The worst... unironically cheesy... and one of the reasons why the Seattle sound was so welcome and used as a weapon to help show bands like Damn Yankees the exit as far as popular culture. I still can see in my head the nuge making silly Arena rock out faces during an overblown solo to a shity ballad
The best solo ever , my top 5 for sure , is one of Y&T frontman Dave M and his lead guitar layered solo in the song “ Rescue Me “ , live “ was so close to the studio tuned LP track Rescue Me version , but I’ll take either . I’m going old school here with The Cars left handed legend Elliot Easton on , “you’re all I’ve got tonight “ most definitely a classic and the school trained genius that made the Cars , a lot say Ben Orr ( RIP ) , but without those licks off Ocasek’s writing , the Cars never woulda made it as Ric and Ben were like 30 when they all made it big in 78’ , just my opinion . Thanks
I knew when this idea started, it wouldn't last. This lineup was conflicted in styles. As short as it was, it was awesome Music. I'm glad this project did exist as brief as it was.
Think the whole supergroup concept as a whole is always short-lived, mainly bc of ego, and the Nuge has plenty of ego lol. Think the traveling wilburys could have lasted for awhile, those guys just loved music. Too bad Roy Orbison left us so soon.
Conflicted in style?? It was the musical gods giving the grunge era the middle finger. Nothing short of MAGIC! Is this is a conflict of styles .... I love conflicts of styles. Lol
@@meroo4574 Actually.. grunge didn't take off until 91. So it was really grunge that gave the middle finger to the washed up rock stars of the 80's like the Nuge & Company and made them obsolete.
@B Andersonnobody gives 2 turds about the nuge. Nirvana, AIC, and soundgarden sent him into obscurity and whining about the government. Hes about as relevant as an 8 track cassette player holmes.
Damn Yankees were fantastic! So sad to see them break up too soon! I saw them live in concert in Denver. One of the best concerts I’d ever seen! You hardly said anything about drummer Michael. He was a great addition to the band! Loved all 4 of them together!
I went to a Night Ranger show with my girlfriend, not really expecting much beyond their hits. Then they opened with "Highway Star" and absolutely crushed it!
Night Ranger got lumped in with a bunch of pop bands. They didn’t belong there. At all. The talent in that band was and is ridiculous. Brad Gillis is so underrated it’s not funny. Anyone who could drop into Randy Rhoads’ touring shoes with just a couple weeks notice is no slouch.
The 80s was one of the very best times to grow up in the US especially if you were a musician. It was the time of music, arcades, computers and even the very beginning of the internet. Its such a different world now and it seems like everything is burning down. It was an awesome time....
@@9326metal Boy did you miss the point!! No, it wasnt about the similarities of the 80s and now, but how great a time is was to grow up. Nobody complained to me about anything, but its clear that you are a cancer. I dont know how you turned a very positive comment into a negative one, but I feel sorry for you. However, Ill play your game... Many of the bad things that have come about are atheism, cancerous cultures, political division and a world without morals. The 80s was still a wonderful time to grow up :)
When the debut DY album came out me and my friends were blown away ! Soaring vocals and harmonies, piercing crunchy guitars and catchy, hook filled songs. Really good. Nightranger still performs some of these killer tunes to this day.
Night Ranger was well received.Damn Yankees didn't materialize into anything.By the time they formed, Metallica was in their prime and metal was going away from arena rock
I've seen Night Ranger a few times live after Damn Yankees broke up and you're right, Night Ranger perform 2 to 3 Damn Yankees tunes, depending on how long their set is, and they do a killer job.
When they were new I saw them and I had been to many concerts I remember hearing coming of age and I was blown away seriously it was like a rocket going into the sky these guys came out on fire
It's Shaw. Not show...Shaw was an amazing addition to Styx. His lyrics, vocals, and instrumental talents gave him an easily recognizable place in the band. We all know how Ted rolls, and I'm not ashamed to stand by him on so many issues. The Drummer puts all of his strength into this song. . .well put together group of men who knew how to do it right!!!.
@@toddgakk5783 Shaw made the group rock harder, and they were definitely better with him, but they woulda been and were moderately successful without him. The biggest and hardest rocking hit "Madam Blue" was on the album Equinox. Before Shaw joined
@Christopher Bingham I suppose it was their biggest and most friendly adult oriented radio type hit. Lol. In other words, "elevator music". Suite Madam Blue really rocked, though. Babe or Lady.were the type of songs I'd turn when I heard them come on..
@@toddgakk5783 Lol dennis Deyoung had already written and recorded lady, suite madam blue, and lorelei. tommy shaw is great, but dennis clearly brought the hits for Styx
Interesting fact - Damn Yankees are probably the last band I remember discovering on the radio. I remember that I was at a bowling alley, picking up my bowling ball because I was having it repaired and waxed. I had to wait some time for the employee to help other customers, and that's when I heard on the radio "Here's a new song from a supergroup called Damn Yankees, featuring Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw from Styx and Jack Blades from Night Ranger. It's called Coming of Age". Instantly hooked and bought the CD within the first few weeks it was released.
Show a little love for the beat keeper from Cleveland, Ohio Michael Cartellone who has been Lynryd Skynyrd’s drummer since 1999 and is an accomplished artist. I watched him grow from the cover band ranks and he is incredible.
Me too. Bad Co made a mistake having them open. I really liked The Brian Howe era Of Bad Co. So I was good. Nugent was fading in those days so I think it rejuvenated him and these are some of the best solos he did. The sole for tread though was some of stranglehold. But the energy level in concert was crazy.
Saw that tour at the Hult Center Eugene Ore, Ted shooting the Arrow into some Mid east bad guy on a target on side of the stage was an interesting way to start a concert.
