The Amboy Dukes
Encyclopedia
The Amboy Dukes were an American
rock music
band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan
, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind
", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent
. The band's name comes from the title of a novel by Irving Shulman
about a Jewish street gang of the same name in the Brownsville
neighborhood of Brooklyn
during the 1940s. In the UK the group's records were released under the name of The American Amboy Dukes owing to the existence of a homonymous British group.
The band went through a number of personnel changes during its active years. Bassist Greg Arama died in 1979. The group contributed to the foundations of heavy metal
and progressive rock
.
In 2008, The Amboy Dukes were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. The band's biggest hit, "Journey To The Center Of The Mind", was voted a Legendary Michigan Song that same year.
The original Amboy Dukes performed April 17, 2009 at the Detroit Music Awards
at The Fillmore Detroit
. Their performance began with the song "Baby Please Don't Go
", from their 1967 debut single. Followed by "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and ending with Mitch Ryder
's "Jenny Take A Ride" (featuring original Ryder drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek). In recognition of the band's contribution to rock music history, they received a Distinguished Achievement award.
. He also performs with backing bands at various venues in and around the Detroit area.
Rick Lober
is a classically trained composer best known in the greater Detroit metro area for his frenetic style of keyboard playing. Since the early 1990s, he has been in and out of the studio, appearing as performer/songwriter on the Steve Farmer CD Journey to the Darkside of the Mind (Saint Thomas Records, STP0069) completed in 2000. He is currently working in the studio and performing live with local Detroit rock legend Jeffrey Faust and his band "The Woodsman", which performs throughout Michigan and Canada.
and played such venues as The Cellar
in the northwest suburb of Arlington Heights
.
They moved back to Detroit in 1968.
The members included the following:
of New York
, the band members who released their debut album, The Amboy Dukes
, were:
saw another member shake-up:
Migration saw another line-up:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind
Journey to the Center of the Mind
Journey to the Center of the Mind is the second studio album released by The Amboy Dukes. It was released in April 1968 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd...
", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
. The band's name comes from the title of a novel by Irving Shulman
Irving Shulman
Irving Shulman was an American author and screenwriter whose works were adapted into movies. His books included The Amboy Dukes, Cry Tough and The Square Trap, all of which were adapted into movies....
about a Jewish street gang of the same name in the Brownsville
Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
neighborhood of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
during the 1940s. In the UK the group's records were released under the name of The American Amboy Dukes owing to the existence of a homonymous British group.
The band went through a number of personnel changes during its active years. Bassist Greg Arama died in 1979. The group contributed to the foundations of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
.
In 2008, The Amboy Dukes were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. The band's biggest hit, "Journey To The Center Of The Mind", was voted a Legendary Michigan Song that same year.
The original Amboy Dukes performed April 17, 2009 at the Detroit Music Awards
Detroit Music Awards
The Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
at The Fillmore Detroit
The Fillmore Detroit
The Fillmore Detroit is a mixed-use entertainment venue operated by Live Nation. The Detroit Music Awards are held annually at The Fillmore Detroit in April. Built in 1925, the Fillmore Detroit was known for most of its history as the State Theatre, and prior to that as the Palms Theatre...
. Their performance began with the song "Baby Please Don't Go
Baby, Please Don't Go
"Baby, Please Don't Go" is a blues song first recorded by Big Joe Williams in 1935. It is related to a group of early 20th century blues and work songs that include "I'm Alabama Bound", "Another Man Done Gone", and "Don't Leave Me Here", and "Turn Your Lamp Down Low".It has become a blues and rock...
", from their 1967 debut single. Followed by "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and ending with Mitch Ryder
Mitch Ryder
William S. Levise, Jr , better known by his stage name Mitch Ryder, is an American musician who has recorded over two dozen albums in more than four decades.-Career:...
's "Jenny Take A Ride" (featuring original Ryder drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek). In recognition of the band's contribution to rock music history, they received a Distinguished Achievement award.
Later careers
Steve Farmer currently teaches in the Redford Township district of MichiganRedford Township, Michigan
The U.S. Census Bureau also defined Redford Township as a census-designated place in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places as well on the list of county subdivisions...
. He also performs with backing bands at various venues in and around the Detroit area.
Rick Lober
Rick Lober
Rick Lober is the original keyboardist in the 1960s Detroit rock band The Amboy Dukes, with Ted Nugent and Steve Farmer. The Amboy Dukes were local favorites in the metro Detroit area long before Ted Nugent established himself as the 'Motor City Madman'....
is a classically trained composer best known in the greater Detroit metro area for his frenetic style of keyboard playing. Since the early 1990s, he has been in and out of the studio, appearing as performer/songwriter on the Steve Farmer CD Journey to the Darkside of the Mind (Saint Thomas Records, STP0069) completed in 2000. He is currently working in the studio and performing live with local Detroit rock legend Jeffrey Faust and his band "The Woodsman", which performs throughout Michigan and Canada.
