MONUMENT DEDICATED TO TED NUGENT'S MOM














Ted Nugent and Eric Kinkel shake, after unveiling the monument.


d greets the crowd!

On August 1st, 2007 underneath the large marquee at Durty Nellies, Palatine Illinois, local musician and acoustic guitar teacher, Eric Kinkel, produced, created and finally erected a large 4 ton monument to mother of rock icon Ted Nugent, whose column in the Illinois Entertainer ran from 1978-1986. Ma Nugents mail was a question/answer column designed to highlight her enthusiasm for the local rock scene by answering letters from fans at home and abroad.

Long time Nugent family friend and close friend to Marion Nugent, Kinkel says: 'There was never a time she bored with the scene. She always has an attitude that was uplifting and encouraging to inspire the local bands she visited with at the clubs... and beyond'  When asked what inspired Kinkel to put up the monument he replied: 'Its the right thing to do, to give credit, where credit is due. I wanted to do something meaningful before I move out of Palatine (Ma's hometown of residence for 31 years) A year earlier, in the summer of 2006, at Dury Nellies, Kinkel produced and arranged a benefit concert featuring Dirty Dan Buck & The Boyzz along with local rhythm and blues legends Deluxury, to raise monies so he could create the monument he had in mind.

'Fortunately, after much promotion and help from The Illinois Entertainer, Durty Nellies, and radio stations The Loop and WIIL, and after many a sacrifice and personally significant capitol investment, I received a donation from local landscaper Paul Munagian, owner of Palatine based Class Landscaping, of a 4,800 pond granite rock from Steven Point Wisconsin. Along with a sand blaster artist, and stencil artist from Troost monuments stepped up to help me complete the ever expanding project. It was allot of detailed work which I was passionately focused on seeing to the end!'

Eric and Ted had been in touch all the while. Later in 2006 Eric lost both his mother and sister to MS and MDS. Many months after, Eric called Ted to inform him that there would be a delay in erecting the monument. 'Both Ted and Durty Nellies owners Jim and Mark Dolezal were very empathetic and understanding through out the entire ordeal' says Kinkel.

Nearly a year later, after speaking with Palatine mayor Rita Mullins, Kinkel set out to arrange the completion of the monument and set a day with Ted for the posthumous unveiling.

Although Ted spent most of his youth growing up in Detroit, (hence his nickname, "The Motor City Madman") he did spend two years living in Hoffman Estates and Palatine when his father got transferred. He was attending St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, when he formed the first version of The Amboy Dukes, which later brought him fame with their chart topping "Journey To The Center Of Your Mind".

Marion Nugent always encouraged her son Ted's musical abilities, and became a booster, of not only Ted's band, but his friend's bands as well. After he graduated high school, Ted returned to Detroit, while his family stayed in Palatine. Ted's mother remained friends with the musicians here in the area. Eventually she was asked to write a column for the widely respected Illinois Entertainer. She became one of their most popular writers for the eight years she wrote her column. One of her favorite musicians, Dirty Dan Buck of The Boyzz, attended the event, and told us "Ma hardly ever missed any of our shows, and she was always on hand to offer support. She was a lot of fun to hang out with, and an inspiration to so many of us."

Marion "Ma" Nugent passed away in 1987, leaving behind a legacy of support and affection not only for her musician friends, but also for their fans, through her column in The Illinois Entertainer.

In his speech Ted stated, "I'm Ted Nugent and I am 59 years old, and I'm having the time of my life, because, my mom and dad made me the best I can be. My mom is with me every day, which is why I'm so funny." He credited his parents for being strict with him while he was growing up, and instilling good values in him. Ted also spoke of how important it was for him to stay away from drugs and alcohol, in order to remain successful in the music business for so many years. He urged his young fans and musicians in the audience to do the same. He closed by saying "Kids, the most important thing is hug your moms everyday, tell 'em you love 'em and do your damn chores."

For more info on Marion Dorothy Nugent go to erickinkel.com