Austin Texas, they had tour bussed parked beside the stage, and Ted climbed up onto one of them and ran jumping from bus to bus down the line, while blasting his guitar. Crazy MFR!
I remember the critics saying they were just another everybody sing together band and that they didn’t have any depth. At that point I realized that critics don’t have successful music careers. They are still one of my favorite bands of all time. Too bad I never got to see them in person.
I love Ted! Truly one of the greatest guitarists ever!!! Like him or not, that mother FR can play, period! Tommy also is a great guitarist plus his voice is very appealing. Damn Yankees put out great songs. All 4 of them we awesome musicians. If you spend money in anything you want quality. Bam there you go. Damn Yankees. Enjoy the show.
That first album was so damn good and so solid. I have a huge music collection and their first album is actually a favorite of mine. “Come again” is spatially epic.
It's so good to read all the great comments on this post. I never hear anyone talk about Damn Yankees. I knew they had their fans but I never seem to run into them. When I first heard them, I couldn't believe my ears. I have great memories of those early days and the anticipation of what they might do next. Sad they couldn't hang together for a few more albums but I absolutely love what we did get from them.
Love this band, saw them twice on the Don’t Tread tour. The first concert was Firehouse, Damn Yankees, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Poison. Second time was Firehouse, Damn Yankees and Poison.
I saw Styx in ‘79 for my first concert ever in Abilene Texas while in the Air Force. They were promoting the “ Pieces of Eight”album and yes, Christopher Bingham is correct. Those other songs were released later on the “ Paradise Theatre” and “ Kilroy was here” albums.
I saw Damn Yankees on a quad bill with Eric Johnson, then Damn Yankees, Bad Company, then Steve Miller Band. Eric Johnson and Damn Yankees rocked the house hard, Bad Company was good, as was Steve Miller, but none of them held a candle to the intensity of Damn Yankees. The harmonies between Tommy, Jack and sometimes Michael are phenomenal.
Well I owe these guys and their first album a big favor because I drove from California to Florida with my cat and she would not stop meowing till I played Damn Yankees .....thanks a lot fellas from sassy and me rock on😎
Man I remember Damn Yankees coming out 1990 I was 15 years old. I remember grunge was coming out to. That was the best years for me was the 90s... wish I could relive.. the 90s....well sum of it.
The 90s were a great decade for me as well! And you guys are right, we really did have everything. We had all the different genres of Metal, Grunge, and we still had some really great Classic Rock Bands that were killing it!
Not a big fan of the Damn Yankees as a collective, but I really like Tommy Shaw. And folks, one hasn't lived until one has seen and heard Ted Nugent do Stranglehold live.
"By the 80's..." shows pics of Nirvana and Radiohead, two bands that clearly did not have success in the 80's. Nirvana's success came in late 1991 and Pablo Honey was not released until 1993.
yea I noticed the pic of Motorhead too, which is an odd choice since they always did their own thing and their popularity was always pretty stable/constant. On the other hand if you're making a clip about a middle of the road corporate "rock" band like Damn Yankees then chances are it's gonna fall apart somewhere. Anyone who genuinely gave a shit about a band like Damn Yankees in the 90s either lived in the sticks or simply was 10 years behind the curve in knowing what was happening in music
@@vincegedeon6583 Nah, they rocked. Sort of an upbeat Sabbath. Radiohead is like Dave Matthews Band...meandering crap listened to by the sales departments, middlemen and women who've seen more dicks than a urinal trough inside an old bar.
@@juliefuraitor5610 1975-Oct 30th Armadillo in Austin. Small venue and 10 yards from stage. I went to see Ted but Rush opened. Surreal show. I had heard of them from some radio play . Saw them in 1980 in a big arena. Saw Nugent numerous times dating back to the Amboy Dukes. Peace
john thonig I still have all of my concert stubs. Those were the days when music was great. Now most of it is terrible and there is hardly any concerts to go to anymore in my area. At least we have good memories and a few tokens from an era long gone. Can still watch concerts on YT. Last one I watched was April Wine. I saw them in concert too. I miss those days. ☮️
Ever since the Damn Yankees came out I was or still r a fan of them to me this line up kicked ass. I was sad to hear the band wasn't going to get back together I would of paid any amount of money to c this ALL STAR band that I loved so much.👍🎶
Great group and kick ass sound. The songs were very good. Ted really played solos that fit the music. The music was important and the musicianship is too notch.
Moved down south about twenty years ago if I had a penny every time I heard dam Yankees I'd have more money than all the rock guitarist that think there as good as ted
I have that and many more cassette singles. I still listen to the hundreds of CD’s I have too!! I download music and listen that way but there’s just something about popping in an album and listening the whole way through
Cassingles! I may still have some floating around my basement somewhere. That's right kids,we didn't have websites that gave us our songs,we had to drive to Sam Goody,or Record Town. We paid $2 for two songs and we were damn grateful for it! I'm old enough to have bought 45s
DY was part of the late 80s rock supergroup trend - taking talent from acts that were not selling and / or broken up - and combining the talent- Bad English - Badlands - Mr. Big - Blue Murder- Shadowking - the Law- Katmandu- Bangalore Choir - The Scream- the Storm - Alias - Shooting Gallery - Most had 1 or 2 albums - I can’t think of any that lasted and now bands like Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Bad Company, etc reformed and still tour
Excellent band, fantastic melodic hard rock, I first started listening to them about 20+ years ago as teenager, back then I had no idea there was so much talent in the band as I was kind of the new to the Hard Rock/Metal scene.
It's so weird to hear Ted Nugent absurdly try and rewrite the narrative what could be more ironic and the classic rock dinosaur comparing mid 90s MTV 2 a.m. radio and saying he couldn't stomach anything on the channel whilel basically making elevator music for the mall
@@johnscott6481 Oh yes, still it's melodic with a nice guitar melody to it. What I mean by hard rock is for mainstream audience that isn't used to hard rock or metal, but I definitely know much heavier bands.
