough as amazing as it is! They could have saved Rock & Roll through the 90's and sold countless more albums.
I was lucky enuff to catch them in concert at Spinnaker Beach Club on Panama City Beach back in 92 or 93. I was 16. My step dad owned the camp ground across the street from Spinnaker and pulled some strings to get me in. To end the show Ted put his guitar on a stand and walked to the crowd side of the stage and was handed his signature zebra print Oneida Screaming Eagle compound bow and lit an arrow and proceeded to shoot his guiatr which promptly exploded on stage. It was definitely the highlight of my young life at that point lol
I got to see the band open for the new Bad Company. 1989. In Eugene Oregon. They Kicked Ass. Ted shot Sudam Husayn in the face with a bow and arrow. And got carried off stage. Great Show.
I loved this group when they came out, bought their album on cassette. Listened to it to it religiously for a couple of years in my beat-up toyota pickup. Part of my college memories. Unfortunately one of them went batsht crazy. 😕 Thank you so much for bringing back the memories of recording Casey Kasem's top 40 on my 8-track cassette stereo, that my dad gave me.
One of my favorite songs ever. I was 18 when it came out, and just getting my taste of big boy freedom. Man, the early 90s were amazing. The whole decade, really.
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Poll: What do you consider to be the MOST devastating band break up?
Fab Four
The Beatles
No doubt The Beatles.
A personal one for me was Earthsuit. One brilliant studio album then gone.
As a devout Beatles fan, I won't say The Beatles, bc they put out 30 yrs worth of great music in a tiny 8 yr window, that blows everyone else out of the water. I can't ask for more. I choose CCR
Beatles
Talking Heads
REM
Working security in front of the stage for Damn Yankees while at college. Before the music started someone in the crowd came up and handed me a phone number, said it belonged to Lori who I’d met at a party the night before.
Take me higher was our “First Dance” at the wedding reception.
Yep, that's how fate works! Congrats!!! I have found IT finds us once WE stop looking for it :)
Music brings us together!!!!!@
High Enough? Nice!
That song sucks. Did she?
Classy!
I have a bit of a long story about Ted. 4 of us guys went to see Ted in concert and the crowd was a bit on the rough and rowdy side that night. We were standing in the crowd about 3 rows from the stage with me on the end with a good looking girl that believed in full body contact dancing. All of a sudden my friend from work nudged me and said trade places Chuck is getting into a fight. I told Rusty that happens with Chuck sometimes. At that moment Chuck grabs this troublemaker by the shirt and belt buckle and throws him over his head towards the stage. As the bouncer starts to grab Chuck Ted stops singing and tells the bouncer to throw the other guy out, Chuck was defending himself.
Fast forward 8 or 10 years to an NRA convention Chuck and another friend who wasn't at the concert were in line to meet Ted. All of a sudden Ted looks up, points at Chuck and says "you. Heartland South Bend Indiana. I remember you!" Chuck and Kevin went to the front of the line and talked with Ted for 15 minutes. Ted remembered after all those years.
That is an amazing story!
That's a good story - thanks for sharing!
True to form Uncle Ted the Madman from Motor City! Great story
I worked with a guy who grew up with Ted. Said that Ted knew no boundaries.
I love this story! Thank you.
I have one child, a daughter born in late ‘89. In the previous three years, I lost my best friend, my older brother and my favorite uncle. I felt broken and lost. Then, she came along and brought the sunshine back to my life. She was less than a year old when High Enough hit the airwaves and every time she heard it, she would squeal with delight, giggle and kick her legs like crazy! I would sing along and she couldn’t contain her glee! It was the cutest, sweetest thing ever! The lyrics (minus the “call me baby” line) were timely and hit me straight through the heart. I broke up with her mother when my little girl was one and raised her by myself. To this very day, Tommy Shaw is one of her favorite musicians and singers and High Enough is part of the soundtrack to both of our lives. To Tommy and Jack: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My daughter is everything to me and your song is tied to my memories of her as a baby and throughout her life. She’s 34 now and has two girls of her own - one is learning guitar and the other is looking at drum sets! Rock ‘n’ roll is obviously in their blood! ❤🤘🏼😁
As a Dad I can relate minus separation from the mom.
My daughter was 3 or 4…
Different song…
Different time…
…same joy together
God Bless you Dad
@@anthonykeve8894 - Thank you so much, Anthony! Being a father and grandfather defines my life. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I love every second of it!
I get emotional when I hear High Enough every time. It is a masterpiece .
I will always be a fan of Damn Yankees! I graduated HS in 1990, and I listened to this album all summer long. I saw them in concert January 1991 with Bad Company. It was a fantastic show. They played the entire album and Jack, Tommy, and Ted each did a song from their past groups. This supergroup was my favorite!
