Rivalries and feuds between musicians have often shaped the narrative as much as the music itself in the history of rock. From the clash of egos to differing musical philosophies, these conflicts have added an interesting layer of drama to the scene. Among these disagreements is the notable discord between David Crosby and Ted Nugent, regarding their verbal exchange about qualifications for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Speaking to MyGlobalMind in 2018, Nugent complained about being overlooked for the eighteenth consecutive year for inclusion in the Hall of Fame since he became eligible, saying:
“Is it or is it not vulgar, dishonest, and obscene that Grand Master Flash [sic], Patti Smith, and ABBA are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but Ted ‘F*cking’ Nugent isn’t? Is that the most outrageous and disgusting lie you have ever seen?”
Nugent On The Value Of Recognition
He added, explaining why it is more about the recognition of his musical contributions than about him personally:
“I would like you to find a human being and walk up to, look at them eye to eye, and believe them when they say Ted Nugent should not be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I would love to witness that exchange, you would see a person almost melt with guilt because you know they are lying. At the end of the day, it’s not about me. It’s about the music.”
Crosby’s Sharp Response
Seeing the rocker’s words in a news article from Ultimate Classic Rock, Crosby reacted to Ted on X, writing:
“That is really funny stuff…. he’s not good enough and he never will be…. a hack player and no singer at all…. could not write a decent song if his life depended on it.”
Nugent’s Counter To Crosby’s Criticism
Later, Nugent also didn’t leave these words of the late musician unanswered. In a Facebook post replying to Crosby, the singer said:
“Thankfully, he admits that a lifetime of substance abuse has left him mostly braindead disconnected, wallowing in self-inflicted ignorance and abject stupidity. He is the perfect spokesman against conservation. Thank you, David. We love you.”
Ted, who is known for his strong conservative opinions, blamed ‘political correctness‘ and his affiliation with the NRA in 2017 for not being included in the Hall of Fame. In 2011, he called his exclusion a clear disregard of historical and present facts.
You can see Crosby’s tweet below.
That is really funny stuff ….he’s not good enough and he never will be ….a hack player and no singer at all ….could not write a decent song if his life depended on it https://t.co/vHzcSTMmPD
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) October 21, 2018
