Ted Nugent has reacted to PEARL JAM‘s transformation of one of his songs into a protest against gun violence.
At PEARL JAM‘s recent concert at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, the band played a riff from Nugent‘s “Stranglehold.” Lead singer Eddie Vedder repeated the lines, “I don’t own a gun/I never wanna own a gun,” with several variations before the song transitioned into “Even Flow.”
After multiple media outlets covered PEARL JAM‘s decision to cover the Nugent classic, the conservative rocker—known for his strong support of gun rights—took to his X account to write: “hey Eddie join me on my RAV [Real America’s Voice] Spirit Campfire [show] to discuss how your insane liberal policies have created an explosion in engineered violent recidivism while you fight to disarm helpless innocent citizens.”
Nugent is a vocal right-wing conservative known for his strong advocacy of gun ownership. He even showcased his passion for firearms on television by briefly hosting Ted Nugent’s Gun Country on the Discovery Channel. When the show debuted, Nugent proclaimed that the “American Dream is measured in ballistics.”
PEARL JAM, on the other hand, has consistently upheld liberal political views throughout their career. In recent years, the band has criticized former President Donald Trump and warned fans about the dangers of global warming. In 2023, the grunge band supported Everytown, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending gun violence.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.