Same here, that was still one of my favorite concerts. Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw had incredible voices live. Bad Co. was great as well.
Loved their stuff too. Always wondered why they never had more. Graduated in 90' also 💪
I saw Damn Yankees at the Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 22, 1991. They were touring with Bad Company, except singer Brian Howe had laryngitis (or something) and couldn't perform, so the concert was all Damn Yankees! I think they played their entire debut album (except for one song), plus two songs each from Night Ranger, Styx, and solo Ted Nugent. Fantastic!
I saw Damn Yankees and Bad Company in Pittsburgh, was a freakin amazing show!
When I saw that lineup, Ted went on a rant about how shit Bad Company was, mainly because he was mad Damn Yankees were the opener.
I went to the Gulf War in 90’ and I took my Walkman with two tapes, Damn Yankees and Faith No More-Epic. They were the only song I listen for over 8 months. Love Damn Yankees for holding me on when times were bad during those days.
This song is forever linked to the Gulf War for me also. I was in middle school and the local radio station played a version of this song that had messages from the troops to family and friends back home overlayed every night for months.
Thank you for your honourable service. My cousin was a USMC gunner during the first gulf war.
Thank you for sharing your story and for your service. I'm glad this music helped you get through it all. As I write this, Veteran's Day is today! Happy Veteran's Day!!!
I saw them in the early 90s when I was in the navy at Norfolk Naval Air Station. They played in a hanger on the base! Coolest show ever! Ted swung from a rope and also shot a lit arrow across the hanger with his compound bow. Good times!
Those are 2 great tapes.
I appreciate your service thank you
Jack and Tommy's voices compliment each other extremely well.
You should check out Shaw-Blades
Check out Tommy Shaw's episode on At Darrls House where Daryl Hall tries to accommodate his higher vocal range. Hall was more than impressed by it.
@@betornween hall was out of his league
I have a copy of the Shaw Blades cd. It's very good. I'm definitely a fan of Damn Yankees.
My Hallucination is one of my favorites
One of my life’s highlights involves Damn Yankees.
My boyfriend at the time was cousins with the least well-known person in the band.
DY performed in our town, and going to the concert, sitting in the front row, and meeting the band afterward will always be one of my favorite memories.
That's awesome! What year was this?
@@ProfessorofRock9/14/91 at the Sunrise Musical Theater in south Florida
I’m glad you got to meet them!
That must have been Michael 😊
I started my love of music in the mid 70s.
Sadly it started waning in the 90s. I just couldn't get into the newer sounds and turned off the radio in the mid 90s and I'm not alone. I do have legacy of great songs to listen to though so I'm still a happy camper. ❤
"Come Again" has always been my favorite song from this group. The solo by Uncle Ted in the song is just mind blowing.🤘🏻
100%. Saved me from writing those exact words.
I agree. I can't get enough of that solo. So tasty!
I agree. Come Again is my favorite song from that album. Tommy and Jack’s harmonies are off the chain and Nugent shreds one of his best solos ever.
Yup. Come Again is by far the most solid song on the album. On some other channel, somebody left the comment that said it all:
"The only bad thing about this song is that it ends."
Ted absolutely shreds in that vid and enjoys the hell outta every single second. Fantastic song
I am English and never heard of Damn Yankees. Their music sounds good. Why couldn't this type of rock and grunge live together? This what you get when record companies are run by people who are only in it for the money, with no love for music. Nirvana became popular in the UK, but we had our own Britpop scene with Oasis, Blur, etc.
@AnneDowson-vp8lg, Will the Gallagher brothers ever kiss, and make-up?
Same shall apply to Roger Waters and David Gilmore!
I couldn't have clicked on this video any faster. My dad loved Styx and Night Ranger, I remember how excited he was when he got this album in 1990. I was 10 at the time and had no idea who the other bands were, he explained everything about those bands to me, and then I understood why he was so excited about the album. Every time I hear these songs it brings back good memories of a time before he passed away. Thanks for this video.
Very cool!
I’m glad to hear.
Saw Damn Yankees in concert and was blown away by the bands performance.
@@dadetomricI saw them in the early 1990’s with Bad Company opening for them. Best concert ever!!
It's a shame Damn Yankees weren't around for very long; Tommy and Jack's harmonies were great.
No question.
@@ProfessorofRock The only cover I know of "High Enough" is "American Idol"'s Constantine Maroulis & Amy Spanger in the Broadway version of "Rock of Ages". It's a shame it got cut from the movie version; I would've loved to hear it sung as one of the musical numbers.
And Ted kills it on that 🎸
Ted Nugent, the Sid Justice of rock
They kicked ass live I seen them opening up for bad company in 1990
I love Damn Yankees!! Jack and Tommy’s harmonies are immaculate!
Agreed! Love Damn Yankees!
