- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday September 23 2008 16.59 BST
Would you feel safe with this man looking after you? Photograph: Getty
Following his defiance in the face of Islamic extremist death threats, Paul McCartney can now rely on the most unlikely source of support for his forthcoming gig in Israel: Ted Nugent. The gun-toting Republican rocker with a fondness for shooting anything on four legs, has declared solidarity with the ex-Beatle, and even gone so far as to offer his services as a bodyguard.
The NRA's loudest mouthpiece told WENN Radio: "Regardless that Paul and I have our obvious social, cultural, and culinary differences outside of music, I will not bend or waiver to voodoo religious whackjobs and neither should Paul."
Previously, there has been no love lost between these two contrasting musicians, with Nugent once writing in the Waco Tribune-Herald: "I have musical touring associates who have been fired from their jobs with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney for sneaking a hamburger. You heard that right. Fired for eating meat by an animal-rights maniac, hardcore vegan bass player." The article defended a meat-eaters right to eat meat and it was titled, confusingly, "Live and Let Live".
But there's nothing like post-9/11 jitters to unite pro-hunting conservatives with vegan bass players. "It would be my pleasure to keep this legendary musical hero safe from terrorists and madmen, and then buy him a nice dinner of tofu," said the Nuge. No response from Sir Paul just yet, though Nugent adds, "I'm Dirty Harry with a ponytail, and I'm at Paul's service".
