During a conversation with Eddie Trunk, Ted Nugent’s former singer Derek St. Holmes talked about joining the fold back in 1974, being shot by Ted, and more.
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How many times have you been in and out of Nugent’s band?
“Oh, gosh… 50? It’s kind of like the Cosa Nostra. [Laughs]”
It’s like ‘Godfather 3.’ ‘Once I think I’m out, they pull me back in.’
“I think I’m out and all of the sudden I get a call. But yeah, I’m probably the longest standing still alive.”
[Laughs] He hasn’t shot you yet.
“He had shot me twice. That’s whole another story.”
Have you been shot by Nugent?
“He shot me in the leg. We’re out shotgun hunting in winter and he shot me in the leg.
“And then we’re – in the ’80s – one of his… He’s shooting at a target and it ricochets back and hits me in the arm. And I was like, ‘Holy shit, this guy’s dangerous.’ But yeah, it’s pretty wild.”
So you’ve actually lived to tell about being in Nugent’s band twice.
“I’ve survived two shootings. It’s good. [Laughs]”
When you first met Nugent, how was that? When was that?
“That was… gosh… ’72, maybe? And we were just a young three-piece rock ‘n’ roll band out of Detroit.”
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What was that band called?
“That was called Scott. We used to just play our own music. I didn’t play other people’s stuff, I just wrote my own songs.
“But his ex-tour manager said, ‘You guys should open up for some of Ted’s shows. There’s not gonna be any money in it, but I think it would be good exposure.’
“So we did. I opened up maybe three or four shows, and before you know it, Ted’s showing up at shows.”