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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 #45, Part 2 - August 15, 2004

Chris Freeman: What do I do with my old guitars? Keep 'em - the older the better. I don't know how many I've had - I've still got a few - my favourite? I like 50's Juniors of which I have two.

James Wesley Young: keen on the new T-shirts.

Janey and somebody else says, 'Sorry about the block - to the Diary.' That was then. This is now. 'Start recording your dreams.' Thanks!

Karl Miller asks if I get royalties from the David Letterman show? Yup.

Tom McGarry wants us to do Glasgow on a Saturday again. Not one I have much control over, Tom. Thanks for the bombardment. It takes a while, doesn't it? Says we get better and better. Thank you.

Franjo agrees with me on the bug eating contests (for money) on major TV channels. Of course it's the morons that watch these shows that allows them to continue. Supply and demand. It's infantile. Franjo says, vulgar capitalistic and neo-liberal tendencies.' Well, I don't know about that, Franjo, but they're 'effin stupid and cruel. Everything alive is supposed to live - not just the good-looking ones. I've got a great idea. Why don't they eat their audience?

Dave Donner: See James.

Mike W. Smith: Glad all is well - into the fray!

Jan Marr: 'If you don't do 'Alice' on stage, I'll do it for you!' Cardiff - splendid!!! Says he was at least a fathom high.

David Newton: 'Rant' inspired him to play again after a few years off. Good show! Regards to the wife.

Lee Harvey: No - I don't just do it - there's been occasions when I've had to and it has worked. Generally, though, I like to be prepared when I go in. There's no hard and fast rule. If you're prepared things can still happen when you're in there and maybe you can discard one or two of the weaker ones you prepared. There's nothing worse than coming out with nothing. Apart from anything else - recording is expensive.

(Yankees 3 - 2 in the Seventh inning)

Brian Gratien: Why no MTH reunion? Are they still around? Well, they are still around but we're all different people now.

Anthony/UK: 'Animal cruelty seems hip at the moment.' What a bloody indictment of so-called society. 'Scientists are trying to find out if fish feel pain - well, they tend to shy away from stones thrown at them.' You don't see fish banging into rocks do you? I didn't know they were eating insects in England. They're doing it here. 'Eating insects for the 'Entertainment Industry' sums up what this nation has become.'

Bern: Likes me doing this.

Roy Notley: Great at the Astoria

Christian Honeck: 'Who do you Love' favourite track right now. Come to Austin!!!

Fiona: OK!

Tom McGarry: Why didn't Ronno and I write together more often? Don't know - we just didn't. What did Mick contribute to 'Boy'? Well, he actually subtracted a whole passage which he didn't like and he was right. I gave Mick half of 'Boy' because he was so amazing on that whole record, and I wanted to thank him.

Hope Campbell (with a p):
1) Full Name: Ian Hunter Patterson.
2)What color pants are you wearing right now? I'm not it's humid. My knickers are blue!
3) What are you listening to now? Yankees - Seattle (3-4 at the moment).
4) What was the last thing you ate? A bagel with cheese.
5)If you were a crayon - what color would you be? There's a chalky pinky red I'm rather drawn to.
6) How's the weather right now? Crap.
7) Last person I talked to on the phone? Bjorn Nessjo.
8) The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? They're different.
9) How are you today? Good.
10) Favouite drink? Champagne.
11) Favourite alcoholic drink? Champagne.
12) Favourite sport? Soccer.
13) Hair color? Auburn going paler.
14) Eye color? Green/grey.
15) Do you wear contacts? No. Glasses - yes.
16) Siblings? Brother - Bob.
17) Favourite month(s)? - June/October.
18) Favourite food? Anything good.
19) Last movie: Big Fish.
20) Favourite Day of the Year? Boxing Day.
21) Summer or Winter? Winter.
22) Hugs or Kisses? I'm not very good at that.
23) Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.
24) What books are you reading? 'How the Scots invented the Modern World (they did!).
25) What's on your mouse pad? I'm mouseless.
26) Favourite Board Game? Cards.
27) Favourite smell? Honeysuckle; freshly mown grass.
28) Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Why?
29) Buttered, plain or salted pop corn? None.
30) Favourite car? Mercedes.
31) Favourite flower? Honeysuckle (I know, but that's what I like).
32) Can you juggle? No - I'm useless.
33) Favourite day of the week? Monday (it's a new week! If I worked a regular job it would be the worst day and Friday would be the best).
34) Red or white wine? Red.
35) What did you do on your last Birthday? Played in Zurich.
36) Do you carry a donor card? It's on my driver's license.
37) What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? I don't know. I'm a bit mushy in the mornings.

New York 3; Seattle 7 See what you've done!!!!

Phil Huband: 'Once you finish a song, what do you do with it? I definitely don't type it up. Usually I just know it. I'll probably have the latest lyric at hand, but that can change. I don't usually make demos anymore; I used to. Do I put a handwritten copy in a binder for posterity? Not really. There's probably some about, but I'm not that tidy about all that. Have I played Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton either with MTH or solo? I know Mick Ronson and I did Edmonton on a festival/show with Foreigner and Chuck Berry. I can't remember about the others.