Ummm.no
Honestly, Come Again is one of the greatest songs of that entire era. The most incredible vocal harmonies, the peak of Nugent's guitar abilities, and Shaw's soaring vocal leads. The song still gives me goosebumps to this very day.
The Dang Yankers are the best hard rock supergroup of the early 90s.
Nugent played in his prime and "Don't tread on me" is certified ass kickery.
I challenge anyone to play that song cranked up to maximum volume.
That would be LOUD!!
w/a conservative 500+RMS /channel on tap driving fairly efficient speakers…
…one day when no one is home😂😂
@@anthonykeve8894 🤣
If you put these guys in a band together this is exactly the song you would expect to get, you can hear the different elements of each artist being brought to the table. It really fit the music being played on the radio at the time but like you said grunge changed the scene completely. Weird to get paid not to work. Great episode professor!
Good call! Thanks My Name! Alway enjoy seeing your comments!
That’s the best thing about supergroups. Many different talents converge into one.
Asking any band with Tommy Shaw in to go away is sheer blasphemy.
No joke. Can you believe it?
They’re missing out on some talent!
Agree! I love Tommy!!
His & Jack Blade's voices are just magic together!
Surprised you didn’t delve into all the versions of the video for “Relax.” There’s the official “S&M” version you mentioned, the version with the characters & footage from Brian DePalma’s “Body Double” in which the song appeared (also not mentioned and I think there were even two versions of it, an explicit and non-explicit), and the “laser version” which was likely made to survive on music video channels.
Although it went to no. 20 (I think you said?) on the US dance chart, I don’t know of any mainstream or “alternative” club in the country that wasn’t playing it at least twice a night in the heyday and keeping it in rotation seemingly forever. It’s up there with “Blue Monday”, “Situation”, “Everyday is Halloween”, “You Spin Me Round”, etc.
It was HUGE in clubland.
Saw them in concert, was an awesome show. Never knew what happened to them.
One of my favorite groups. I still remember a girl I was dating bought me the cd, handed it to me and said you will love this. She was right
My favorite instance regarding "High Enough" is from early in the pandemic lockdown. Tommy played the song with Victoria Shaw (no relation) on her program Songwriters Under the Covers. He played this and several of his Styx staples. It blew my mind to hear and see Tommy who was 67 at the time and thinking that the clock had stopped on him. He looked and sounded exactly like he did at the height of Styx and when Damn Yankees were together. Even his goatee didn't impede his youthful appearance.
Thanks Eric!
He still looks incredible for his age.
Just saw Styx in concert. Tommy sounds exactly like he did in the 70's and 80's. Absolutely amazing voice!
I saw him at Guitar Center once. Very polite, even when asked about Dennis! He just said, “That time has passed”. No, I wasn’t the one who asked!
I saw Styx last month and they were incredible! Tommy played a new song with an old banjo he bought from Dan Tyminski! Another great artist of the Bluegrass scene! I'm so glad I got to see them! STYX has always been a favorite of mine!
You forgot Blue Murder. They were an excellent super group from the 80's.
Who the fuck are they
"Hallucination" - The first "Shaw Blades" album from 1995 was really AWESOME!! If you don't have it yet - find it!! They did a second one & it was pretty good, but the first one was the best!!
My dad and i were installing my new car stereo set up in my 87 Chevy S-10. Lol...my dad is somewhat of a sound guy. He asked me how i wanted the equalizer to sound..i said i want my ears to bleed..now mind you i spent $2000 in 1990 for this set up so yes it could make ones ears bleed...he asked me to give him a cd to use. THIS was the cd i chose. My dad had never heard it..we listened to the whole thing twice he loved it...that cd never left my truck for 3 years....its a great memory.
Jack and Tommy's harmonies are amazing!
Man did i love this album, Sr year of HS and had it on tape so back then you really had to listen to the entire album no skipping. That summer ( 90 or 91) went to see them at Great woods in MA. A concert i will never forget. They played a few of each of their other bands songs and at the end of Rocking in America ( NR) Tommy Shaw walks out with a compound bow hands it to Ted ( of course we all know he was a huge hunter outdoors guy) Ted loads an arrow and pulls it back, Blades walks up and Lights it on fire. Just then a life side Sadam Hussain comes across the back of the stage ( remember this was at the beginning of the gulf war) Ted shoots the arrow Hits the moving Sadam Target and fireworks go off it was AMAZING! I still tell people about that show to this day. Man did i love that Album ( Coming of Age was my favortite song)
Saw that in Minneapolis that year as well! Best part of the show!
Always felt this Dawn Yankees album was the pinnacle of the rock era. It’s just perfect. It will never get old and I still listen to it heavily all these years later. An absolute masterpiece. Sure wish they would reunite and release that third album for the fans before it’s too late.
