Jack Blades recently shared a hilarious story about Ted Nugent’s unwavering dedication to guitar playing—even during a major natural disaster. The Damn Yankees bassist recounted the unforgettable moment during a conversation on Ted Nugent’s official YouTube channel.
While the band was rehearsing for their first album in 1989, a powerful earthquake struck San Francisco, sending everyone into a panic—except Nugent, who, according to Blades, never missed a beat.
“You Just Kept Playing”: Blades Recalls Nugent’s Wild Reaction During the Quake
“Remember that time the earthquake hit and we were rehearsing the Damn Yankees before we made our first record in 1989? The earthquake hit in San Francisco and all of a sudden the producers running around like get in the middle of a doorway and the whole pool is going like this,” Blades said.
He went on to describe the intense scene unfolding at his ranch.
“We’re downstairs in my at my ranch and it’s all going and through and Tommy and I are like going like, ‘What the f***?’ And you’re sitting there. You just kept playing with your head down. And all of a sudden it just stopped. The whole thing just stopped and it stopped,” Blades recalled.
As the chaos subsided, Nugent’s reaction stunned everyone:
“We’re all like, you know, eyes are bulging out of our heads and we’re like looking at this and you just stop. You look up and you go, ‘Earthquake, huh?’ And then just sat down and started playing again,” he said.
Nugent Responds: “A Sexy Controlled Earthquake”
Ted Nugent, never one to shy away from a colorful comment, had a typically humorous response:
“I would like to think whenever I play my guitar there is a semblance of an earthquake taking place but a very sexy controlled earthquake,” Nugent replied.
Jack Blades wrapped up the story with a laugh:
“You might have caused the San Francisco earthquake.”
About the 1989 San Francisco Earthquake
The quake they experienced was far from minor. Known as the Loma Prieta earthquake, it struck the Bay Area on October 17, 1989, during the World Series, causing significant damage, multiple fatalities, and massive infrastructure disruption.
Though rehearsals resumed after the tremors, the moment left a lasting impression—and a great story.
