Re: Ted Nugent
One of the greatest rock axemen around....even though Frank Marino beat the hell out his guitar playing on many an occasion
They were so different with respect to their playing styles. I think those "battles" were about 50/50 in terms of victors. Of course I am familiar and know exactly what "battles" you are referring to. It was a big thing for a short while back in the early to mid 70s.
I remember one time that Frank got in BIG trouble for it to. He promoted a concert at Cobo Arena exclaiming that it would consist of the biggest guitar battle that he and the Nuge had ever had. Now, you have to remember (if you are old enough, or please just imagine if you're not), Frank was always very low profile compared to Nugent on a US national level. Frank is from Canada and although he played a great deal in and around the Detroit area, his national recognition was next to nil. Nugent had the long term US radio familiarity of the Amboy Dukes and their many incarnations going for him, and about the only thing that Frank had going for him at the time, was that he was billing himself as the REAL reincarnation of Jimmy Hendrix. That's right, for MANY years Frank claimed that Jimi's spirit inhabited his body and had literally taught him how to play the guitar. So, MR. Marino had really been using the whole "battle" thing as a "change over" tactic to sell tickets more than anything else.
Frank had posters up everywhere that served to spread the word and preach the gospel of his God like guitar prowess. He had adds in magazines, he had flyers in record stores, there were even announcements on the radio. All to the effect that he and MR. Nugent were going at it once and for all in a battle supreem extraordinaire. Well, when it came time for his concert at Cobo, Frank had managed to exceed even his expectations in ticket sales. The place was packed and people were going crazy. People were screaming Nugent, Nugent, Nugent...while others were chanting Frank, Frank, Frank and the place was growing crazier and crazier as people stomped, screamed and built to a general frenzy.
All of a sudden the lights go on full in the arena and there is man on the stage who announces, I'm sorry to inform everyone, but Ted Nugent will not be here attendance tonight. The place went NUTZ! I mean people were PISSED. They were throwing chairs, storming the stage and I am here to tell you that general pandemonium ensued. Guess what? The concert was canceled and Frank had to refund all the tickets if they were so requested to be refunded. It came out on the radio a day later that Frank had not even bothered to contact the Nuge about the whole thing but had just assumed he would show to save face. Problem was, he was on tour somewhere else (like in a different country) and couldn't be there.
Needless to say this matter didn't exactly help Frank's PR in the States, as per usual, the promoters and radio stations that helped to foot the bill for the event lost considerable money on the whole thing.
I am STILL a HUGE Frank Marino fan to this day. I even have kept up with his latest CD releases. My favorite being his excellent jazz tinged live 2 CD set from a few years ago.
Still in yet, I don't think there can be any doubt who left the larger hard rock legacy. IMO, The Power of Rock & Roll was Franks best (that and his mighty live LP which RULES, listen to it all the time) studio record, and it didn't even compare to the pummeling weight of Ted's S/T album.
