This page will contain latest news in the Ian Hunter/Mott The Hoople camp.
This page last updated 27th August 2023.
A 4-CD box set of Mick Ralphs' solo work is due in November. Released on Cherry Red Records, it features his solo albums Take This!, It's All Good, That's Life - Can't Get Enough and a live album from the Mick Ralphs Blues Band Should Know Better.
27th August 2023
David Bowie's famous "retirement" show from 1973 has been reissued on Blu-Ray/2CD. We finally get all the encores, including The Jean Genie/Love Me Do and Round And Round which both feature Jeff Beck. Picture quality is much improved compared with previously releases.
27th August 2023
Ian's 1995 solo album, Dirty Laundry, has been reissued on CD and blue vinyl. Remastered by the engineer who worked on the original album it has new sleeve notes. The vinyl omits two tracks, Good Girls and Never Trust A Blonde.
27th August 2023
Ian's latest album was released on 21st April 2023. Titled >Defiance Part 1, it features the following tracks:
The list of musicians that have collaborated on this album reads like a who's who of rock music: Jeff Beck, Johnny Depp, Joe Elliott (from Def Leppard), Billy Gibbons (from ZZ Top), Taylor Hawkins (from the Foo Fighters), Duff McKagan and Slash (from Guns 'n' Roses), Todd Rundgren, Jeff Tweedy (from Wilco), Robert Trujillo (from Metallica), Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards), Brad Whitford (from Aerosmith), Dane Clark (John Mellencamp), Billy Bob Thornton and J.D.Andrew (from the Boxmasters), and Dean Delo, Robert de Leo and Eric Kretz (from Stone Temple Pilots).
It is on the Sun label in North America and UK. Initial reports it would be on a different label in the UK now seem to be wide of the mark.
24th April 2023
A third track from Ian's forthcoming album has been made available. Called Pavlov's Dog it is available on streaming services and on YouTube.
18th March 2023
A second track from Ian's forthcoming album has been made available. Called I Hate Hate it is available on streaming services and on YouTube.
20th February 2023
A new Mick Ronson biography was published mid-September 2022. Titled Turn and Face The Strange - The Mick Ronson Story it is written by Rupert Creed and Garry Burnett, with forewords by Midge Ure and former Hull MP Alan Johnson.
13th October 2022
Guitarist Ray Majors has passed away together with his partner Sandy Dillon. Ray played guitar with Hackensack before playing with MOTT from 1975 to 1976 and British Lions from 1977 to 1978. My thoughts are with Ray's and Sandy's families at this difficult time.
10th August 2022
Suzi Ronson (Mick's widow) is writing a book. "Me And Mr Jones" will be published by Faber Books promises to be a fascinating read from Bowie's stylist. The book is scheduled for publication in 2023. More info when I get it.
19th April 2022
A 2-LP compilation of Ian Hunter tracks is due for release in June. Once Bitten - The CBS Collection will comprise material Ian recorded for CBS between 1975 and 1983, and is aimed at vinyl completists. The tracks are:
Sleeve notes will be by Mott biographer Campbell Devine.
19th April 2022
Kris Gray, who was Ian Hunter's manager in the late 1990's, is writing his memoirs. He hopes to have them published by the end of the year, despite describing it as "a mammoth task"!
16th January 2022
Guitarist Darrell Bath has passed away. He played guitar in Ian Hunter's band from 1995 to 2000, and played on the Dirty Laundry and Artful Dodger albums. He passed away peacefully in his sleep 27/28th September. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
29th September 2021
Mott's three CBS-era albums, All The Young Dudes, Mott and The Hoople have been released in SACD format. These will play on a normal CD player, but also on SACD players which will give listeners audiophile sound quality. More significantly, however, is the fact that The Hoople is available in quadrophonic sound (again, for listeners with suitable audio gear). This is the first time it has been available in this format in the digital age.
16th February 2021
2021 starts with the sad news that Mick Bolton has passed away. Mick played organ with Mott the Hoople in the second half of 1973 and can be heard on the Hammersmith side of the Live album. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
1st January 2021
A new 3-CD compilation of Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter tracks is due in January 2021. Called Gold, it will be released on the Crimson label and will feature the following tracks:
Price is a quite reasonable £5.99. You can pre-order it from Amazon.
29th November 2020
Omnibus Press have announced the availability of a limited-edition signed copy of Part 2 of Rock n Roll Sweepstakes, which is the authorised Ian Hunter biography by Campbell Devine. Part 2 covers Ian's solo career, from when he left Mott The Hoople in December 1974 to the present day.
As well as a signed hard-back copy of the book, the package contains:
The cost is £100. You can pre-order this from the Omnibus Press website now.
12th November 2020
The 1980 album by Iron City Houserockers Have A Good Time... But Get Out Alive! has been reissued on Cleveland International. Mick Ronson produced the album, and Ian Hunter also produced, arranged and contributed to two tracks. The reissue comes with a bonus CD containing 16 unreleased demos and outtakes. Details are on Cleveland International's website.
10th June 2020
Ian Hunter has made clear that he has every intention of carrying on (with both live and recorded work) despite his recent bout of tinnitus. Ian was struck down in September 2019 and it forced the cancellation of Mott's October/November 2019 tour. In his Horse's Mouth column (February 2020) Ian says "Let me make myself clear here. I've no intention of stopping. I just have to find a way around this – and it's difficult. Working on it."
3rd March 2020
Verden Allen, Mott's organist from 1969 to early 1973, has been taken seriously ill. He suffered a heart attack early in December but has now had a heart bypass procedure and is recovering well at home. I wish him and his family all th best for the future.
3rd March 2020
An Ian Hunter biography was published in mid-November, having been put back from mid-October. Titled Rock 'n' Roll Sweepstakes: The Official Biography of Ian Hunter (Volume 1) it runs to 528 pages and was published by Omnibus Press on 14th November 2019. The press release is as follows:
Rock 'n' Roll Sweepstakes is a frank and comprehensive biography of a remarkable man, amazing life and an incredible body of work. It covers Ian's youth and formative rock 'n' roll years in the Sixties, Mott the Hoople's formation, David Bowie's intervention as "a fan" of the band and Mott's rise to international stardom. Echoing Ian's acclaimed book 'Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star', this biography shines a 'light' on the highs and lows of stardom and the music business lifestyle. It also tells how Ian, at Mott's peak, found a friction with fame and jettisoned what he had achieved with a "Sod showbiz and schmoozing" attitude and an "I'll do my own thing" manifesto. Biographer Campbell Devine has had unlimited personal access to Ian Hunter, all of Mott the Hoople and their personnel, members of Queen, Roxy Music, Def Leppard and dozens of other significant groups, performers and celebrity fans including Gene Simmons, John Taylor and Ellen Foley. Containing candid first-hand revealing accounts, unseen images and in-depth interviews, this is the ultimate biography of one of rock's greatest writers, performers and influencers. Ian has fully authorised and cooperated with this biography and is happy to be involved in its promotion.
You can order it from Amazon.co.uk now.
Meanwhile Rock 'n' Roll Sweepstakes: The Official Biography of Ian Hunter (Volume 2) will cover Ian solo career (1975 to the present day). It runs to 464 pages, and will be published by Omnibus Press in February 2021 (having been put back from mid-November). The promotional blurb reads as follows:
Rock 'n' Roll Sweepstakes is a frank and comprehensive biography of a remarkable man, his amazing life and his incredible body of work, that of Ian Hunter. In Volume Two, Campbell Devine, regarded as the authority on Mott's music and Hunter's history, reveals the highs and lows of Ian's 40+ year solo career post the break-up of the original Mott The Hoople.
You can pre-order it from Amazon.co.uk now.
4th August 2020
A compilation of 1972-74 era Mott The Hoople was released on vinyl in November. Called The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll, this 2-LP set features all the UK singles plus some choice album tracks. The track listing is as follows:
It comes in gatefold packaging, with printed inner sleeves featuring original artwork from the LPs All The Young Dudes, Mott and The Hoople and liner notes written by Mott biographer Campbell Devine.
29th November 2019
Mott The Hoople's legendary show at London's Hammersmith Odeon in December 1973 has been issued on 180g vinyl. The 2-LP set comprises (almost) the full set from the night, together with photos, a printed inner bag, liner notes written by Mott authority Campbell Devine and a replica tour poster. The track listing is as follows:
The short live medley that closes side 4 was the b-side to Mott's final single Saturday Gigs. The price is expected to be around £25.
16th October 2019
Mott the Hoople ’74 are disappointed to have to announce the cancellation of their fall 2019 U.S. tour. The group’s singer and guitarist Ian Hunter has recently developed a severe case of tinnitus and has been advised by his doctors to discontinue performing until this condition subsides.
Tickets purchased for these dates can be refunded at point of sale.
Ian has issued the following statement on his website:
Hey Kids,
I’m afraid I’m not very well.
It happened out of the blue three weeks ago; I got hit heavily by tinnitus. It’s unrelenting and on doctors orders, I’ve had to cancel everything for the time being.
I’ve had it on and off for years, but it’s always slid away. This time it’s stayed – it knocks the stuffing and the confidence out of you.
You lot know I love to tour – been doing it for 50 years. I hate to let everybody down, but I’m stuck and I can’t even go to the post box at the moment never mind a tour. Unhappy is not the word for it. I’ve had tests – no tumors, but it’s loud and incessant and frankly scary. I know this puts people out – believe me, I know. I just hope you’ll understand. You’re great fans and I’ll always appreciate you following me – I’m not everybody’s cup of tea!! Obviously the Ranters are bummed out as is Morgan ’n’ the Great Ariel Bender, to say nothing of the crew and business people involved. Thank you, Mike and Frank for your understanding.
Where do we go from here – I’ve no idea kids. I’m just hoping it gets fed up with me eventually!! Don’t feel sorry for me – it’s been a great run if, indeed, it stays with me, and I have to stop now. Maybe it will sod off at some point – I just don’t know.
I’ll keep you updated via my website. Once again, sorry to you all.
Love ’n’ kisses
IH
I wish Ian and his family all the best, and hope he gets better soon.
1st October 2019
The first four Mott The Hoople albums have been reissued on 180g vinyl. Mott The Hoople (1969), Mad Shadows (1970), Wildlife (1971) and Brain Capers (1971) were issued by Universal (except in the USA) on 13th September 2019. They are cut from the Andy Pearce masters that were used for the Mental Train box set and the artwork faithfullys reproduce the original LP sleeves, right down to the 'zorro' mask included with Brain Capers. Although the word "audiophile" is not used, 180g vinyl tends to be used for such releases so sound quality should be very good indeed.
You can order them from UDiscoverMusic.com and probably elsewhere as well.
1st October 2019
Former MOTT vocalist Nigel Benjamin has passed away. He was a member of the band from early 1975 to late 1976 and was effectively Ian Hunter's replacement. He featured on the two albums Drive On and Shouting And Pointing. The cause of his passing is not yet known, but I understand he had heart problems in the last few years.
My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
2nd August 2019
Former Kinks and Ian Hunter Band keyboard player Ian Gibbons has passed away after a short illness. He was a member of Ian's touring band from 1997 to the mid-2000's and featured on the Astoria live DVD (Just Another Night) and CD (The Truth...). I understand he had been suffering from bladder cancer.
My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
2nd August 2019
A 6-CD box set of Island-era material (ie 1969-1971) was released in November 2018. It comprises the four albums Mott recorded for Island, a fifth disc of ballads and a sixth disc of live material, together with many rare or previously-unreleased tracks. Mental Train - The Island Years 1969-1971 also contains an excellent book (written by Kris Needs) chonicling this era in Mott's career.
7th November 2018
Ian's 1972 tour "diary" was republished on 11th October 2018 by Omnibus Press. Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star has been out of print for some 20 years, despite being one of the best on-the-road books ever written.
This new edition contains an introduction by Johnny Depp, a new chapter by Mott biographer Campbell Devine explaining the background to the 'diary', new photos, Ian's 2015 Japan 'diary' (previously published in Mojo magazine) and an afterword by Ian Hunter.
It can be ordered from amazon.co.uk
7th November 2018