I was fortunate to see them live in 1991 on the tour with Bad Company and I still remember their performance, not so much of Bad Company. They each did a couple of songs from their past, Nugent was funny, crazy, and an incredible guitarist. It was during the Gulf War and Nugent was shooting flaming arrows from his compound bow into a cardboard cutout head of Saddam Hussain. It was a really fun performance and I actually enjoyed it better then when I saw Styx.
Strange. I really loved Don't Tread. "Fifteen Minutes Of Fame" was a killer track, as was "Dirty Dog" the title track and "Where You Goin' Now" . I always thought it did better.
I'll never forget when they came together I thought this is going to be something amazing and it absolutely was!! I still think those albums are absolutely awesome
They never really "rose" to be able to fall.They had a quasi hit or two.But were never accepted by the masses as a supergroup.We can remember through rose tinted glass....but they just weren't that big
@@67marlins81 I personally don't have anything against them.Just saying they didn't go over that big.There was a ton of talented bands out,all at the same time that were big.These guys were just a little blip on the radar
They were actually a kick ass Rock N Roll band , that fit right in when the 1st album came out. By the time the 2nd album came out, the industry was fawning over anything coming out of Seattle/Grunge/Nirvana Effect. 80's Rock would have to take a time out for 10yrs. However, note how many classic 80's bands got back on the road and revived their careers vs how many from the Grunge set .........stark difference.
@@KennethDillard You must've not been paying attention , you missed the part where many 80's bands have been touring and making money over the last 19 yrs .......
@@hazor777 - True. But look at the decline of new rock music in popularity. Rock, sadly, doesn't hold a torch in terms of popular newer artists to most other genres. And as much as classic rock is rightfully revered, these bands can't tour forever. Rock needs a shake-up of Beatle-esque proportion, and now.
@@KennethDillard Totally agree , but ....... RnR is a LIVE art form. Until people decide to stop being mask wearing sheep, venues will not provide the platform to get the shows happening again. Sure, venues are opening up, but there's been a significant number that have closed down - and now the real estate is valued higher, I imagine that property is not going back to music venue use .
Awesome! Thanks! I was always wondering why they never put out a 3rd album. And thanks to this video, now I know about Shaw Blades. I can go check out their album.
DAMNOCRACY,with S.O.D./Anthrax's Scott Ian and Biohazard's Evan Seinfeld(a guy whom Sebastian openly didn't get along with). That band only existed for that VH1 TV show and then split after the show ended(with n album having come out from that very band). Maybe Sid can cover on the histories of Damnocracy,S.O.D.,and Biohazard for future episodes.
When would they have the time? As Christopher Bingham said, Tommy is busy with Styx. Michael is now with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ted is busy being, well, TED. Not sure if Night Ranger is still together, but I'm sure Jack has at least a couple things going. Maybe a bill with all four artists, then a jam of Damn Yankees songs could be possible. Depends on how committed everyone would be.
I absolutely agree with you!!! I thought both CDs were awesome!!! There was talk about this actually from them. I can't remember how that came about. I had my hopes up for this to happen. But shortly after that came out they said it was not going to happen!!!
Worked security at venue at K-State while in college- sat & ate & chatted with Ted & Tommy. Two very cool dudes & concert was greatness. Bad Co. was good too.
What happened to the Damn Yankees is what happened to Them Crooked Vultures. Both bands were super groups and once the bands did their thing they all went back to their other groups.
My question is what happened to War & Peace, Jeff Pilson, Tommy Hendrickson, Russ Parrish, And Ricky Parent (sadly will never get a reunion now because Ricky passed away)
True story - I am from Maryland and was stationed at Fort Polk, LA while I was in the Army in 1990 during Desert Shield. Since I was new (only out of basic about a month), me and a few other guys were "volunteered' to go to Fort Hood where an Alabama National Guard unit was called up to train and then deploy to Kuwait. We were assigned to them to help bring them up to strength. Anyway, I was a tank driver and since I was in Delta company, I named my tank "Damn Yankee" (written on the gun tube, and on my driver's hatch) because 1) I liked the band and 2) I thought it would be funny since I was a Maryland boy surrounded by a bunch of Alabamans. And I've still got Most of DY's songs included in my Misc Alternative playlist that I have loaded up in my car - so I still listen to them regularly 30 years later.
Sid, Great video as always. One of my friends saw them twice (opening for Bad Company in '90 and headlining with Jackyl in '93). At least you're not a sycophant when talking about Ted Nugent unlike others (*cough*Eddie Trunk*cough*). I do find it funny that they had to schedule the "Don't Tread" tour around Ted's hunting schedule!
Nice story! I liked their debut album the moment I heard it; and I was familiar with all the musicians who comprised DAMN YANKEES .... I'm glad they're still friends; and saddened they haven't recorded new materials. Thanks for the story.
I never thought they were a real band from the start. I figured they were just friends getting together and having fun. Like coverdale, page and the honey drippers. Just something to do.
That video where Nugent leaves the house to participate in a gun fight with the police, using his guitar, is pretty classic. What good are bullets against that sick and violent solo?
So in the 80s people got tired of Arena Rock, so this Nirvana and Radiohead? This is the second time Nirvana was reference as the changing of the guards between the 70s and 80s?
Happy Thursday, I was FORTUNATE enough to see them live with Jackyl in Cincinnati. It was the show where Ted Nugent and Jesse James both got arrested. Nugent for shooting a flaming arrow and James for indecent exposure( his pj's fell down to his ankles and he kept playing) Both bands played a FANTASTIC show. Damn Yankees were a GREAT band. CHEERS to ALL.
quite a few people requested damn yankees over the years.