The pinnacle of the rock era.....!!?
Ok .....I'm done!!!!
Saw them 3 times and never disappointed. They had already proved themselves. Just came out and jammed. Like music should be. Purest voices in rock
Saw them "opening" for Bad Company. They blew them away! Many people left during the Bad Company set.
I got out of the Navy in Dec 1992, and the first concert I went to was Damn Yankees! I loved both albums so much, I couldn't believe how well they meshed! Even as they haven't produced a new album, I'd still go out of my way to see them again! Seen all three since, and it's not the same...
This is why I love this channel…. I honestly did not know the history of Damn Yankees. Long live Rock-n-Roll.
I saw Damn Yankees twice and WOW! what incredible guys. All awesome, the vocals were impeccable and the stage performance was great! They just "fit" together. Tommy is a very gracious person. I've met him several times over the years and he's always very interesting to talk to. My oldest son has talked with Jack Blades and found him to be pretty awesome as well. I really wish this band could have continued at least part time. Michael is such a fantastic drummer - very solid! And well, Ted will always be Uncle Ted LOL!
STYX has resumed touring with Tommy, Night Ranger are doing the same with Jack Blades in the fold, and Michael is currently drumming for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ted retired from touring -with 2023 being his farewell tour. - *HOWEVER; I would LOVE to see them reunite!* Long live quality rock!!!
I saw them at the Armadillo World HDQ ‘s. Austin TX baby! Did you know Led Zeppelin played in Austin at the municipal auditorium?
Oh Van Halen played the Dillo before they were signed.
Tommy and Jack make magic together. I also love the albums they've recorded as Shaw Blades. Saw them live twice, and the shows were so much fun. They obviously enjoy working with each other, and as others have said, their voices blend soooo well.
My Hallucination. 😊
I still listen to their self titled debut album. One of my all time favorites. Had the tape in high school, the CD in college, and now a digital version on my phone. The whole album rocks. High Enough is my favorite track and one of my all-time favorite songs.
This was my fav album my Sr year in high school in 90-91. And got to see them in concert with Bad Co. This album was way more than 3 hits. That whole album was fire!! Great episode Professor!
Thanks for watching!
That was my senior year also!! Loved these guys!!
Two supergroups in a row!
saw them on that tour. Amazing show!
I saw them my sr year, too, great show. Bad Co opened up for them.
One of my favorite bands and now one of my favorite episodes! Thanks Prof!!
Awesome! thanks!
Man. Listening to this now, i can't stop hearing Rick Emmet singing this.
Thanks for the nod to Badlands. Even though it went by in a blink, they were an awesome blues rock driven band. Highly recommend their first effort “Badlands”. All killer no filler.
I remember when "High Enough" came out in the fall of 1990, just starting my senior year of high school. It's crazy to think that it came out 33 years ago and it seems like it wasn't that long ago. I bought the CD and just about wore it out. The song got to #3 but should have been number one. There were many good songs and artists out around that time period, which made it difficult to score #1 songs.
Time flies! I think it really was #1 without payola!
None of these guys, aside from Tommy Shaw, were able to make it to #1. Unbelievable.
I loved Damn Yankees. As a kid in the late 70's Tommy Shaw was the epitome of "Rock Star". So fast forward to me in high school and Damn Yankees come together, being I was also a big Uncle Ted fan and a huge Night Ranger fan. I was all in. Loved both albums, so much talent and writing skills in that band. I miss these guys playing together.
I agree. They don't make 'em like that anymore!
You were so pleased! I wish they reunited for one day so I can hear this song live.
Same here! I just loved it when they came together. Great music closing an amazing musical decade.
I just saw Night Ranger in S. Utah a couple weeks ago. They did Coming of Age and High Enough. 40 years after I saw NR for the first time opening for Sammy Hagar. I've seen Ted a couple times too. Some friends of mine and I were going to see Styx in either 83 or 84 and went screw off in downtown Kansas City before the show. Went to one of the upscale hotels to look around. Who walks out of the elevator while we're waiting in the lobby? None other than Tommy Shaw and JY. Pretty cool. All I could say was....hey guys.
I know High Enough was the "song" on this album, but i thought Come Again was the best song they did. Such a powerful track using all the band's talents like Ted's solo and Tommy and Jack's rhythm and tandem choruses with Correllone's drums. I can listen to this song and album over and over
its "Hight Enough" according to the "Professor of Rock"
Agreed with that. Come Again was their best song and had some of Ted's best solos.
I remember a MTV interview years ago while they were making an appearance on a live radio show. The performance was acoustic. But they had a wager how long it would be before Ted picked the electric back up. 😅
Another great episode. I loved this album & the follow up. I think today's music climate would be ok for them to release another album. There are a lot of 80's rock bands doing well. Just saw Skid Row last year & they sounded amazing.
