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Editors Note: Starting with issue #43, the Horse's Mouth column is now posted two parts, about two weeks apart.

Issue #43, Part 1 - June 23, 2004

Yes! Home in one piece. Well, we've both got coughs, but nothing life threatening. The sun is out, bursting down on Hunter Towers and the staff are out there trimming geraniums or whatever it is they do out there. Pool's filthy. This lot go back to April 16th so you'll forgive me if I skim a bit here and there.

Peter Jordan: Really enjoyed Andy York's interview on the DVD. I didn't even know Andy did one. I must get it out and have a look. Peter says I've been 'lucky' with guitarists. Not really - you have to go out and find them (that takes years) and then when you do find them they've got to want to play with you as well.

Milo feels he's overstayed his welcome. I miss some! Get over it Milo!

Willie - Has kazoo - will travel.

Chuck Nolan: Mott reunion- Nope. Tour the U.S. with Ralpher? Don't know - but it could happen. Mick hates flying.

Devorah Ostrov says I'm wearing that dreaded 'H' outfit in a photograph he's got of me and Ronno in San Francisco. No, I'm not.

Mr. Crones wonders how I keep my feet dry during the 6-mile walks. He and his wife are now up to 4 miles. Simple. My feet get wet. Yes - I know it's a shock folks, but I.H.'s feet get wet just he same as anybody else's. Wellies? Why am I answering this?

Kevin from Tring: It's very Milligan isn't it, 'Tring'. Says 'Strings' a moving piece of work. Thank you, Kevin.

Charlotte Fox (9) Is meeting me at the Astoria at 5pm! And we did - with her Mum and Dad. Last seen lurking in the shadows - hoping that Charlotte wouldn't be slung out because of her age. Hope it worked out. It's always chaotic at the Astoria.

Peejay: Set list for the Astoria? You know it now.

Tom McGarry and family went to Glasgow.

Peejay (again) Is my favourite English gig the Astoria? I don't look at it that way.

Pete Lewis: do I stick to standard guitar turning or do I use various guitar tunings. I've written a lot in open G.

Rick A. says he remembers an interview I did in the 70's with John Lord and Frank Zappa. I don't remember John Lord, but I do remember Frank because he'd just had most of his hair cut off. Stevie Ray Vaughn was there as well. I think it was a Scott Muni WNEW Hard Rock thing.

Matt Nojonen: How is life on the road? Well, both of my bands are great company so the camaraderie is great. The traveling's bloody awful, but the gigs are great so touring wins 2-1.

Hope Campbell: Serena's forgiven - but only until her next question.

John Graham: A lovely chap at Sony sent me Dylan's remastered albums. They're still stuck together. Haven't had time yet.

John Hurd: Germany? Maybe next spring. I've just done one lot and I'm not getting any younger. Loves the Oslo CD - get the DVD!

Renee: Play 'No Wheels to Ride' for Willie. Well, maybe just a tad.

Hope Campbell says there's a cannabis activist named Ian Hunter. No, me - it is not.

Jimmy Ashhurst: How's it going? Saw Mike a couple of years ago at an in-store in LA. Looked the same. Good to hear from you.

Dirk Faude's getting married in three weeks. Not wild about a DJ. We can do it but we mustn't play 'Bastard'. Well, there's the deal breaker right there Dirk.

Ian Marr: Where were you?

Michael Albo: Les Paul Junior circa '55.

Dale Holland: How long was I in Shrewsbury? 6 years. Do I remember people, places? I remember places but not people.

Phil B. 'And we played like 5's and under' What does that mean? It means we played like 5's and under, Phil.

Pat: Extols Albert Lee. So do I - great player.

Gregor: Johnny Kidd's name was Fred and he had been a painter and decorator. He demoed 'Shakin All Over' for a group called the Bachelors who put it out. When it stiffed, they decided to put Johnny's version out and the rest is history. I met Johnny Kidd; he was a very nice chap. Stan Tippins is very good at that song.

Suzanne: Whatever.