The worst... unironically cheesy... and one of the reasons why the Seattle sound was so welcome and used as a weapon to help show bands like Damn Yankees the exit as far as popular culture. I still can see in my head the nuge making silly Arena rock out faces during an overblown solo to a shity ballad
Just an FYI, it's not "calender," it's Kuh-lawd-ner.
@@neillenet291 i jlistened to interviews with him and i said it how i thought it sounded in my head.
@@rnrtruestories gotcha. Just letting you know.
Damn dude! It’s about time!
The Vocal duo of Shaw and Blades was sensational!
Right on! That's an understatement really!
Absolutely!
Come Again....one of the BEST guitar solos ever performed. Wow...what a solo!
Great song IMHO. great on a number of fronts, not the least of which was Sweatty Teddy’s work.
Definitely great!! I still think for me the best is the solo in My Sharona. Thanks for turning me on to this one!
The best solo ever , my top 5 for sure , is one of Y&T frontman Dave M and his lead guitar layered solo in the song “ Rescue Me “ , live “ was so close to the studio tuned LP track Rescue Me version , but I’ll take either .
I’m going old school here with The Cars left handed legend Elliot Easton on , “you’re all I’ve got tonight “ most definitely a classic and the school trained genius that made the Cars , a lot say Ben Orr ( RIP ) , but without those licks off Ocasek’s writing , the Cars never woulda made it as Ric and Ben were like 30 when they all made it big in 78’ , just my opinion . Thanks
@@jondohnson5538 Love Easton's playing. Definitely a great solo!
@ Doug FA < good to know we got some rock history students in here . Be well
God, I loved Damn Yankees. I saw them twice and they are still one of the best bands I have ever seen live. I’d be all over a reunion.
I saw them twice too and they put on a great show. The music was great and with Uncle Ted in the group, BOOM!
Loved them.
Trash band
Lol. Probably loves Justin Bieber and WAP. Haha. 🤣🤣🤣
Do you feel the same way about other one hit wonders?Just curious
@Christopher Bingham not good new music? The mission from 2017 was amazing and a new album out in 2 weeks from now....they are friggin awesome!
I knew when this idea started, it wouldn't last. This lineup was conflicted in styles. As short as it was, it was awesome Music. I'm glad this project did exist as brief as it was.
Killer music though. All killer musicians. I guess somethings are better short lived....
Think the whole supergroup concept as a whole is always short-lived, mainly bc of ego, and the Nuge has plenty of ego lol.
Think the traveling wilburys could have lasted for awhile, those guys just loved music. Too bad Roy Orbison left us so soon.
Conflicted in style?? It was the musical gods giving the grunge era the middle finger. Nothing short of MAGIC! Is this is a conflict of styles .... I love conflicts of styles. Lol
@@meroo4574 Actually.. grunge didn't take off until 91. So it was really grunge that gave the middle finger to the washed up rock stars of the 80's like the Nuge & Company and made them obsolete.
@B Andersonnobody gives 2 turds about the nuge. Nirvana, AIC, and soundgarden sent him into obscurity and whining about the government. Hes about as relevant as an 8 track cassette player holmes.
Damn Yankees were fantastic! So sad to see them break up too soon! I saw them live in concert in Denver. One of the best concerts I’d ever seen! You hardly said anything about drummer Michael. He was a great addition to the band! Loved all 4 of them together!
They formed 5 years too late as the puddle rock scene was dead by 1990.
An underrated band without doubt.
Was that at Fiddler's Green with Poison and Firehouse?
I went to a Night Ranger show with my girlfriend, not really expecting much beyond their hits.
Then they opened with "Highway Star" and absolutely crushed it!
Night Ranger got lumped in with a bunch of pop bands. They didn’t belong there. At all. The talent in that band was and is ridiculous. Brad Gillis is so underrated it’s not funny. Anyone who could drop into Randy Rhoads’ touring shoes with just a couple weeks notice is no slouch.
The 80s was one of the very best times to grow up in the US especially if you were a musician. It was the time of music, arcades, computers and even the very beginning of the internet. Its such a different world now and it seems like everything is burning down. It was an awesome time....
@@9326metal Boy did you miss the point!! No, it wasnt about the similarities of the 80s and now, but how great a time is was to grow up. Nobody complained to me about anything, but its clear that you are a cancer.
I dont know how you turned a very positive comment into a negative one, but I feel sorry for you. However, Ill play your game... Many of the bad things that have come about are atheism, cancerous cultures, political division and a world without morals.
The 80s was still a wonderful time to grow up :)
no, sorry, it wasn't, you just think it is because you lack the ability to see things without rose colored glasses
@@InfiniteRhombus ROFL! Go put your depends back on and shut up.
@@InfiniteRhombus No, you are completely full of shit. Things were far from perfect, but we managed to have fun.
@@InfiniteRhombus 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
When the debut DY album came out me and my friends were blown away ! Soaring vocals and harmonies, piercing crunchy guitars and catchy, hook filled songs. Really good. Nightranger still performs some of these killer tunes to this day.
Night Ranger was well received.Damn Yankees didn't materialize into anything.By the time they formed, Metallica was in their prime and metal was going away from arena rock
I've seen Night Ranger a few times live after Damn Yankees broke up and you're right, Night Ranger perform 2 to 3 Damn Yankees tunes, depending on how long their set is, and they do a killer job.
I saw Damn Yankees live once and it was the most powerful band I have ever saw. The should have recorded a live album.
When they were new I saw them and I had been to many concerts I remember hearing coming of age and I was blown away seriously it was like a rocket going into the sky these guys came out on fire
Look up "DAMN YANKEES - LIVE JAPAN 1993" on UA-cam. I'm not sure if you can get a DVD but, at least we have that.
