Ted Nugent is setting the record straight on his so-called “retirement,” insisting he never actually used that word. In a recent interview with Eddie Trunk on Trunk Nation, the legendary rocker made it clear that he still has the passion to perform.
“We have so many conversations where a lot of people say ‘How come you’re going to play again? You said you were going to retire,” Nugent said. “I have never used the ‘r word’ [retirement].”
“I have made it quite clear that I still crave to play,” he continued. “I’m still absolutely stimulated by the pursuit of musical guitar adventure.”
Last year, Nugent announced he would step back from extensive touring, which many fans took as a retirement. However, he’s now clarifying that while he’s scaling back, he’s far from done.
As he approaches a major career milestone, Nugent is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stranglehold with special concerts in Michigan and Texas in 2025. In addition, he’s launching the Nuge Vault in March 2025—a digital platform that will give fans unprecedented access to his archives, including never-before-seen concert footage and unreleased recordings.
Rather than stepping away from music completely, Nugent is embracing a new phase—one that allows him to continue performing and engaging with fans in a way that fits his evolving career.