Before "High Enough" became a huge hit, they toured as the opening act for Bad Company. I saw that show. When they came back around again a year later, Bad Company was opening for Damn Yankees! Saw that show too! To me, "Come Again" is their best song.
Thank you! I was trying to remember who I saw them with.😊😊😊
This songs brings so much joy every time I hear the first arrangements just before the verse... one of my favorites song... and then always looking forward to that solo!
By far one of the greatest bands ever! Tommy Shaw was my favorite guitarist/singer/songwriter at the time because of his work in Styx.
Knew it had to be Damn Yankees from your thumbnail of Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades. Yeah it's a shame the record business could not handle the Greatness. It was like the Metal version of the Traveling Wilburys LOL!
Hey, can you find something on Ted’s other super group, “Damnocracy” with Jason Bonham, Sebastian Bach, Scott Ian and Evan Seinfeld? Can’t seem to find any of their work…
I know this has nothing to do with the featured song, which I love by the way, but am I the only 80's teen who HATED Peewee Herman? I thought the entire character/act was STUPID and, to this day, CANNOT figure out why everyone thought it was so great.
I saw them live, I loved Tommy Shaw! What a fleeting moment, they were 🔥🔥🔥
Where did you see them? Also when?
@@ProfessorofRock I saw them in Asheville, NC in 1992. Bad Company was also on the tour. Festival seating, so close to the stage. We had just graduated from high school. It was amazing. Edited to correct the year. Memory did not serve me well, haha.
When?
The Solo in Higher is brilliant. Great song!
I agree! So fantastic!
I agree. The right amount of guitar tapping one needs.
I grew up in Detroit area, and was all in with this band. Tried to see their night at The Whiplash Bash, but couldn't find any tickets after it sold out in about 5 minutes. I did go to the next Whiplash. Michael was already playing drums for Ted's band (didn't even really notice it was him), and then about 1/3 of the way in, the other two came out as a surprise and did a major chunk of the concert as a Damn Yankees show. Then back to Ted and his band and music to close it out. That was a very pleasant surprise.
One of the best shows I've ever seen. Bad Co. headliner. Unfortunately, Bad Co. couldn't take the stage. Damn Yankees was the opening act, and since there was no headlining act, Damn Yankees played the entire show. Got to hear their hit songs, and all the Night Ranger hits. A lot of the Styx songs. And, Ted's stuff as well. Awesome show!
HS grad of '87. When Damn Yankees hit the scene, it was like they were one of the few groups who were "holding the line" on rock music, as if they were defenders on a battlefield. They did their part, that's for sure. High Enough is a legendary song and rest of their catalog isn't shabby, either.
Thanks for watching.
This is the truth!
Great way of putting it. They were trying to protect rock and roll.
Graduated in 87 also miss those years horribly. Now diagnosed with cancer I really want to go back.
Adam, please do a video on Silent Lucidity by Queensryche. What a beautiful song! I haven't heard it in about a decade and since losing my wife 3 years ago I just listened to it again today and it's taken on a whole new life and meaning. I never realized this was a song as a lesson on how to let go of grief. Such a wonderful song and it actually had me in tears today. Still remember listening to it when it came out in 1990 and at the time it was just a beautiful song but now it's on a whole new level for me.. Thanks!
I am planning on an interview! Stay tuned!
@@ProfessorofRock thanks brother, you're the best!
@@ProfessorofRockawesome!!
So sorry for your loss. It is a beautiful song.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 thank you, I've been listening to it all day.
The Damn Yankees was one of the best “supergroups”. After all, 3/4 of the band were my biggest influences. Tommy Shaw has always been a beast! Guitar wise and vocals. It was Ted Nugent that originally got me into playing guitar. And Night Ranger is still one of my all time favorite bands of all time.
Dawn Patrol is still one of my top 10 favorite albums!
I saw the Damn Yankees in concert back in the day. It appeared to me that ol’ Theodore Von Nugentstein was bored on stage and only came alive when he ripped into a solo. I was quite pleasantly surprised by Tommy Shaw’s guitar playing though. The real gem on that first album of course is Piledriver. That track alone is worth shelling out your hard earned duckies for the vinyl. Not waiting for a reunion. I prefer my Nugent straight up, not watered down.
I'm a week behind on videos so I'm watching this on Veterans Day. I absolutely loved Damn Yankees because I already loved everyone in the band. But what really set them apart for me was them coming to play on a base in a hangar for a few thousand of us in the service. It was a great memory, was just what I needed at the time and much appreciated.