1964
The Nugent Amboy Dukes began in the Chicago area in 1964,and played such venues as The Cellar
The Cellar (teen dance club)
Located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, The Cellar teen dance club provided live musical entertainment in the 1960s. Founded in 1964 by Paul Sampson , this music venue primarily featured Rock and Roll music acts, although some Blues acts performed as well. Original location is uncertain...
in the northwest suburb of Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 25 miles northwest of the city's downtown. The population was 75,101 at the 2010 census....
.
They moved back to Detroit in 1968.
The members included the following:
- Bob Lehnert (vocalist)
- Ted NugentTed NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
(lead guitar) - Gary Hicks (guitar, vocals)
- Dick Treat (bass, vocals)
- Gail Uptadale (drums)
1967
After a band shuffle for signing a deal with Mainstream RecordsMainstream Records
Mainstream Records was an American record label, which released jazz, rock music, and soundtracks during the 1970s.It was founded in 1964 by Bob Shad, and in its early history reissued material from Commodore Records and Time Records in addition to some new jazz material...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the band members who released their debut album, The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes (album)
The Amboy Dukes is the first studio album released by The Amboy Dukes featuring Ted Nugent. It was released in November 1967 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd...
, were:
- John Drake (vocals) ex-Lourds
- Ted Nugent (lead guitar, vocals)
- Rick LoberRick LoberRick Lober is the original keyboardist in the 1960s Detroit rock band The Amboy Dukes, with Ted Nugent and Steve Farmer. The Amboy Dukes were local favorites in the metro Detroit area long before Ted Nugent established himself as the 'Motor City Madman'....
(keyboards) - Steve Farmer (guitar, vocals) ex-Gang
- Bill White (bass, vocals)
- Dave Palmer (drums) ex-The Galaxy Five, ex-The Citations
1968
Journey to the Center of the MindJourney to the Center of the Mind
Journey to the Center of the Mind is the second studio album released by The Amboy Dukes. It was released in April 1968 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd...
saw another member shake-up:
- John Drake (vocals)
- Ted Nugent (lead guitar, vocals)
- Steve Farmer (guitar, vocals)
- Andy Solomon (organ, piano, vocals)
- Greg Arama (bass)
- Dave Palmer (drums)
Migration saw another line-up:
- Rusty DayRusty DayRussell "Rusty Day" Edward Davidson was a rock vocalist and frontman, best known for his work with the bands Amboy Dukes and Cactus. He was known for his powerful vocals and out-of-control lifestyle.-Career with The Amboy Dukes:...
(Russell Edward Davidson) (vocals, harmonica) ex-Rusty Day & The Midnighters - Ted Nugent (lead guitar, vocals)
- Steve Farmer (guitar, vocals)
- Andy Solomon (keyboards, sax, vocals)
- Greg Arama (bass)
- Dave Palmer (drums)
Studio albums
| 1967 | The Amboy Dukes The Amboy Dukes (album) The Amboy Dukes is the first studio album released by The Amboy Dukes featuring Ted Nugent. It was released in November 1967 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd... |
| 1968 | Journey to the Center of the Mind Journey to the Center of the Mind Journey to the Center of the Mind is the second studio album released by The Amboy Dukes. It was released in April 1968 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd... |
| 1969 | Migration |
| 1970 | Marriage on the Rocks/Rock Bottom Marriage on the Rocks/Rock Bottom Marriage on the Rocks/Rock Bottom is the fifth album by The Amboy Dukes, released in 1970. It peaked at #191. The original contains a lyric sheet, whereas the 1976 re-release - PD-1-6073 does not.-Track listing:... |
| 1971 | Survival of the Fittest Live Survival of the Fittest Live Survival of the Fittest Live is the sixth album by The Amboy Dukes featuring Ted Nugent, and was released in 1971. This was the band's second album on Polydor Records... |
| 1973 | Call of the Wild |
| 1974 | Tooth Fang & Claw Tooth Fang & Claw Tooth, Fang & Claw is the final album by Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes. Tooth Fang & Claw was the second offering from Ted's solo career on the DiscReet label. Pre-Derek St. Holmes, the band consisted of Nugent, Rob Grange contributing bass lines and drummer Vic Mastrianni. The album has the... |
Other releases
- You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire - buoyed by the success of the "Journey" 45, they released this non LP in 1968 (Mainstream 693). It didn't chart.
- The Best of the Original Amboy Dukes - released after The Amboy Dukes left Mainstream RecordsMainstream RecordsMainstream Records was an American record label, which released jazz, rock music, and soundtracks during the 1970s.It was founded in 1964 by Bob Shad, and in its early history reissued material from Commodore Records and Time Records in addition to some new jazz material...
(Mainstream S/6125) in 1969 , failed to chart. - Journey To The Darkside of The Mind, released in 2000, saw a rebirth of the Amboy Dukes by Steve Farmer and original keyboardist Rick LoberRick LoberRick Lober is the original keyboardist in the 1960s Detroit rock band The Amboy Dukes, with Ted Nugent and Steve Farmer. The Amboy Dukes were local favorites in the metro Detroit area long before Ted Nugent established himself as the 'Motor City Madman'....
, sans Ted. (Saint Thomas Records STP 0069) - didn't chart.