“Journey to the Center of the Mind” Has Held Up Since 1968
Arguably, one of the best Michigan rock songs to come out of the 1960s was The Amboy Dukes’ Journey to the Center of the Mind. The title was based on the title of the 1959 movie Journey To The Center Of The Earth that starred Pat Boone and James Mason.
The year was 1968 and the country was at the height of its use of hallucinogenic drugs. The song was not written by lead guitarist Ted Nugent, which is widely believed, but rhythm guitarist Steve Farmer. In fact, Ted insists he was not a druggie and never touched drugs. As for the drug paraphernalia on the album cover, he “had no idea what these things were”.
According to Ted via Songfacts, "I was as ignorant as they come to the drug culture. But my co-author, God rest his soul, the great, talented Steve Farmer, he was deep into hallucinogenics and opiates.....I didn't know that Steve was writing about an LSD trip.”
Nugent had no clue about the drug references and the rest of his bandmates were not gonna tell him. The single succeeded and reached #16 in 1968.
Original bassist Bill White said the guitar lick was based on the theme to the old Clint Eastwood TV show Rawhide. I listened to both back to back, but sorry – I couldn’t hear any similarity.
By 1975, the band had mostly new members and broke up for good.
In 2013 when Journey to the Center of the Mind was celebrating its 45th year, during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade the Elkhart High School marching band performed the song, which commentator Matt Lauer mistakenly announced it was originally done by "Ted Nugent and the ASBURY Dukes."
As for some of the past band members:
Bassist Greg Arama died at age 29 due to a motorcycle accident in September 1979.
Guitarist Steve Farmer died at age 71 in April 2020.
Original lead vocalist John Drake died at age 74 in August 2021.
Drake’s replacement, vocalist Rusty Day, was 36 years old when he died in Florida. He was shot dead along with his 11-year-old son and dog in June 1982. No suspect was ever found.
Journey to the Center of the Mind will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2028.
The Amboy Dukes 1968 - Journey To the Center Of The Mind (Color & Extended Nugent End)