Dr. C. - Hold tight; it'll be fine. I wish none of them were there.

LeeAnna asks if Joe Elliott will join us on stage on the UK tour? Yes, he did. Fun!

Larry Woodside: It's been a long time mate. Where's KROQ when you need it! I remember Dusty arguing with the Electric Company all through one interview. They were trying to cut the power off. Of course, that wouldn't happen nowadays, now would it?

Paul Collins wrote a poem that's really lovely. Thank you, Paul.

Maryn Jones: Did 'Irene Wilde' come from Shrewsbury? Yes.

Craig: How did I get on with Mick Jones from the Clash? Well, Mick thought I was God, and when he found out I wasn't he was most upset. Once we got over that one, we became friends again and now it's OK.

Dale Holland: any MTH DVD's available? Don't think so. Maybe Buff should round one up.

Mike: Did Overend use round wound or flat wound strings? You got me, but for some reason I remember them being flat.

Judy: 'Today is April 29th and a lot of us are thinking about Ronno - what is the one thing you remember the most?' Sun.

Thommkatt - You say the best songs come to you in your sleep. Have a cassette player by the bed.

Carol Walker: I wasn't here when you sent this. Hi to your old man.

Patty Woltz: Hi, Patty. Maybe nearer Christmas (although I think it may be the mid-west.) Say hello to Chip.

Lorne Whitelaw: Loved the DVD. Why no Newcastle? The promoter has a problem with my agency, Helter Skelter. We obviously wanted to play there. It's a great venue with an equally great audience. Hopefully it will be sorted next time.

Paul Donner: Glad to be of service.

Darren: Is it just Darren or has Jeff Lynne copied my style a lot over the years? Who knows; ask him.

Eric Ross: 'Later With Jools Holland' - why aren't' we on it? Maybe because I'm not arty, pretentious or smug. I don't know.

Tom: Did I get into trouble with my Mum and Dad for swearing on records? I didn't swear on records.

Moth Poet Hotel: Max Wall was stoned with beer cans at Liverpool Stadium because our over anxious fans wouldn't give him a chance. They missed something special.

Paul Callow says there are 800,000 Brits living in Florida. 'Come down and do the Hard Rock in Orlando.' I will when they ask.

Charles: What do I think about Mick Jones and Joe Strummer? I think good songs -good band - they influenced a lot of people, too. Bloody good band.

Matt N.: As a kid smaller than the instrument he plays. Good thinking.

Jason Rubin: What influenced, 'Boy'? Stuff that was happening at that time. 'Where's Dennis Elliott'? Dennis is living in Florida with his wife Iona. He's an accomplished wood turner and was Connecticut's craftsman of the year just before he left the state. Check out his website (www.denniselliott.com). We still talk - especially Iona and Trudi, who go way back.

Nick saw Leslie West acoustic and loved him. Do I know Leslie? Yes, quite well, actually.

Hadassah Weinreb: Did my recording contract survive recent corporate shake-ups? Every time there's a corporate shake up, everybody suffers. They shouldn't be in there. They're eating each other up until eventually it will be a total monopoly and the whole of America will only see and hear 12 homogenized songs. Eventually … if America's dumb enough … they'll have you listening to one song and that will be it. Jaded? Wait and see. The FCC let everybody down.

Kevin Jones: likes 'Twisted Steel'.

Martin Leach: Why not do 'All American Alien Boy'? I would if I had a brass section.

Hitoshi Takeshita: Unfortunate surname! Come to Japan!

David Hall: What was 'Apathy' all about? What happened.

Dirk: Highlight post MTH career. Who knows. I'm still getting them. What's the difference between Freddy, Ronson, Bowie and unknowns? Well the difference is these guys have made it so their confidence is much higher than the guys who don't know if they're going to. Mind you, having said that Fred was pretty cocky from the off, and so was David. Are 'knowns' easier to work with than unknowns? Depends on the guy.

Chicago Chief: Where's Bender? In London. Just saw him.