It's Shaw. Not show...Shaw was an amazing addition to Styx. His lyrics, vocals, and instrumental talents gave him an easily recognizable place in the band. We all know how Ted rolls, and I'm not ashamed to stand by him on so many issues. The Drummer puts all of his strength into this song. . .well put together group of men who knew how to do it right!!!.
Styx was 100% worthless band.
Fisrt concert I ever went to. Damn Yankees with Jackyl opening at the Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis. I was 11 & it was awesome.
I saw that tour in Illinois. They were both SO GOOD.
I was in my 30s. That is sobering ..
I’m envious! I bet that was a great show. What a pairing!
caught the same tour in Sacramento
I saw that same lineup in Tampa. Excellent show.
I saw that your in ft lauderdale. Amazing show
Monster debut album ~ every track throughout holds it's own!
Tommy Shaw is the man. No way Styx would have been as successful without him.
The group had some success and hits before Shaw joined in around 1975!-76, but he took them to another level for a few yrs til they fell off........
Denis deyoung would be cleaning toilets without shaw
@@toddgakk5783 Shaw made the group rock harder, and they were definitely better with him, but they woulda been and were moderately successful without him. The biggest and hardest rocking hit "Madam Blue" was on the album Equinox. Before Shaw joined
@Christopher Bingham I suppose it was their biggest and most friendly adult oriented radio type hit. Lol. In other words, "elevator music". Suite Madam Blue really rocked, though. Babe or Lady.were the type of songs I'd turn when I heard them come on..
@@toddgakk5783 Lol dennis Deyoung had already written and recorded lady, suite madam blue, and lorelei. tommy shaw is great, but dennis clearly brought the hits for Styx
Great albums by Damn Yankees, still hold up today. Saw them live in early 90s and killer show.
An amazing band! I've seen these guys twice, and the chemistry was mind blowing! Tommy Shaw, and Jack Blades harmony was awesome! 🤯
That Damn Yankees/ Bad Company bill was a great concert.
great concert!
I had fun there too. General seating. Was my first front row show experience. Loved their version of Renegade.
I just wish it was Bad Company with Paul
The low-dough show!
I saw that same concert in Missouri in 92
Saw Damn Yankees (with Jackal as support) at the Summit in Houston. Circa '92. They kicked ass.
Same here....in Illinois. Jackyl, Slaughter, Damn Yankees in late 92
Interesting fact - Damn Yankees are probably the last band I remember discovering on the radio. I remember that I was at a bowling alley, picking up my bowling ball because I was having it repaired and waxed. I had to wait some time for the employee to help other customers, and that's when I heard on the radio "Here's a new song from a supergroup called Damn Yankees, featuring Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw from Styx and Jack Blades from Night Ranger. It's called Coming of Age". Instantly hooked and bought the CD within the first few weeks it was released.
Yeah MTV became the dominant gatekeeper of music after that.
Thats a cool story.🖒
How is that an 'interesting fact'?
@@jdbly5934 its a world you only see on stranger things
Why in the world would anyone find your discovering this band to be an interesting fact? 😆
Show a little love for the beat keeper from Cleveland, Ohio Michael Cartellone who has been Lynryd Skynyrd’s drummer since 1999 and is an accomplished artist. I watched him grow from the cover band ranks and he is incredible.
Hard to discuss this band without mentioning drummer Michael Cartellone. Great drummer and a great guy!
I loved their title album. They had a great sound and huge personalities that made them great to see live.
I saw them live on their first tour and they rocked the house one of the best shows I've ever seen Jack blades was a phenomenal frontman
As a 10 year old this was one of the first CDs I ever bought... Santa brought me a cd player in 1992!
It's a shame they weren't around for very long; their harmonies are great!
Saw them on the '91 tour with Bad Co, Damn Yankees owned the stage that night.
Me too. Bad Co made a mistake having them open. I really liked The Brian Howe era Of Bad Co. So I was good. Nugent was fading in those days so I think it rejuvenated him and these are some of the best solos he did. The sole for tread though was some of stranglehold. But the energy level in concert was crazy.
Yep I seen that tour as well, it was awesome
Saw that tour at the Hult Center Eugene Ore, Ted shooting the Arrow into some Mid east bad guy on a target on side of the stage was an interesting way to start a concert.
ME TOO IN PITTSBURGH- AND THEY DID OWN THAT STAGE!!
Austin Texas, they had tour bussed parked beside the stage, and Ted climbed up onto one of them and ran jumping from bus to bus down the line, while blasting his guitar. Crazy MFR!
Dam yankees was one of my favorite bands of the 90's and still is one of my favorite bands today.just was listening to them a few nights ago...
I remember the critics saying they were just another everybody sing together band and that they didn’t have any depth. At that point I realized that critics don’t have successful music careers. They are still one of my favorite bands of all time. Too bad I never got to see them in person.
Damn Yankees was awesome. Saw them in late 92, Jackyl, Slaughter, Damn Yankees. My tinnitus from that show cleared up a couple months ago....
High Enough is still one of my favorites
Damn Yankees were amazing together. Hell of a group. Never missed them in concert. They rocked❤🤟🎸🎶🎵
I love Ted! Truly one of the greatest guitarists ever!!! Like him or not, that mother FR can play, period! Tommy also is a great guitarist plus his voice is very appealing. Damn Yankees put out great songs. All 4 of them we awesome musicians. If you spend money in anything you want quality. Bam there you go. Damn Yankees. Enjoy the show.
That first album was so damn good and so solid. I have a huge music collection and their first album is actually a favorite of mine. “Come again” is spatially epic.
