Two Detroit musical legends -- despite what you may think of either one, they are legends at this point -- in the spotlight this week.
In case you haven't noticed or heard, Ted Nugent wrote the entry for Sarah Palin in the new Time Magazine special edition list of the World's 100 Most Influential People. The list is kinda lame at times. Lady Gaga? And as Bill Maher said the other night on his HBO show, Sandra Bullock is possibly on the list because perhaps she'll be influencing others not to marry classless tattooed bikers. But like it or not, Sarah Palin is indeed an "influential" force in our country these days. Just think "Drill, baby, drill!" or "Death Panels" for starters, if you don't believe me. (Mr. McCain should be hanging his head every day in shame, btw.)
We actually stopped reading the Time article in the doctor's office last Friday when our eyes glazed over following Ted's first sentence -- "If Sarah Palin played a loud, grinding instrument, she would be in my band." But the great political commentator Eric Alterman (who wrote one of the best books on Bruce Springsteen ever -- It Ain't No Sin To Be Glad You're Alive: The Promise of Bruce Springsteen -- ten years ago or so; if you're a fan of the Boss, you owe it to yourself to read it!) had a few choice words for our native rocker's claims in his "Party Ever Day" column in The Nation about the "celebrity-ization" of the national media overall): "In what may be the most offensive single page in the history of Time magazine, its editors, perhaps suffering from a rare, undiagnosed form of cat scratch fever, picked Ted Nugent -- yes, the deadbeat dad who had to be sued to provide child support to his illegitimate child; who terms Hillary Clinton "a worthless bitch"; and who believes "Barack Hussein Obama should be put in jail" -- to explain Sarah Palin.
"How'd he do? Well for starters, Nugent claims, 'The tsunami of support proves that Sarah, 46, represents what many Americans know to be common and sensible.' Actually, Sarah Palin's approval rating stands at a whopping 24 percent, about half of Obama's. Perhaps Time's fact-checkers were worried that Nugent might shoot them if they asked any impertinent questions. (Please don't shoot me either, Ted. I kid because I love.)"
You can click here to read Ted's entire Time entry. Eric neglected to mention that Ted's also the guy who became the "legal guardian" of an underaged groupie he was having sex with, who was younger than his daughter, so he could legally still continue to do the dirty deed with the kid...but we're sure Ms. Palin is thrilled to have a fine American like Ted blowing her horn. Bet they'll be hunting moose and teabagging (maybe even running for political office) together before we all know it. Click here to read Mr. Alterman's entire Nation entry. (Seriously, Ted, we love you and would still welcome the opportunity to interview you in person or by phone rather than e-mail...)
But to hell with politics. We actually prefer this monumental news. Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor is hosting a gourmet bacon party next month -- June 18th and 19th, to be exact -- and guess who they've hired to provide the entertainment? None other than Mr. "Bacon Fat" himself -- Detroit's own R&B legend, the one and only Andre Williams! The now Chicago-based singer-songwriter -- who has just released a brand new Matthew Smith-produced album (watch for a review in next week's issue of MT) on Bloodshot -- will playing a show on the establishment's Roadhouse patio on Friday June 18th...followed by a day of bacon tasting, history and fun at Zingerman’s Southside on Saturday, June 19 (from 9 a.m. to 3pm) followed by a free bacon party from 3-5 p.m.
As MT contributor Mark Deming observed when he forwarded us the item: "I don't know about you, but Andre WIlliams + Bacon = Genius!" We agree. The only thing that could possibly make it any better would be if they also hired the Coasters to show up and sing "I'm a Hog For You, Baby." With due apologies to our vegetarian readers, of course -- but no matter what your eating habits or how you slice the bacon (or the moose, for that matter), the music promises to be great. Click here for more details.
Andre Williams: Mr. "Bacon Fat" himself...