I will always love Damn Yankees. Their first album tour was my very first rock concert at the Hult Center in Eugene, Oregon. They opened for Bad Company and killed it. I borrowed my mom's station wagon and drove 2 hours just to see DY. I was a huge Styx fan before then, and getting to finally see Tommy play was wonderful. I had been working at a theater in the projection booth...I can still remember to this day. I had the local radio on and was working on putting the newest movie together when a new song came on the radio I'd never heard. All of a sudden I heard a voice that I knew well...holy crap that's freakin' Tommy Shaw! Everything stopped as I went over to the radio and just listened. And then the trip to the record store to get the CD. Man what a great collaboration! I still have that first album on my phone to this day.
The only concert that I've seen that I rank higher is when the final original lineup of Styx played in Portland and I finally got to see them live. Amazing music.
Thanks for the behind the scenes on this one and for all of your content!
They don't make music like this anymore. RUclips is the closest thing we have to a time machine.
That's right! Thanks Trina!
Not just that and films/TV shows set in the 1980's like: Stranger Things, Physical, The Wedding Singer, I Tonya etc
For sure!
Professor, you did it again! You took what would oseem to be a small little while , in my life, and made it an anchor point, to reflect on the soundtrack of the person I used to be. Thank you, yet again.
Nolstalgic ,that's the only real time travel.
RUclips and the actual physical records.
Awesome video, Professor! I got to see the Damn Yankees in Toledo Ohio, 12-29-92. My second concert ever. They were the headliner with Jackyl and Slaughter as opening acts. Great show. Great memories.
Power Station and The Firm, great super groups that would worth an episode
My introduction to them was the movie Nothing But Trouble. They had a song in the movie that only appears on the soundtrack album. It's my favorite of their songs. It's called Bonestripper
I am a huge Styx fan, and Tommy Shaw has always been my favorite of the songwriters and lead vocalists in the band, and, while I was never into his music, I am originally from Michigan, so I was fascinated when I found out that Tommy was in a band with the Motor City Madman. "High Enough" probably sits in my top 20 favorite songs of all time. It is a quintessential power ballad and truly does out do many of the more famous classics from the component pieces of the Damn Yankees earlier (and later) bands. One minor quibble with Nugent's comment that sparked the name... does Tommy REALLY consider himself a Yankee, considering that he was born and raised in Alabama? I guess if you look at it from the original use of the term instead of the Civil War appropriation... lol
LOVED Damn Yankees as well as each individual member in their own right. So much talent.
Another amazing video! Asia (Members from King Crimson, Yes, The Buggles, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and GTR (Members from Asia, Yes and Genesis)were also great super groups from the early mid 80's.
I was wondering if anyone else would bring up Asia. I played the heck out of that first album in college.
@@chaoticwonder3278Yes, Incredible!! ❤
Got to see them live and they put on a fantastic show. The Nuge gets his bow out and shot a deer silhouette over the crowd; probably get him arrested in these soft days. They were awesome
Great overview, sir. Always wondered what happened to them. Still have the cassette somewhere. Absolutely unbelievable that anyone at Geffen said they'll never get those songs on the radio!
Damn Yankees is one of my all time favorite bands. I just love their music! I personally loved all the 80's rock music era and was bummed when the 90's grunge came about. I wished the hairbands could have survived a bit longer. I love hearing all the background stories you provide, thank you for keeping these rock memories alive!
Damn Yankees was an amazing band!! So much talent in these guys!!
I agree. A lot of firepower!
Each member had a gift!
Amazing group ? 😂😂😂😂 Did you actually listen to these crappy songs ?
Even the record execs knew this was Gay "Rock" !
This is the kind of so called Music that killed Rock !
I was fortunate enough to see these guys live while I was in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in the summer of 1993. When my drill sergeant announced everybody would be going to a concert on the base he said it was some band called Yankee Doodle. But luckily, once we got there after marching from the barracks to the parade field they were playing in there was a big banner on stage announcing it was Damn Yankees. And it was an amazing show. One lucky soldier was drawn and was brought up on stage and Ted gave them his guitar. Such an amazing memory I still have to this day.
Damn lucky, i went thru there in 97 . We got the harlem globetrotters lol.
@thomastrain7311 not to kick sand in your face but two weeks later we got Faith Hill when she was just starting to come on to the country scene.
@bpalm74 pretty cool stuff, I always missed out on the good stuff on base, but overseas, I was very fortunate. I got to meet John Elway and Robin Williams at the same time. They were in Kuwait for a uso tour. Robin autographed by boonie hat and Elway autographed a football for my buddy. I can't begin to tell you what a kind and considerate man that Robin was.
I saw Ted Nugent on his own in Victoria BC. A small venue but Ted still gave his all. Made a Tarzan entrance swinging on to the stage, on a long rope. Not too many large vines in Canada. One nut ran on stage and grabbed Ted around his neck. Nugent kept playing. Didn't miss a beat, till security ran on stage and pulled the fool off Ted.