How lucky we are to of live in that time and
I still watch their videos and the magic is it still gets me moving ❤
Talking about Jack Blades while the highlighted area of the photo shows guitarist Brad Gillis.
I saw that too
Gilrock Ranch, anyone?
Anyone?
😎🤘
I know right!? Catch a clue 😂
@@eddierayvanlynch6133 I have the CD.
@@JoeR203 -
A buddy from high school still has a PJ Marks Brad Gillis pickup in a strat.
It's really hot, n loud.
🤘😎
It's so good to read all the great comments on this post. I never hear anyone talk about Damn Yankees. I knew they had their fans but I never seem to run into them. When I first heard them, I couldn't believe my ears. I have great memories of those early days and the anticipation of what they might do next. Sad they couldn't hang together for a few more albums but I absolutely love what we did get from them.
The beginning of 'Come Again' is one of the most soulful song openings I'd ever heard.
Love this band, saw them twice on the Don’t Tread tour. The first concert was Firehouse, Damn Yankees, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Poison. Second time was Firehouse, Damn Yankees and Poison.
I saw Styx 3 years ago and they were fire, blew my mind they sounded so good live it was like 1979 was yesterday.
Agreed Styx is by far one of best live bands around...PERIOD!
Not the same without DeYoung in the band
@Christopher Bingham I think Deyoung would be a good fit for queen
@Christopher Bingham Marc Martel is the singer Queen should have picked.
I saw Styx in ‘79 for my first concert ever in Abilene Texas while in the Air Force. They were promoting the “ Pieces of Eight”album and yes, Christopher Bingham is correct. Those other songs were released later on the “ Paradise Theatre” and “ Kilroy was here” albums.
I saw Damn Yankees on a quad bill with Eric Johnson, then Damn Yankees, Bad Company, then Steve Miller Band. Eric Johnson and Damn Yankees rocked the house hard, Bad Company was good, as was Steve Miller, but none of them held a candle to the intensity of Damn Yankees. The harmonies between Tommy, Jack and sometimes Michael are phenomenal.
That lineup, I wish I was alive then, I would’ve totally been there lol
Watching Damn Yankees play Ted Nugent, Night Ranger and Styx covers was phenomenal!
The spotlight on Jack Blades at 0:22 is actually guitarist Brad Gillis, formerly of Ozzy Osbourne. Sorry to be that guy lol
I was going to say the same thing!
🤘👍
You beat me to it. Good thing I checked comments first
Damn! You beat me to it hahaha
I didn't check comments first so I also pointed that out. lol
And Night Ranger. lol
Pretty solid band with good vocals and harmonies. Makes the junk now look like a joke.
Correction: GREAT vocals and AWESOME harmonies.. 👍
That's because it is a joke.
No doubt about it!!!
To be fair, even baa baa black sheep makes the junk today look like a joke.
True
New years eve in Detroit, Jackyl, Damn Yankees, and then Ted did another full set of his material. 👍
Well I owe these guys and their first album a big favor because I drove from California to Florida with my cat and she would not stop meowing till I played Damn Yankees .....thanks a lot fellas from sassy and me rock on😎
Man I remember Damn Yankees coming out 1990 I was 15 years old. I remember grunge was coming out to. That was the best years for me was the 90s... wish I could relive.. the 90s....well sum of it.
Yes yes dude me too.....We had it all..Classic Rock, Metal, grunge and good country like Dwight Yokum and Kentucky Headhunters...
@Grand Funk, same for me
The 90s were a great decade for me as well! And you guys are right, we really did have everything. We had all the different genres of Metal, Grunge, and we still had some really great Classic Rock Bands that were killing it!
@@archangel5627 To all my 90s brother & sisters without y'all. The 90s would have sucked!!
@Common Sense Realist right on. Nice to know
Not a big fan of the Damn Yankees as a collective, but I really like Tommy Shaw. And folks, one hasn't lived until one has seen and heard Ted Nugent do Stranglehold live.
"By the 80's..." shows pics of Nirvana and Radiohead, two bands that clearly did not have success in the 80's. Nirvana's success came in late 1991 and Pablo Honey was not released until 1993.
Their 'success' was so contrived anyway as grunge was completely manufactured
@@jonesy2111 so... Radiohead who have been continuing to sellout arenas for the last 30 years; is contrived success?
yea I noticed the pic of Motorhead too, which is an odd choice since they always did their own thing and their popularity was always pretty stable/constant. On the other hand if you're making a clip about a middle of the road corporate "rock" band like Damn Yankees then chances are it's gonna fall apart somewhere. Anyone who genuinely gave a shit about a band like Damn Yankees in the 90s either lived in the sticks or simply was 10 years behind the curve in knowing what was happening in music
Nirvana was terrible 🙄🤣
@@vincegedeon6583 Nah, they rocked. Sort of an upbeat Sabbath. Radiohead is like Dave Matthews Band...meandering crap listened to by the sales departments, middlemen and women who've seen more dicks than a urinal trough inside an old bar.
This band was absolutely AWESOME!!! Loved Ted’s guitar playing. Their song “Don’t Tread On Me” is my favorite. Love you guys!❤️💚💙💛🧡
I was lucky enough to see Ted Nugent, and 2 more times with Damn Yankees. All 3 concerts were mind blowing!
I saw Rush open for Ted in 75.
A big regret for Ted
john thonig I bet. I would’ve loved to see Rush.
@@juliefuraitor5610 1975-Oct 30th
Armadillo in Austin.
Small venue and 10 yards from stage.
I went to see Ted but Rush opened.
Surreal show. I had heard of them from some radio play .
Saw them in 1980 in a big arena.
Saw Nugent numerous times dating back to the Amboy Dukes.
