Ted Nugent On Recording Fred Bear

Ted Nugent knows. There are certain songs that resonate with people here in Michigan. Whether it's Mr. Brightside at a Michigan game, or singing "Don't Stop Believin'" at LCA for the Red Wings - certain songs have certain meanings to people from our lovely state. Fred Bear from Ted Nugent is one of those songs for hunters and those who love the outdoors. It's one of Ted's most passionate, personal songs - and when you learn about the recording of the song, it'll have a deeper meaning.

I've had the pleasure of talking with Uncle Ted over the years. His love of Detroit and its music scene, his early days with Seger on the road, and of course Fred Bear. But it wasn't until this conversation that we found out how deeply personal this song is for Ted.

Ted Nugent: gets a bit choked up You know, I immediately called Gunnar Ross, my drummer back in '88, and Michael Lutz, my bass player. I was just so emotional, Jim; I could hardly stop crying. Losing Fred hit me hard—my mom had just passed too, and I was feeling everything all at once. All those emotions—they push right through into my music.

Big Jim: Wow, I can only imagine. You really put it all in, didn't you?

Ted Nugent: Absolutely. I said, "Let’s go to Pearl Sound over in Canton." We just went in there, laid down the track, take one. I showed the guys the pattern, and boom! One take. Even the guitar solo—first go, Jim, straight from the heart. We pulled in this recording of Fred’s voice from that Kurt Gowdy, Fred Bear, Campfire Stories record—his words just speak to the spirit, man. Fred says, "If today’s thrill-seekers really want to get a thrill, let 'em go into the Northwest and tango with the grizzly bear, a polar bear, a brown bear... they'll get a thrill that’ll cleanse the soul."

Big Jim: I’ve never heard that full story before, Ted. That’s just... wow. Thank you for sharing that. You can really feel the spirit there, almost like Fred’s right in the room.

Ted Nugent: Yeah, Jim. That moment—it’s a monster moment for me. Right up there with my kids’ births, marrying Shemane, even saying goodbye to loved ones at the gravesite. There’s nothing more human, more raw, than channeling that loss, that love, into music. And that’s what keeps me going, you know?