Ted Nugent shared a new video message revealing that his drummer, Jason Hartless, suffered a serious injury after falling off the stage during a recent concert. In the video, Nugent detailed the incident and provided an update on his upcoming shows, including who will step in for Hartless in the meantime.
Nugent began by praising his bandmates before explaining what led to the accident.
“Well, what happened last night is the greatest rock and roll concert, the most guitar fun in the world,” Ted Nugent said. “I’m surprised my band members, Johnny Big on bass guitar and vocals, unbelievable talent, unbelievable work ethic, and Jason Hartless, the founder of NugeVault. These guys are so dedicated, so gifted. I’m surprised they don’t hurt themselves dangerously every night just playing my songs.”
He then described the moment Hartless was injured backstage.
“But coming off stage last night in Lawrenceburg, Indiana at the casino, unbelievable concert,” he continued. “We were all just so disoriented from the sonic bombast that Jason went against the curtain backstage as we’re getting ready to leave the stage, and the curtain hid a gaping hole at the edge of the stage, and my beloved drummer, my best friend Jason Hartless, tumbled into the abyss.”
Nugent went on to detail the extent of Hartless’ injuries and his recovery.
“He dislocated his shoulder, fractured his humerus,” Nugent said. “But he’s healing. His beautiful wife Lexi and his family are there to help him get back.”
The rocker then offered words of support for his drummer.
“So Jason Hartless, our prayers are with you. We love you. You work so hard. You’re so dedicated, so talented, and you’re a funny man,” he said. “So he’s getting fixed all up right now, and he will be fine. But John Kutz from the wilds of Waco, Texas, who does all my speakeasies down in Texas and Oklahoma and Arkansas, John Kutz will be there tonight filling in for Jason, and he will do a Herculean job.”
Nugent closed the message by thanking fans and looking ahead to the off-season.
“But Jason, we will miss you, and thank you, everybody, for the greatest concerts of my life in 2026,” he said. “Now it’s the hunting season. Jason will get well, and me and the dogs and Shemaine, we’re going hunting every day.”
John Kutz is set to fill in for Hartless on drums during upcoming shows while Hartless recovers from his injuries.
The accident comes at the tail end of an unusually demanding stretch for Nugent’s band. That stretch has put both Hartless and Johnny Big through a grueling run of dates across the country.
At 77 years old, Nugent has kept up an aggressive touring pace throughout 2026. He has expanded his Stranglehold 50th Anniversary Tour with new stops across Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The added dates mark a dramatic increase from his previous touring pace in prior years. That increase reflects Nugent’s determination to keep performing at full speed even as he closes in on eight decades of life.
That relentless schedule has clearly forged a tight bond between Nugent and his rhythm section. In a recent interview, Nugent described Hartless and Big in glowing terms, calling them irreplaceable to his live show.
“My drummer Jason Hartless and bassist Johnny Big are the best rhythm gods a guitar player and real music lover could ever dream of,” Nugent said.
September dates are already booked in states including Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois and West Virginia. That leaves Nugent’s team little room to pause the tour despite Hartless’ injury. That reality makes John Kutz’s role as a fill-in drummer especially critical in the short term. Nugent is working to honor his remaining commitments while his regular drummer heals.
Nugent has made clear that hunting season, not the stage, will take priority once the current run of shows wraps up. That seasonal shift gives Hartless a natural window to recover fully before returning to the kit alongside Nugent and Johnny Big.
