On July 3rd, at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, rock legend Ted Nugent surprised fans by joining Night Ranger on stage for an electrifying performance. The crowd went wild as Nugent and Night Ranger belted out the Damn Yankees hit “Coming Of Age” and Nugent’s classic “Cat Scratch Fever”. A video of Ted’s guest appearance is available on the Shor’Line YouTube channel.
Damn Yankees was a supergroup formed in the 1990s, consisting of Ted Nugent, Night Ranger’s Jack Blades, Styx’s Tommy Shaw, and Michael Cartellone. They released two albums, their self-titled debut and “Don’t Tread,” which featured hit singles like “Come Again,” “High Enough,” and “Coming Of Age”. Their music was a powerhouse blend of hard rock and melodic hooks, capturing the spirit of the era.
In recent years, there has been speculation about a Damn Yankees reunion. However, Tommy Shaw, in a conversation on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” expressed his reservations about revisiting the band. He believed that they had run their course, with the second album losing some of the magic of the first one. Shaw mentioned the difficulties of balancing Damn Yankees commitments with his main band, Styx, and acknowledged the challenges of fitting it all in.
Although Damn Yankees have reunited twice before, Shaw’s comments seem to suggest that the band’s days of new music or extensive touring may be behind them. He cited the importance of his commitments with Styx and expressed concern about disrupting their schedule for a Damn Yankees reunion.
Despite the potential logistical hurdles, the lingering question remains: Is there unfinished business creatively for Damn Yankees? Shaw hints that a collaboration or new material is not entirely out of the question, saying, “Never say never. And we haven’t said never.” Fans can hold onto hope that one day the band might come together again for something special.
In the meantime, witnessing Ted Nugent’s recent collaboration with Night Ranger reminds us of the raw power and timeless appeal of Damn Yankees’ music. The energy and chemistry on stage were palpable, reminding everyone why these songs continue to resonate with rock fans to this day.
Whether or not Damn Yankees reunite in the future, their legacy remains intact as a classic rock supergroup that produced memorable hits and left an indelible mark on the genre.