Peace
john thonig I still have all of my concert stubs. Those were the days when music was great. Now most of it is terrible and there is hardly any concerts to go to anymore in my area. At least we have good memories and a few tokens from an era long gone. Can still watch concerts on YT. Last one I watched was April Wine. I saw them in concert too. I miss those days. ☮️
@@juliefuraitor5610 from 1971-1984 over 350 concerts.Since then only 3 or 4.
Saw April Wine 3 times in Austin
Ever since the Damn Yankees came out I was or still r a fan of them to me this line up kicked ass. I was sad to hear the band wasn't going to get back together I would of paid any amount of money to c this ALL STAR band that I loved so much.👍🎶
Great group and kick ass sound. The songs were very good. Ted really played solos that fit the music. The music was important and the musicianship is too notch.
"High Enough" was the very first song recorded in 1990; Wikipedia says it was recorded on New Year's Day 1990.
recorded in 1989 actually, internet is wrong.
Moved down south about twenty years ago if I had a penny every time I heard dam Yankees I'd have more money than all the rock guitarist that think there as good as ted
Saw them open for Bad Company in Orlando. Awesome show!
I saw that concert also. Damn yankees blew bad company out of the water.
Thank you. I love EVERY single one of your videos. And I had the "High Enough " cassingle.
(Stop calling me old man)
I have that and many more cassette singles. I still listen to the hundreds of CD’s I have too!! I download music and listen that way but there’s just something about popping in an album and listening the whole way through
Alright! Old dude from now on
Cassingles! I may still have some floating around my basement somewhere.
That's right kids,we didn't have websites that gave us our songs,we had to drive to Sam Goody,or Record Town. We paid $2 for two songs and we were damn grateful for it!
I'm old enough to have bought 45s
I remember record 45’s too. I still have the first one I bought. Quiet Riot, Come on feel the noise!
DY was part of the late 80s rock supergroup trend - taking talent from acts that were not selling and / or broken up - and combining the talent- Bad English - Badlands - Mr. Big - Blue Murder- Shadowking - the Law- Katmandu- Bangalore Choir - The Scream- the Storm - Alias - Shooting Gallery -
Most had 1 or 2 albums - I can’t think of any that lasted and now bands like Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Bad Company, etc reformed and still tour
Excellent band, fantastic melodic hard rock, I first started listening to them about 20+ years ago as teenager, back then I had no idea there was so much talent in the band as I was kind of the new to the Hard Rock/Metal scene.
Not hard rock. Literally soft rock.
Dude.
It's so weird to hear Ted Nugent absurdly try and rewrite the narrative what could be more ironic and the classic rock dinosaur comparing mid 90s MTV 2 a.m. radio and saying he couldn't stomach anything on the channel whilel basically making elevator music for the mall
@@johnscott6481 Oh yes, still it's melodic with a nice guitar melody to it. What I mean by hard rock is for mainstream audience that isn't used to hard rock or metal, but I definitely know much heavier bands.
Mostly hard rock I agree
@@johnscott6481
Now go back and listen to some more Justin Bieber
Jack Blades has and always will be my fave. Since I was 12 I listened to his music.
I’d say the “fall” is overstating the end of the band. They didn’t implode. It just ended.
Yeah, not every band explodes in spectacular fashion, some just call it a career.
I was fortunate to see them live in 1991 on the tour with Bad Company and I still remember their performance, not so much of Bad Company. They each did a couple of songs from their past, Nugent was funny, crazy, and an incredible guitarist. It was during the Gulf War and Nugent was shooting flaming arrows from his compound bow into a cardboard cutout head of Saddam Hussain. It was a really fun performance and I actually enjoyed it better then when I saw Styx.
What a weird combination of musicians, but man it worked!
Strange. I really loved Don't Tread. "Fifteen Minutes Of Fame" was a killer track, as was "Dirty Dog" the title track and "Where You Goin' Now" . I always thought it did better.
Damn Yankees are alive and well on my playlists!
I'll never forget when they came together I thought this is going to be something amazing and it absolutely was!! I still think those albums are absolutely awesome
They never really "rose" to be able to fall.They had a quasi hit or two.But were never accepted by the masses as a supergroup.We can remember through rose tinted glass....but they just weren't that big
OK, but don't you appreciate them now a little more than when they came out?
@@67marlins81 I personally don't have anything against them.Just saying they didn't go over that big.There was a ton of talented bands out,all at the same time that were big.These guys were just a little blip on the radar
I kept trying to ignore this video but you had to repost it, hahaha 🤘🤘🤘
They were actually a kick ass Rock N Roll band , that fit right in when the 1st album came out. By the time the 2nd album came out, the industry was fawning over anything coming out of Seattle/Grunge/Nirvana Effect. 80's Rock would have to take a time out for 10yrs. However, note how many classic 80's bands got back on the road and revived their careers vs how many from the Grunge set .........stark difference.
The best thing Kurt Cobain did, was pull the trigger.
Grunge put rock into a tailspin that I don't feel it's ever fully recovered from.
@@KennethDillard You must've not been paying attention , you missed the part where many 80's bands have been touring and making money over the last 19 yrs .......
@@hazor777 - True. But look at the decline of new rock music in popularity. Rock, sadly, doesn't hold a torch in terms of popular newer artists to most other genres. And as much as classic rock is rightfully revered, these bands can't tour forever. Rock needs a shake-up of Beatle-esque proportion, and now.
@@KennethDillard Totally agree , but ....... RnR is a LIVE art form. Until people decide to stop being mask wearing sheep, venues will not provide the platform to get the shows happening again. Sure, venues are opening up, but there's been a significant number that have closed down - and now the real estate is valued higher, I imagine that property is not going back to music venue use .
Awesome! Thanks! I was always wondering why they never put out a 3rd album. And thanks to this video, now I know about Shaw Blades. I can go check out their album.