Jackie Edmonds: 'When's the next UK gig?' Next spring, hopefully.

Brian B: Has anybody covered 'Waterlow'? How weird that you ask. That's what Bjorn Nessjo just rang about. Apparently this big Norwegian artist is doing it with Bjorn's orchestra as I write. Few bob there!

Uncle Harry: Come to Australia - a club tour would work. Who's paying?

Frank Firicano: 'How did it feel to have Kiss as your warm up act? Did they ever upstage you?' I can't remember how I felt, but I can remember how they smelt! They only had one leather suit each back then and the dressing room stunk! No, they never upstaged us. Nobody ever upstage MTH. It was impossible.

Kevin Jones: 'What was the legendary gig played by MTH at Dudley Town Hall' Forgot.

Arnold Mann enjoyed Northampton, Astoria brill. Any Northampton memories? Tons of them. Mostly if not illegal - close to it. Great mates.

Robert Roe: Play Tucson. We'll see.

Pee Jay: 'What do you think of Franz Ferdinand?' In what way?

John Williams: My favourite solo album? I like a few of them. That can't be bad can it? The story behind the guitar-throwing incident in Detroit with MTH? Can't remember. I remember doing it, but I don't know why.

S.B.: Which of your albums went gold? As far as I know - none of them. Got a few platinum and gold records for covers of my songs though. Actually, 'Schizophrenic' was up there, but they never gave me one. I'm not a big seller.

Jake Almond: How nice! Thank you to you and your Dad.

Welshy got 'Strings' DVD at JB HiFi (?) in Melbourne, Australia. Good stock at Dandy Branch. Played it in his bar (bit slow for a bar?) but he says the lads got into it. Wants an autograph. This will have to do. 'To Welshy's Bar and all who said in her - Ian Hunter.'

Brian Cottrill asks would I ever get involved in a political tour? That depends on a lot of factors. I must admit - I'm no fan of George Bush or his mates. It's hard to find good chaps nowadays. Society is slipping and they mirror us.

Rob Horan: That's some holiday you've got there. Enjoy it.

Audra: I'm so sorry this happened. Hope all is well now.

Seth says 'Short Back n' Sides' sounds good these days.

Tom McGarry: Who have I lined up to temporarily to replace Andy next year? You may be meeting Jack the Mechanic. You probably don't know him but I do and he's great. Very similar in style to Andy. Ralpher wants to do it as well. That's the plan.

Mike Tedesco: No problem Mike, contact Justin Purington, our webmaster and he will sort it out.

Mike Woloschuk: No plans for Japan. How did I meet up with Tokai? They came to New York and asked me what I wanted.

Owen Kelly: How near LA will we eventually come? Well, I still hold out hope for LA. Your never know. Minneapolis? Maybe. When we're doing something it will be posted on this site.

Paul Abbott: Do I still have the Gibson Firebird. No, didn't like it.

Kenny Mac: I can't remember Kenny - you know how it is. I love the last paragraph!!! What happened to 'Salvation'? Nothing. It's one of those songs that didn't quite make it on a record. Not because it wasn't good enough, but because it didn't fit.

Al Trombetta agrees that Mick and I should not tour as MTH. I thought it was just us!!

Karen Swan: I'm sorry, Karen. We don't.

Renee: When do I find it easiest to create? Haven't a clue. It's a combination of all sorts of things. One song can lead you to another. I look for that first song to tell me what the next should be about. Inspiration - good or bad - is good for me. Extreme, wine, who knows - suddenly I'm playing and I get this weird feeling that says, keep at it there's something coming through - and then it does or it doesn't. It's very personal when you write it - it becomes 'a song' when you record it and it doesn't seem so personal anymore. The birth of a song is when you do it best - it's good to get a bit of it on tape for later reference - you easily can move away from the original thing. It's rare I get lyrics and music together - I wish I did. It's much easier when it all comes instead of two halves.

Matt Nojonen: 'Strange Bedfellows' another great spoof! Send them to Dave Barry. You should column-ize.

Jeffrey: Hardly biblical for us, fortunately. It's a big one though. Spare a thought for Florida.

Janey Todd: 'What's with this Jeffrey Stanke guy? I'm not hitting on him - just wondering.' Well, Jeff's the weatherman, Janey. He tells us which way the wind's blowing.

Dale Holland: 'Do you know or are you mates with Noddy Holder?' I know Noddy a bit. He's a very nice guy.

Karl used to do an I.H. impression in his old band. I'm flattered!

Greg asks what is 'Shallow Crystals' about? Growing up and I'm waiting to be fine.

Joe: Thanks.

Chaz McTazz was in England for the first time and went to the Astoria. Says it's the best show he's ever seen. Have I worked with Mick Jones out of the Clash? Try 'Short Back and Sides' if you can find it - Mick is all over it.

Ginger: NYC!! We're looking towards the end of the year. I'd like to do New York - pre-Xmas if possible.

Did 90% of them!! Sorry to the others. Nipping off to Ireland, Scotland and England for a wedding and some meetings. Should be back in time for the next one.

IH
The Horse's Mouth