4-ton boulder honors Ted Nugent's mother

Ted Nugent's mother will always rock Palatine.

And if you ever need a reminder, just head to Durty Nellie's pub in the suburbs' downtown to get a glimpse of the 4-ton boulder that now sits out front to honor her.

On Wednesday, the Motor City Madman himself came out to help dedicate the monument, which has been in the works for more than a year.

Palatine musician Eric Kinkel, a close friend of the late Marion "Ma" Nugent, organized the tribute for a woman he says was an inspiration to all local artists.

A couple hundred people gathered in front of the bar and restaurant for the event, many wearing Ted Nugent shirts, carrying albums and a few armed with camouflage hunting hats.

Palatine mom Cindy Gherardini brought her sons James and Mark Alan to see Nugent since the two are both big fans of his music, attitude, hunting and reality television shows.

"It's been on the calendar for two months," she said. "They've never seen a rock star."

The outspoken Nugent mostly talked to the crowd about family values and the importance of parent's teaching their children right from wrong, like his mom did for him.

He urged the kids in the group not to succumb to drugs, alcohol, tobacco or the "stupid stuff."

"And do your damn chores!" he added.

Ma Nugent, as she was known to most, lived in Palatine for more than 20 years. She died in 1989.

The family moved here from Michigan in the 1960s when Ted's father transferred jobs. Nugent is a graduate of St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, where he says he got mostly B's and C's.

His mom became somewhat of a local celebrity as a columnist for the entertainment newspaper, Illinois Entertainer. Her column, called "Ma" Nugent's Mail, answered questions about everything from rock and roll to social matters.

"She would be flattered as hell if she saw this," said long-time friend Marge Collins. "Then she'd cry her eyes out."