Steve Sharpe: No!

Paul Clark: Raving about UK band called Delays.

Jeff Stanke: Jeff, oh, Jeff …

Steven Myles: Will we play Falkirk again? Short answer is I don't know.

Phillip Hindess: Play 'The Outsider' at the Astoria. Oh, dear.

Gert Pedersen: There's a distinct possibility we'll play Denmark next spring, along with Norway and Sweden and maybe a little of Northern Germany. I'd like to do that. We'll see if it works out.

Jeff Stanke: To Trudi - Happy Mother's Day.

Mark says the REM song 'Man in the Moon' was about Andy Kaufman. The opening line is 'Mott the Hoople and the Game of Life'. Why does Michael Stipe name check us in the song? Beats me.

Don B. Saw Uris shows - 30 years ago. Unbelievable. You people got to tell me when I start looking like a prat up there. You can fool yourself.

J.P. 'Just caught Top of the Pops 2' on BBC2 and Steve Wright introducing MTH saying - 'This is the original guy who wore sunglasses indoors - even when it's cloudy!' That's Steve Wright - such a wag.

Andrew Field: Who decided to use Sane Revolution on the back of the Mott album? Don't know. Can music lyrics be considered poetry? That's in the eye of the beholder. There's some lousy poetry out there and there's some lousy lyrics. Different times.

Kevin (Belfast). Favourite album cover? Original English 'Mott' cover (Roslov Szabo).

Graham: Whatever happened to Thunderthighs?' Don't know. Anybody?

Johathan Woods: Have I ever done 'The Outsider' live? Not to my knowledge.

Chris Freeman: Said it sounded like I was singing with two voices on Top of the Pops. Well, sometimes I used both of them, Chris.

Steven Kerr - Play the Waterfront hall in Belfast! I haven't played Belfast since 1967 with Freddie Fingers Lee. Make me an offer I can't refuse!

Carmen Brodt: You'll be hearing from us.

Akselsen: How did my writing with 'Blue Oyster Cult' come about? I think Eric Bloom approached me and invited me to his house to write. He had an idea and we just embellished it.

Denise Lee: What inspired, 'All American Alien Boy'. I guess it's all the things that hit you when you move to the jolly old USA.

Jeffrey Stanke: Hangin' out with pro golfers now!

Martin Abell: Suitably impressed by Cardiff. We must have started then. Why don't U.S. companies wise up and start reissuing stuff in the U.S.? Well, Sony U.S. are showing interest in the new MTH live thing that's just been released in the UK. Maybe they'll do it.

Renee: 'Reviews from Cardiff outstanding!' I didn't know that. And Shrewsbury's back in the league! I did know that. Poor Stan; I feel bad for Hereford. They deserved it.

Carl Ewens: When will these record company assholes get their act together? The ones you're talking about? Never. They shouldn't be in it in the first place. Do they keep the outtakes of recording sessions? All depends if they own the masters.

John (Mass): How appropriate! Says the album cover of 'The Hoople' is prominently displayed in the adult movie 'Debbie Does Dallas'. Exposure indeed. What a stout fellow for admitting you saw it. Rock 'n' Roll. Come to Boston. We will.

Kat: A 27 year old convert from Cardiff. To say she liked the show would be somewhat of an understatement. The back end of '23a Swan Hill' is a bit by the Norwegian composer, Greig (Peer Gynt Suite).

Mick C: Did we love the name, 'Mott the Hoople'? Yes, we did. It was so totally different. I just said totally. Bloody hell.

Glenn (the Rock) says people who write to this site are amazing. Claps all round.

Andrew Molloy: Well, that's sad but nice Andrew. Sorry to hear about that.

David Fowler: Thank you, David.

Allen: When's the next gig in the Washington DC area? There may be something in October. Nothing's firm yet. It's difficult getting a window with my musicians.

Tony Naguy: You got back OK. Regards to you and Marie!

