Yank Me, Crank Me (Live 1978)

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your groovy Zoo Crew spinning the wild vibes of "Yank Me, Crank Me (Live 1978)" by the one and only Ted Nugent from his explosive Double Live Gonzo! album! This track, recorded live at the Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene, Texas, in November 1977, is a raw, high-octane blast of Nugent’s guitar wizardry and unapologetic energy. Did you know Ted himself wasn’t thrilled with the album’s sound? In a 1990 magazine interview, he trashed the production, but fans and critics beg to differ, calling it a cornerstone of 1970s live rock. The song’s debut on this album marked it as a fresh, never-before-released cut, alongside another original, “Gonzo,” both penned by Nugent himself. It’s a sweaty, in-your-face anthem that captures the Nuge at his peak, with Derek St. Holmes’ vocals and Nugent’s Gibson Byrdland shredding like nobody’s business.

Now, let’s talk trivia that’ll make you howl! The Double Live Gonzo! album, which hit 3x Platinum status, was stitched together from shows across 1976 and 1977, with “Yank Me, Crank Me” recorded in that Texas heat. Nugent’s banter on the album is legendary—especially before “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang,” where he tells mellow folks to “get the fuck out” and dedicates it to “all that Nashville pussy.” That’s the Motor City Madman for ya! Guitar geeks, listen up: Nugent’s use of controlled feedback and major pentatonic licks in tracks like “Hibernation” shows his virtuosity, but “Yank Me, Crank Me” is all about that raw, sexual swagger. One reviewer even called it “drunk driving music for a high-speed chase with the cops behind you”—now that’s rock ‘n’ roll! The song’s 7-inch vinyl single from 1978 had a stereo version at 4:11 and a mono at 3:33, a collector’s gem for you vinyl hounds out there.

Let’s rewind to how Ted Nugent kicked off his wild ride. Born Theodore Anthony Nugent on December 13, 1948, in Redford Township, Michigan, he picked up a guitar at age 10 and never looked back. By 1963, he was fronting The Amboy Dukes, a psychedelic and hard rock outfit that scored a hit with “Journey to the Center of the Mind.” But Ted grew restless with the band’s lack of discipline, so he ditched them in 1975 after a three-month soul-searching stint hunting deer in the Colorado wilderness. Renewed, he formed the Ted Nugent Band with Derek St. Holmes on vocals and rhythm guitar, Rob Grange on bass, and Cliff Davies on drums. Their debut album, Ted Nugent (1975), went multi-platinum, followed by Free-for-All (1976) and Cat Scratch Fever (1977). By the time Double Live Gonzo! dropped in 1978, Nugent was a guitar hero, known for his frenzied playing and larger-than-life stage presence.

Wanna keep up with the Nuge? Check out his official website at tednugent.com for tour dates, merch, and his latest rants. He’s active on Facebook, where he shares his love for hunting, guns, and rock ‘n’ roll, and you can catch his unfiltered takes on X. His Instagram is packed with throwbacks and live show clips. For the die-hard Zoo Freaks, join the Ted Nugent Fans group on Facebook to connect with fellow gonzo lovers. There’s also tednugent.com, which doubles as a fan hub with forums and exclusive content. So, crank up “Yank Me, Crank Me,” let your freak flag fly, and keep it wild with the Zoo Crew!