Ted Nugent Says Van Halen's 1st Major Tour Was Opening for Him & Not Black Sabbath

[James in New York]

You can check out Ted's latest studio album "The Music Made Me Do It" here via Amazon.

I've read a lot about your relationship with Eddie and it still is such a massive, massive loss. What did you guys have?

"You're right, it's always a heartbreaker. Us older guys are dropping like flies out there and we will never get past the impact of losing the masterful virtuosity of Eddie Van Halen.

"I think I would just be redundant to repeat what a sweetheart he was, what a gifted visionary musical genius he was.

"And a lot of people go ahead and say their first tour was with Black Sabbath. Well, that's not true. Their first tour was opening up for me.

And it was the whole band. David [Lee Roth] and Michael [Anthony], and Alex [Van Halen] and Eddie were just the definition of killer, uninhibited, irreverent firestorm rock 'n' roll.

"And Eddie and I connected immediately because I use the Gibson Byrdland, which is a really unique guitar in the world of rock 'n' roll, I'm the only guy, and Eddie, of course, created his own guitars.

"So we got together the very first soundcheck, and I played through his rig, then I played my Byrdland through his rig, and he played my rig, then he played his Eddie Van Halen guitar through my Fender amps.

"And every time we did any combination thereof, he sounded like Eddie and I sounded like Ted. And we had a great conversation a great relationship.

"And I gotta tell you, I heard a guy on Howard Stern one time saying how Eddie and I got together and jam, and I was angry because I didn't know how he did what he did.

Why are people so stupid? They were angry that Eddie and I got along great.

"In fact, I think the culmination of his and my relationship - we jammed at the NAMM event a number of times, and we kept in touch over the years, we bumped into each other over every year, we hugged, we reminisced about guitar tones, and exploratory musical adventure, and family, and beautiful girls.

"And then when Eddie got clean and sober, he called me, and he thanked me for keep pushing and hammering how important clean and sober is for a quality of life, and quality of family time, and quality of musical creativity.

He called me and expressed how he appreciated that I never let up on pushing for clean and sober in everything I do.

"And we kept in touch over the years. Now because he was busy and I'm busy, it's not like we talked every month or even every year.

But he and I were friends. I truly revered and valued not just the friendship but his musical inspiration - he inspired everybody, no matter what instrument you play.

"Eddie Van Halen inspired everybody, much like Jimi Hendrix, much like Les Paul, or Chuck Berry, or Bo Diddley, or Eric Clapton, or Jimmy Page, or Jeff Beck...

We had a wonderful relationship, it's just a tragedy that Howard Stern will let a guy get on his show and lie that Eddie and I had any friction whatsoever.

"What kind of punk would just pull such a lie out of his ass and then expose it to the public on a major network like that? But the point being is that Uncle Ted just cleared the air.

Eddie Van Halen was a great man, I understand he was a great father, a great husband, an incredible musical genius, and an explorer.

"Eddie Van Halen's energy, and piss and vinegar, and his musical adventure are recorded. We have it at our disposal forever. You'd never have to go.

"Even a great welder, a great plumber, a great teacher, a great mother, a great father, a great neighbor, a great generous loving person - they'll never be gone because their donations to humankind will live on to varying degrees with future generations.

"And Eddie Van Halen's gifted work, along with Michael, and Alex, and David, and Sammy [Hagar] - it's always there for us, isn't it? So he will always be with us."

[MF5150]

Classy comments from Uncle Ted. For all his crazy bullshit comments, it's fairly evident that he has a big heart. And not just because of this piece either.


But he is incorrect. VH opened for Journey first, then Sabbath and then they played a one-off show before Nugent.

[CaboChris]

I think the first tour was opening for Journey. Could be wrong.

[Brett]

Nice comments from Ted. I’m shocked he was that glowing about Ed honestly. He’s never about anyone.

[fudd]

I’m surprised he said sammys name in the last sentence.


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[CaboChris]

That was a very nice tribute to Ed but Ted has always raved about EVH.

From day one.

[MF5150]

I’m surprised he said sammys name in the last sentence.


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They’re best friends. Not that surprising.


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[Elwood P.]

They’re best friends. Not that surprising.

Yep. Always have been.

[edwardv]

I thought I read once long ago crazy Ted was not so kind about Ed on that first tour with him. Idk

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[Little Dreamer]

None of those comments from musicians 45 years after the fact should be considered the work of a rock historian. It's been too long now. Shit, even I can't remember stuff from that long ago. Was it aunt Debbie or uncle Lou? Can't remember for the life of me!

[MF5150]

None of those comments from musicians 45 years after the fact should be considered the work of a rock historian. It's been too long now. Shit, even I can't remember stuff from that long ago. Was it aunt Debbie or uncle Lou? Can't remember for the life of me!

What?


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[I Coulda Hada VH]

None of those comments from musicians 45 years after the fact should be considered the work of a rock historian. It's been too long now. Shit, even I can't remember stuff from that long ago. Was it aunt Debbie or uncle Lou? Can't remember for the life of me!

These days, Aunt Debbie used to be Uncle Lou.

[CoconutBackwards]

None of those comments from musicians 45 years after the fact should be considered the work of a rock historian. It's been too long now. Shit, even I can't remember stuff from that long ago. Was it aunt Debbie or uncle Lou? Can't remember for the life of me!

But, he didn't make the comment in passing.

He said everyone thinks Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath on their first tour, but they're wrong.

[evhintexas]

I really like the clean and sober comments...Totally cool....

[CaboChris]

Pisses me off though that Ted admitted his bass player Rob Grange Co wrote Stranglehold and didn't ever get any cut of it for that fucking killer bass groove that is epic. I've been obsessed with that song lately. The bass line sets the whole tone of the song.