• From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
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Topic: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

I was sorting through heaps of old rubbish in my cellar room and I came across an old vid tape of said band from the 90's.

I never saw the band live, not sure if they even ever visited UK, but after watching the vid for the first time in years I was kinda impressed all over again.

I mean, Ted Nugent is pretty insane at the best of times but DY saw him playing in a band set-up for the first time in years and for him, it was quite restrained and his playing certainly benifitted from it.

DY were a powerhouse band and unusually, but fortunately for them, they had 3 main focus individuals on the stage in Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades and Ted Nugent. They all sang, including drummer Michael Cartellone.

I bought the albums at the time and eagerly awaited the third, which never saw the light of day. Apparently they were all disgusted with the production, but I think, in fact, the band had served its purpose by that time.

Watching the tape again, I would say they were a 'supergroup' in that they were certainly super and the songs and the music stand the test of time. There were rumours of a reunion but I suspect they did it for money the first time around so it could be they would like some more!

Whatever the reasons, cash or contractual, there were great songs that came out of it, Ted, Tommy and Jack gave their careers a boost and Michael got started.

What I would like to ask of anyone out there, did you see them? and how was it? Were they the real deal live? and would it be good if they did it again?

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

I can't recall DY, but i have been a fan of Ted Nugent, and back when he was in Amboy Dukes. I think he's calmed down a bit, now in his 60's! But he can still rock!

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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

Just looked up DY over on Last.fm. Formed in 89 with ex members from Night Ranger, and Styx. And had some success with a track called, High Enough.

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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

Brack wrote:

I can't recall DY, but i have been a fan of Ted Nugent, and back when he was in Amboy Dukes. I think he's calmed down a bit, now in his 60's! But he can still rock!

~ Brack ~

Oh yes, the Nuge can still rock, though I don't think he's calmed down at all! I first saw him in the 70's and again a couple of years ago and he's still as opinionated and belligerent as ever. He's ego certainly hasn't diminished with the passage of time. Brilliant.

'Try as you might to keep a lid on a good time, you can't do it. When people want to have a good time....' - Billy Gibbons
  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

BBJ wrote:
Brack wrote:

I can't recall DY, but i have been a fan of Ted Nugent, and back when he was in Amboy Dukes. I think he's calmed down a bit, now in his 60's! But he can still rock!

~ Brack ~

Oh yes, the Nuge can still rock, though I don't think he's calmed down at all! I first saw him in the 70's and again a couple of years ago and he's still as opinionated and belligerent as ever. He's ego certainly hasn't diminished with the passage of time. Brilliant.

Yeah, no way has Ted calmed down. I saw him in Hamburg 2 years ago and he was completely over the top. Volume still set at stadium levels for a small club. Nevertheless, he is still an entertainer and hugely funny at times, oh and yes he still has the chops.

I return however to my original point, which was as to whether anyone on the forum saw them live at the time and whether a renunion, which has been mooted, would be a good thing.

If they haven't, then let this thread die

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

hansamike wrote:
BBJ wrote:
Brack wrote:

I can't recall DY, but i have been a fan of Ted Nugent, and back when he was in Amboy Dukes. I think he's calmed down a bit, now in his 60's! But he can still rock!

~ Brack ~

Oh yes, the Nuge can still rock, though I don't think he's calmed down at all! I first saw him in the 70's and again a couple of years ago and he's still as opinionated and belligerent as ever. He's ego certainly hasn't diminished with the passage of time. Brilliant.

Yeah, no way has Ted calmed down. I saw him in Hamburg 2 years ago and he was completely over the top. Volume still set at stadium levels for a small club. Nevertheless, he is still an entertainer and hugely funny at times, oh and yes he still has the chops.

I return however to my original point, which was as to whether anyone on the forum saw them live at the time and whether a renunion, which has been mooted, would be a good thing.

If they haven't, then let this thread die

Apologies to Hansamike for digressing a little from the subject. Personally, I never saw DY live and I'm not aware of them ever having toured the UK, either. I have their debut album and confess to being a little disappointed with it, tho' it's a while since I last listened to it.

Ted seems to be doing fine on his own and various individual commitments seem to be getting in the way of any re-union. As to whether a re-union would be a good thing, maybe it's been too long. Like all re-unions, it would have to be for the right reasons and not just money

Having said that, if it happened and they toured the UK, I'd go and see them. I'd be curious to see how Ted conducts himself when it's not his own gig.

'Try as you might to keep a lid on a good time, you can't do it. When people want to have a good time....' - Billy Gibbons
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

This was posted on the Message Board at www.melodicrock.com just this week

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phorum33/ … p;t=363113

I love the first DY album, but the second didn't quite do it for me. A new one would be great, but looks like schedules are the problem even though they all would be interested.

I have never seen them live, but I saw Ted in London six or seven years ago and he was great. One of the best sounding live guitar tones I have heard.

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

Thanks for bringing this up Hansamike, I didn't know who Michael Cartellone had played with before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1999. IMO, one of the best drummer's to ever play for Skynyrd.

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What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

ohiodawg13 wrote:

Thanks for bringing this up Hansamike, I didn't know who Michael Cartellone had played with before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1999. IMO, one of the best drummer's to ever play for Skynyrd.

                                                                                         Think Green,

                                                                                         J Dawg

I would certainly agree with you there. On the video 'Uprising' which features extracts from a Live Denver show MC shows himself to be a real powerhouse slammer as well as singing excellent harmony vocals.

I think the reason I thought about DY once finding the vid was because of the recent arrival of Chickenfoot, another 'supergroup' if you will. I have their album and don't dislike it but somehow I find that Sammy is trying just a bit too hard and it doesn't quite come off. I like Hagar though, becos like Nugent he is such a character.

Looking at DY this should never have worked. On the video in the many interview clips (which are hilarious) Tommy Shaw admits he and Nugent don't have a lot in common. For his part Nugents compromise to vegan Shaw was that he (Shaw) could eat the rabbit food, while Nugent would eat the rabbit.

That in essence was the band. Shaw and Blades wrote the big ballad hits and Ted 'Nugentized' them with some visceral guitar work. For a band put together by the record company it was inspired thinking by someone which appeared to come off.

I doubt it was all plain sailing though. Still, if you see 'Uprising' in some cut price bin one day check it out. Its a lot of fun with great toons

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • From: Benicia, Ca.
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Re: No offence intended - Damn Yankees

I remember DY for sure, but not being much of a Styx fan kinda turned me off. I saw Blades and Gillis' band Rubicon way back when they gigged in local bars around the Bay Area. A good friend is in a band with Brad's sister Cindy, they're called Dream Posse. Two weeks from tomorrow I'll be in Clearlake, Ca. rockin' out with Skynyrd on Sept. 11, no doubt there will be a lot of flag waving and patriotism along with the best Southern Rock music of all time.

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What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint