This page will contain latest snippets of news in the Ian Hunter/Mott The Hoople camp. All of this news is second-hand, and has mostly already appeared on the mailing list; I present it here for completeness.
This page last updated 23rd January 2012.
MTH organist Verden Allen will be playing the Half Moon, Putney, London on 11th February 2012. Details are on the Half Moon website.
This year Verden will be devoting his energies towards his band Soft Ground, so check out his website for further info: www.softground.net.
23rd Januray 2012
A live CD and DVD of the 1980 German concert featuring Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson has been released. This is the first Hunter show featuring Mick Ronson to be released on DVD. At the time of writing, the CD is easy to find, but the DVD less so. Both are, however, legit releases. My CD review is here and the DVD review here.
23rd Januray 2012
The long-awaited Mott The Hoople documentary DVD The Ballad Of Mott The Hoople, has been released in the UK. A US release will follow on 14th November. All releases are NTSC, Region 0 (although we're PAL in the UK, I've never known an NTSC disc not work in UK equipment). The DVD contains a 12-page booklet with sleeve notes by Morrissey and a limited edition 5-set of postcards. In addition, the film has also been invited to screen at the New York Film Festival on Tuesday October 11 at 9pm in the Walter Reade Theater.
In addition, a very limited set of cinema posters is available from Start Productions website. You can also order the DVD from them, of course as well as from the usual outlets (Play, Amazon, etc).
Unseen live footage from the triumphant 40th anniversary at Hammersmith Apollo in 2009: Rock 'n' Roll Queen, The Moon Upstairs and I Wish I was Your Mother.
Leee Black Childers talks about the epic journey to get the band to Memphis for the gig at the Ellis Auditorium three days before Christmas. Ian talks us through the time he and Verden made an impromptu visit to Elvis's home, Gracelands.
Seadivers (the Mott The Hoople fan club) Chairman, Kris Needs talks about his early years watching Mott The Hoople & David Bowie playing his hometown of Aylesbury.
The Clash's guitarist Mick Jones talks about his experiences working with Guy Stevens.
Mott organist Verden Allen takes us around the bands old London haunts.
Ariel Bender, Morgan Fisher & Buffin talk about the bands opening night on Broadway and their run in with Led Zeppelin.
Mott Roadies Phil John & Richie Anderson talk us through Phil's old Mott photo album.
4th October 2011
John Fiddler has released a new CD, Fiddlersophical, under the Medicine Head name. The album features 11 tracks, and is on the Angel Air label (SJPCD373).
4th October 2011
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band will be performing a number of gigs in the autumn. Dates continue to be added; what started out as a handful of gigs is turning into a tour. See Ian's tour dates page for details.
19th June 2011
Press reviews of the MTH reunion gigs in October 2009 were overwhelmingly favourable. The Independent said "I've seen a few reunion shows in recent years, including the Cream and Zep shows, and I can honestly say that none elicited quite the genuine waves of joy - as opposed to reverence or awe - as Mott did tonight". They also featured Joe Elliott interviewing Ian Hunter.
Meanwhile, The Times said that Mott The Hoople still rock after 35 years. The Guardian said that there's something slightly chaotic about the sound, but that somehow adds to the appeal. The Daily Telegraph says that the rocking went on, "unrestrainable, deafening, totally life-affirming". Meanwhile, Last.fm calls Mott "England's greatest-ever rock 'n' roll band", adding "There's no-one to touch 'em!". Praise indeed!
Classic Rock magazine says "Hunter retains form... [and] with the original Hoople line-up at his back he's invincible". Mojo meanwhile is positively gushing, saying "This was the best reunion concert, and arguably one of the best concerts in its own right, ever." Uncut magazine is more measured, saying that Mott The Hoople returned triumphant, adding "By the time [Saturday Gigs] has finished, grown men are clearing their throats, no-one in a hurry to leave, a lot of them hanging on as long as possible to the triumph the night has turned into".
14th November 2009
ConcertLive recorded the band at the Hammersmith Apollo on the 1st October to create an instant CD for fans to take home straight after the show.
This limited edition live CD is the ONLY recording of the Mott The Hoople reunion show. Presented in bespoke artwork, this is an exclusive 3 CD set featuring songs from their classic albums. Concert Live recorded the band's show on the 1st October, and sold this live CD directly at the show and at the following 4 dates the band played at the Hammersmith Apollo.
Visit the Concert Live website for ordering information.
11th October 2009
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