Frank Firicano: What is 'Jerkin Crokus' all about? As far as I can remember Pete Watts thought that one up. Pete took people's names and twisted them all out of proportion. I think this chap was a tramp who used to hang around Hereford.

Steve Higgs - Glad you liked it.

Bob Foley: Was Bender's top hat thrown at him at tone of the Uris's shows? Dunno...maybe.

Debz L came to Cardiff with husband. Coming again.

Roly: Holly magic, Gibbo fills the gaps, Gus 'gets on with it' as for Ralphs and York … they are scorching! Roly says 'Nightingale' is a single. I tried that on Universal UK and they looked at me funny. Which probably means you're right.

Kat (again). This one just can't get over it. Born too late Kat- Well, not quite. Lovely email - Thanks.

Dave says the first three DVDs he got at his local store in Canada were defective. Finally April Guard at Universal helped him out. Why weren't these DVDs checked in the first place? It seems to me (apart from Norway) Universal have done their absolute best to murder this DVD. I've never experienced such total ineptness in my life ... and that's saying something.

Euron Griffith - Loved Cardiff.

Keith Smith: Leicester (Horrible venue- nice people). Loved it.

Dave Pickard: Come to Bradford - well - we went to Leeds.

Fiona (Glasgow) Thinks I'm brill!! Hello, Tony!

Paul/Jenny: New band just as good as Mott ... and they've seen both! Come back to Bilston. We will!

Arnie loves 'Rant'. Wanted 'Ripoff'. We'll probably haul that tune out again at some future date. I like it, too.

Tony Sindaco: On 'Saturday Gigs' when you sing 'Take the Mick outta TOTP' do you mean Bowie's band? No, I meant everybody. Play in Florida. I will when somebody asks me.

Rick Gershon still wails for L.A. Don't blame me, blame the local promoters. They're the ones that are offering lousy money.

Amanda: Loved Manchester.

Janne Olsson: Finds Fake Mott collection in Sweden. It's called 'The Magic Collection? They're screwing the fans and they're screwing me. Mott the Hoople are not on this record. The label is ARC RECORDS. Go round there and smack them.

Steve Payne; Who chose the Manchester venue? (Helter Skelter say there wasn't much choice). I didn't like the Manchester venue either, and we won't be there again. Manchester and Leicester were the two worst venues. Sometimes you have to do one of these as it's the only one available on that particular day.

Andy Rigby: Great gig in Liverpool.

Fiona: Fantastic night in Glasgow. Glasgow stuck with me. Great people.

Erhardt and Lisa Bell: Trudi's fine. Thanks for asking.

Alan loved Edinburgh. Why no Picasso? I was knackered.

Paul Clark: Glasgow was great. How do I pick the set? I don't know really. It just comes to me as I'm revving up to tour.

John Cutler: 'Just been to Glasgow (350 miles round trip). OK ... it was worth it!' Play Aberdeen. Incidentally, I thought the promoter in Edinburgh was really excellent.

Tom McGarry: 'Garage beyond words!' How do I spend my time between gigs? Waiting for the next one on a bus!

David Spencer: Sony have now released the double live set. It was released just as we left England.

Sharon Kampff: Edinburgh excellent. Yes, I was a bit tired. Glasgow wasn't far off a religious experience and I was drained. Did I consider working with Jaco Pastorious again? Not really. It was just a particular place and time. Loved Ralpher and Mr. York.

Tom converted his wife and two mates in Edinburgh. 1746.

Bill Smith: Rick T. is downstairs fixing my recording gear as we speak. I'll tell Trudi about the tape.

David Hull: I stopped being a poser and got more into music.

Alice: 'When she wants her tail.' I know - unfortunate at best! Yes, I have heard Dramarama's version of 'Mother'. It was a long time ago though.

John Cutler: I told you all, don't buy 'Standing in the Light'. It's a RIPOFF.

Robert: Same subject. Wrote to Amazon. Amazon said they'd look into it. Don't hold your breath. I'm here if Amazon wish me to confirm.

Horse's Mouth #43, Part 2 will follow shortly ...