Later I learned the nut got on stage due to a lapse on the part of my friend Kevin who was supposed to be watching that side.
Ted is a mad man.
Don't Tread was a album I couldn't get enough of. Was in mid 30's and a ranch hand. The high energy really worked for me. Some of the more cowboy among us not so much. Hahaha great times. Hippy Bob with my earrings and cowboy hat and boots.
I was top Radio DJ in the 1980's while starting my own career as a singer/musician working with & associated with countless music legends since. The end of the 1960's thru the early 80's produced the greatest music of all time. Unfortunately music began shifting into an awkward & painful transition where all the great Classic Rock (& even R&B groups) fizzled in popularity losing their way replacing the hard driving testosterone of 70's Rock with pop-ish weak cheesy sounding keyboards & overprocessed ballad like vocals. I can name 100's of groups who went this route including HEART, STARSHIP, Billy Squier, KISS, & too many more to mention. I loved ALL the guys in Damn Yankees in their respective orig groups...but not so much in their much softer over processed Pop supergroup formations of the late 80's sounding more like the HONEYDRIPPERS rather than LED ZEPPELIN which is precisely what happened to Rock! Even Rick James lost his way after 1984 following a massive long string of consecutive Hits! Any1 who was there in the midst of this shift in music remembers it well. My former bandmates of the mid 80's were either in or produced many of the top groups U remember & for me still seems like yesterday. Rock became "Classic Rock" just like Coke became "Classic Coke" after both f%cked up & changed what had been great into something very weak!lol Of course even that period of late 80's into the 90's sounds great compared to what we have now which isn't even defined by a genre defined by anything but being directionless cheap copies for the millionth time of stuff done before. In retrospect I feel honored having lived & experienced the greatest time in musical history from 1968 thru 1983.
High enough was so good! This was junior high for me, such nostalgia hearing these songs again. They dont get enough, if any, air play. 👍
Very cool!
They should make a comeback!
I was in my 20s during most of the 80s and thete just hasn't been a time before or since that's put out so many of the styles of music used today. You know it was a great decade of music when it's refered to as Classic!Hell, some of those bands are still selling out stadium tours!!! I would know having seen Def Leppard in 2018 or was it 2019 said the OG stoner. LOL...
EDIT: I started watching this video then realized, why am I watching a time I lived through as an adult (18-28) and what a perfect age span it was!!! LOL
Where You Goin Now popped up on one of my video suggestions, a song that I had forgotten about, but now its on all my playlists! Im finding that alot more songs from the 80s are on my current "favorites" playlist!
Great stuff Professor. Thanks. Keep on rocking brother.🤘
Thanks! Will do!
Don’t forget the super group ‘The Firm’, ‘The Traveling Wilburys’ & ‘The Power Station’ too. All were awesome!!
And Asia
The Traveling Wilbury's were the ultimate supergroup, in my opinion.
@@JLuvBug2 This was a project for Jeff Lynne from ELO when he was having trouble with his original band.
@@christophermerlot3366 Asia,The Firm and The Power Station were projects that Robert Palmer had worked on and he was lead vocalist in all of them.
@@dimitriberozny3729, Palmer wasn’t the vocalist for The Firm… that was Paul Rodgers of Bad Company actually. Saw them twice in concert, both times were excellent.
When Ted comes out on the porch with his Bret the Hitman Hart sunglasses on in the video has got to be one of the coolest music video scenes ever.
Ted cracks me up the entire video! He's so funny while being so badass!
Back when I was a captain for a regional airline I met Brad Gillis (who is awesome) on a flight to Boise Idaho sitting in 1st Class. He introduced me to the rest of Night Ranger. We were staying at the same hotel that night and they invited me to dinner with them. Of course you have to eat with Night Ranger when they invite you. Jack is super cool and welcoming. Everyone was.
They say, Never meet your hero’s. That is not at all true with these guys. I’d do it again tomorrow. It is still one of my all-time favorite layovers.
I've been to many heavy metal and hard rock concerts, but Damn Yankees are the ones who blew up my ear-holes. Uncle Ted's guitar solos were great but PAINFUL. The first concert I attended where I honestly needed earplugs. Great band. They definitely took the volume High Enough lol.
I'll always remember Patton Oswalt mocking the video for High Enough when Nugent is playing guitar in the hail of gunfire. "He's deflecting the bullets with the power of rock and roll! Where were the Beavis and Butthead copycats when this video came out? We could have wiped out the mullet haircut in one afternoon!"
Favorite group of all time. Seen them live 32 times. They need to put out a few more albums. According to interviews with Michael, close to 30 tracks were completed over the years.