There was a time when it was fashionable to chew gum while playing 🎸guitar because of Ted.
DY was a great band. Nobody thought the combination of Ted, Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades would work. It did!
Ted did will by calming his ass down!... Do you remember the Super Group he was in with Sebastian Bach?
DAMNOCRACY,with S.O.D./Anthrax's Scott Ian and Biohazard's Evan Seinfeld(a guy whom Sebastian openly didn't get along with). That band only existed for that VH1 TV show and then split after the show ended(with n album having come out from that very band). Maybe Sid can cover on the histories of Damnocracy,S.O.D.,and Biohazard for future episodes.
SAVAGE ANIMAL! 😂
@Bryan Dickson Hahaha my dad and I still to this day laugh over Bach trying to talk them into the SAVAGE ANIMAL name😆
I always laughed over the fact that Ted has been in two bands with the header “Damn”
@@kiltman8018 whenever I think of it I can’t help but crack up haha
I did get to see badco and damn yankees in 91. Someone that I was acquainted w/ had a ticket and couldn't go. I had a blast!
DAMN YANKEES RULES!! We need a reunion!
When would they have the time? As Christopher Bingham said, Tommy is busy with Styx. Michael is now with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ted is busy being, well, TED. Not sure if Night Ranger is still together, but I'm sure Jack has at least a couple things going. Maybe a bill with all four artists, then a jam of Damn Yankees songs could be possible. Depends on how committed everyone would be.
Saw them live in Jacksonville, FL. My favorite live concert!
Me too, damn good show
I've thought that thumbnail was james hetfield during the ajfa era
Fantastic group that had some really great songs. Ted never played guitar better during this time.
Damn Yankees I got into not long ago being only 25. I think they’re awesome!
Rock on bud!
Good rock band. I always liked them. Thx.
1st band I ever saw (opened for Bad Company)
Big Big fans of The Yankees!! Saw them many times over. Great Fun!!!
Would love to hear that 3rd unreleased album
I absolutely agree with you!!! I thought both CDs were awesome!!! There was talk about this actually from them. I can't remember how that came about. I had my hopes up for this to happen. But shortly after that came out they said it was not going to happen!!!
A couple of those songs wound up on Styx's 1999's "Brave New World" CD...
Awesome smart band to bad they didn't stay together .... never got to see them in concert.
I think I have purchased that first album about three times now. It really was a masterpiece
Mystified is probably my favorite song on that album, but there's not one song on it I don't like.
Worked security at venue at K-State while in college- sat & ate & chatted with Ted & Tommy. Two very cool dudes & concert was greatness. Bad Co. was good too.
What happened to the Damn Yankees is what happened to Them Crooked Vultures. Both bands were super groups and once the bands did their thing they all went back to their other groups.
My question is what happened to War & Peace, Jeff Pilson, Tommy Hendrickson, Russ Parrish, And Ricky Parent (sadly will never get a reunion now because Ricky passed away)
My God... Please don't place those two bands in the same sentence. TCV was killer. Yankees was derivative corporate schlock rock.
Nugent on Come Again is a masterpiece! Love this band
They didn't quite make it high enough.
Musical trends come and go but the talents stay alive!!!!
I would’ve loved to see them in summer of ’93.
True story - I am from Maryland and was stationed at Fort Polk, LA while I was in the Army in 1990 during Desert Shield. Since I was new (only out of basic about a month), me and a few other guys were "volunteered' to go to Fort Hood where an Alabama National Guard unit was called up to train and then deploy to Kuwait. We were assigned to them to help bring them up to strength. Anyway, I was a tank driver and since I was in Delta company, I named my tank "Damn Yankee" (written on the gun tube, and on my driver's hatch) because 1) I liked the band and 2) I thought it would be funny since I was a Maryland boy surrounded by a bunch of Alabamans.
And I've still got Most of DY's songs included in my Misc Alternative playlist that I have loaded up in my car - so I still listen to them regularly 30 years later.
Sid,
Great video as always. One of my friends saw them twice (opening for Bad Company in '90 and headlining with Jackyl in '93).
At least you're not a sycophant when talking about Ted Nugent unlike others (*cough*Eddie Trunk*cough*).
I do find it funny that they had to schedule the "Don't Tread" tour around Ted's hunting schedule!
Nice story!
I liked their debut album the moment I heard it; and I was familiar with all the musicians who comprised DAMN YANKEES .... I'm glad they're still friends; and saddened they haven't recorded new materials.
Thanks for the story.
Always wonder how the drummer came to be. Thanks nothing like a friendship..
I never thought they were a real band from the start. I figured they were just friends getting together and having fun. Like coverdale, page and the honey drippers. Just something to do.
I have their DVD, it IS really enjoyable. You really did a good job on this one,you really did a spectacular job.
They were SO BAD ASS. The Best!
That video where Nugent leaves the house to participate in a gun fight with the police, using his guitar, is pretty classic. What good are bullets against that sick and violent solo?
Loved Damn Yankees SO MUCH!!! I am jealous of anyone who got to see them!!
So in the 80s people got tired of Arena Rock, so this Nirvana and Radiohead? This is the second time Nirvana was reference as the changing of the guards between the 70s and 80s?
It's become the most dreaded and cliche reference and so overblown and manipulative for 'journalistic hacks' to spout the past 30 years
Happy Thursday,
I was FORTUNATE enough to see them live with Jackyl in Cincinnati. It was the show where Ted Nugent and Jesse James both got arrested. Nugent for shooting a flaming arrow and James for indecent exposure( his pj's fell down to his ankles and he kept playing)
Both bands played a FANTASTIC show.
Damn Yankees were a GREAT band.
CHEERS to ALL.