- The Amboy Dukes
Infobox musical artist
Name = The Amboy Dukes
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin =Detroit, Michigan
Instrument =
Genre =Hard rock ,acid rock ,psychedelic rock
Years_active = 1965–1975
Label = Mainstream, Polydor,DisCreet Records
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =The Amboy Dukes were an American
rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s fromDetroit, Michigan , best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career ofTed Nugent .Bassist Greg Arama died in 1979.
Band line-ups
The pre-Nugent Detroit band was as follows:
*Ron Medeiros (lead guitar)
*Dave Opatic (guitar)
*James Jackson (bass)
*Ben Vineyard (drums)
*Bob Lehnert (vocals)1967
The Nugent Amboy Dukes began in Chicago and moved back to Detroit. Before landing a record deal, the members were as follows:
*Bob Lehnert (original vocalist 1965–1968)
*Ted Nugent (guitar)
*Gary Hicks (guitar)
*Dick Treat (bass)
*Gail Uptadale (drums)1968
After a band shuffle for signing a deal with
Mainstream Records ofNew York , the band members were:*John Drake (vocals)
*Ted Nugent (lead guitar, vocals)
*Steve Farmer (guitar, vocals)
*Rick Lober (keyboard)
*Bill White (bass)
*Dave Palmer (drums) ex-The Galaxy Five, ex-The Citations"Journey to the Center of the Mind" saw another member shake-up:
*John Drake (vocals)
*Ted Nugent (lead guitar, vocals)
*Steve Farmer (guitar, vocals)
*Andy Solomon (keyboard, sax, vocals) ex The Apostles
*Greg Arama (bass) ex The Gang
*Dave Palmer (drums)"Migration" saw another line-up:
*Rusty Day (Russell Edward Davidson) (vocals, harmonica) ex-Rusty Day & The Midnighters
*Ted Nugent (lead guitar, vocals)
*Steve Farmer (guitar, vocals)
*Andy Solomon (keyboard, sax, vocals)
*Greg Arama (bass)
*Dave Palmer (drums)Discography
*"The Amboy Dukes", The Amboy Dukes' first album, was released in November 1967
Mainstream Records (56104 mono and S/6104 stereo). It crept into thetop 200 and its highest was #183. It contained the debut single "Baby Please Don't Go" which did not chart.*"Journey to the Center of the Mind", The Amboy Dukes' second album, was released in April 1968 on
Mainstream Records (56112 mono (promo only) and stereo S/6112 stereo). It crept into thetop 100 and its highest position was #74. The single of the same name peaked at number 16 on the USBillboard Hot 100 pop chart. The album and song were classic examples ofacid rock ; for example, the original album cover depicted fifty different kinds of marijuana-smoking devices.*"Migration", The Amboy Dukes' third album, was released in fall 1968 on
Mainstream Records (stereo only S/6118). It failed to chart. In the UK, it can be found in mono, catalog number is London/Mainstream HAT 8393.*"You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire" - buoyed by the success of the "Journey" 45, in 1968 they released this non LP, (Mainstream 693). It didn't chart.
*"The Best of the Original Amboy Dukes" released after The Amboy Dukes left
Mainstream Records (Mainstream S/6125), failed to chart.*"
Marriage on the Rocks/Rock Bottom " (1970)*"Survival of the Fittest Live (At the Eastown Theatre, Detroit)" as Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes in 1971 (Polydor 24-4035). Charted #129.
*"Call of the Wild" was released in 1973 on
Frank Zappa 'sDiscReet Records after the band left (Polydor - Discreet 2181) - didn't chart.*"Tooth, Fang & Claw" released in 1974 was the last album (DiscReet 2203) - didn't chart.
Trivia
*It is rumoured that "JB Special" was to be the single, but was scrapped when "Journey to the Center of the Mind" was perfected. It can also be found on the Capitol label, as it was a record club hot pick.
*In the UK, "Migration", can be found in mono, catalog number is London/Mainstream HAT 8393ee also
*
Ted Nugent External links
* [http://www.classicbands.com/amboy.html classicbands.com]
* [http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/amboydukes.html Motorcitymusicarchives.com]
* [http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/survival.html The recording of Survival of the fittest]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.