I’m pleased to see Badlands mentioned near the beginning here. A lot of people are not aware of that group unless they knew of the connection to Ozzy and Black Sabbath. The singer Ray Gillen worked with an 80s version of Black Sabbath, while the guitar player Jake E Lee worked with Ozzy Osbourne for two albums and tours. Badlands is incredible guitars and powerful vocals.
Was lucky enough to see Badlands in a long ago defunct club in Toronto called Rock n' Roll Heaven. Absolutely smoking show. It was the tour for their second album. RIP Ray.
I have only found your channel recently & have been binge watching. At 65 I remember all this music from when it came out. Loved it then and now but knew virtually nothing about who was creating it or in some cases who sang it. Really enjoying finding out, even at this late date, the who, why and how behind the memories. Thank you.
Saw these guys with Slaughter and Jackyl..put on an excellent show..great harmonizing and Ted shooting his bow is what i remember most..
It’s funny how from ‘82-‘92, the variety of popular music genres was changing so rapidly. From punk to metal, glam rock, synth pop, and every niche in between. Grunge comes along, and just dominates. 1991 you couldn’t turn on any radio and not hear it - but just 4 short years prior Guns N Roses had released Appetite, and that was huge. The music shift during the 80’s was crazy. As a kid glued to the radio, I was in for the ride. And as a budding guitarist, I felt on top of the world with so much cool stuff constantly coming out.
Now as an adult, I couldn’t name you 10 bands from the last 10 years. 2013-2023 it all sounds the same to me, in general. One genre, maybe two.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t a huge Damn Yankees fan. I was in to bands like Metallica, Megadeath, Anthrax on the heavy side, GNR, Crue, ACDA, Aerosmith on the straight up rock side, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani and Impelliteri etc on the virtuoso side, and then Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc on the grunge side. (oh, and somehow I was also a big Eric Clapton fan and Black Sabbath fan, preferring the older stuff, and of course Led Zep goes without saying). No wonder my tape (and cd) collection took up so much space!
I could've written this post
Wait a minute. You haven't heard of Imagine Dragons, Kongos, The Lumineers, The 1975, Greta Van Fleet, 21 Pilots, Echosmith, Bastille, Glass Animals, or BTS? (OK, I admit I had to spend some time remembering some of these groups.)
@@728huey- 0 for 10, man.
So true
@@cygnustspme too born in 1981 in Australia
Ted Nugent and Ace Frehley were the reasons I picked up a guitar. Took me 43 years to perfect Stranglehold. 🤣
Met Ace at a Concert my nephew's band opened for a few years ago.
I can totally relate. Ace Frehley was the reason I started playing guitar and I also like Ted Nugent very well. Yes, I too had my struggles with Stranglehold. The full octave bends (accuracy) was particularly tricky for me. The first guitar solo I learned verbatim was Ace Frehley's "Parasite".
For my first concert, I went to see KISS live (Love Gun tour) when I was 12. Life changing experience, decided that night that I would play guitar. Ace was my first guitar hero, and Ted was my second. Eventually moved on to EVH, Rhoads, Satch, Malmsteen, etc, but I owe it all to Ace and the Nuge.
We were so robbed
Great story professor, I always stated that "grunge" killed real rock now I know it really did. its a DAMN shame, theses guys all incredibly talented and gracious enough to share their talents with each other made High Enough as amazing as it is! They could have saved Rock & Roll through the 90's and sold countless more albums.
I was lucky enuff to catch them in concert at Spinnaker Beach Club on Panama City Beach back in 92 or 93. I was 16. My step dad owned the camp ground across the street from Spinnaker and pulled some strings to get me in. To end the show Ted put his guitar on a stand and walked to the crowd side of the stage and was handed his signature zebra print Oneida Screaming Eagle compound bow and lit an arrow and proceeded to shoot his guiatr which promptly exploded on stage. It was definitely the highlight of my young life at that point lol
I got to see the band open for the new Bad Company. 1989. In Eugene Oregon. They Kicked Ass. Ted shot Sudam Husayn in the face with a bow and arrow. And got carried off stage. Great Show.
I loved this group when they came out, bought their album on cassette. Listened to it to it religiously for a couple of years in my beat-up toyota pickup. Part of my college memories. Unfortunately one of them went batsht crazy. 😕 Thank you so much for bringing back the memories of recording Casey Kasem's top 40 on my 8-track cassette stereo, that my dad gave me.
In my mid 60's and still play High Enough as loud as it can go!
Very cool!
Rock on 🤘
One of my favorite songs ever. I was 18 when it came out, and just getting my taste of big boy freedom. Man, the early 90s were amazing. The whole decade, really.
I was turning 21 so ya, great time in life for sure.
I was at a Damn Yankees concert in Ted’s hometown the night of the white bronco chase!
Great harmonies and the acoustic intro is like a fingerprint of the era.