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Issue #52, Part 2 - April 18, 2005

Anthony Gray says Manchester venue is great this time.

Campin Patty: Play the 'World Cafe' in Philly. I'm not sure I got the CD.

John: 'Is Hunter Towers the place I'm buying in SPWs'? Nope.

Rick Graves: Yes, that was a big band on Jools' show. I think it's kind of too big actually; it was like this huge engine.

Andy Allison: You can't bribe me with Sam Adams! I'm on the bubbly now.

Trevor Street is taking his daughter to Sheffield. Played same venue with his band. Actually, I did it before a few years back.

Al Trombetta: I know Sony (UK) are working on a MTH DVD. Al says 'Strings' DVD starting to appear regularly in Montreal DVD and record stores. He says they never seem to stock enough - whatever appears - sells immediately. Good oh.

Bonnie W. 'Philly - amazing. Songwriting gets better. 9/11 song great. Mark Bosch genius find (actually, Jack the Mechanic, James Mastro and Andy York all recommended him.) Will I keep Mark? Well, he's in the pool with Andy, Jack and James. I love them all.

Rodesy is taking his 15 year old daughter to Crewe. Play 'Mother' or 'Death of A Nation.'

Paul Wilson: 'Why a small club in Vegas?' We couldn't fill a big one. I ain't exactly Wayne Newton in that town. Why no 'Cleveland Rocks'? I was knackered.

Brian: Key Club was awesome.

Fred Holowienka: Happy that U.S. 'Strings' DVD with bonus tracks brings 'Don't Let Go' to life, but says when watching 'Saturday Gigs' the audio and vision is a least one second off (Canadian version is perfect). What happened? This is the first I've heard of it. You my just have a bum one. We'll try to check it out.

Gary S.: 'Worm's Eye View' was the working title for the 'Rant' album.

Bart: Queen/Paul Rogers - my opinion? Don't know; haven't seen it. 'What if MTH reformed with someone else in your role, would you be pissed?' They've done that already. Didn't bother me.

John Strand: Happy camping! Keep it to yourself!

Jordan: Where do you stand on anniversaries? Actually I'm not big on these but the wife is. She has been known to do a bit of a Rachel Hunter on me from time to time, but we survive.

Ralph Cohen: 'Would you play 'Sea Diver' for my mate Mr. Aspinall at Preston? He lost a few bob in the markets and it might cheer him up.' I don't know why, but this makes me laugh. I'm sorry, Mr. Aspinall!

Russ Lindsay: 'Show in Philly was a f'n blast! Every time I come, I shout for 'Marionette. When are you going to do it?'

Jim Patterson: Ohio State Fair abbreviated show. Will I make adjustments as it's an open-air day show? Haven't got that far.

Jan Dooley: Do more of 'Rant'. The trouble is, when you do more of something, you've got to do less of something else.

Hope C.: You may well be a troubled youth, but you sure write some nify emails.

Raniero Sartovel: Says the concert in Basel is at 'Grand Casino Basel.'

Kelly coming to 3/4 gigs - may bring fiancee! How time flies; hi to Mum, hello Dad.

Mark Devlin (awful lot of Martins this time around) 'You sounded great in Philly. Did you like Finnigans? Stage was a bit small. Dressing room was great. Nice people who looked after us well.

Bill Henderson: LA was amazing. A lot of you in LA want us back aready. Just have to convert these bloody, silly promoters.

Shugster E/K: 1) Have you ever worn a kilt? No, when I was up there we couldn't afford kilts (thank God!). I am entitled; we belong to the McClaren clan - quite a nice tartan it is too. 2) We will be going to Equis on the way up and on the way down. Haven't got a clue what time.

Steve says 'fags and champers' top name for an album. Ain't smoking much at the moment.

Matteo Strukul: Try: www.grandcasinobasel.com or 41/61/327 20 02

Steve Curtis: Why was Joe's Pub different? Well, it was a different approach altogether and yes, we did do some different stuff. All of which will see the light of day soon. You have to remember, the west coast hasn't seen us in a while, so I had to backpedal a little. I didn't have time to change the Philly show. The English shows will be different. It doesn't really matter what we do - we're not going to please everybody, so I do the time-honored thing and please myself!

Howard Chapman: 'Where did the Greek find Mark?' I don't know. James has the knack (and also taste). Do I think Philly was the best show recently? Well, I liked LA, but what do I know. I'm too busy doing them.

Dan Connolly: Boston! Actually, Tracie's going to be up there early May for a couple of dates. She's joining us for the last few dates in England as well. I'll be there as soon as I can.

Just Some Guy: Post box flattened by snow plow? (yes, again).

- Big red flag - ten feet tall
- Dig hole 2 x 2 x 3
- Center a six foot steel beam into the hole
- Pour in concrete
- Surround steel beam with 6 inch wood planks
- Mount your post box on top
- Wait for loud crashing sound

And that's exactly what happened! Why can't you Yankee chaps have letter boxes like everywhere else?

Gerry Campbell: Having just played to a Glasgow audience for a couple of hours I am in no fit state to pop out for a pint, but thanks for the kind offer.

Bob Kleb: 'Philly phenomenal!'

Mark R. White: Haven't got a clue until I get there.

Tom Kirby: Deer Hunter was a band I put together with Todd Rundgren, Paul Butterfield and John Cale for a charity gig on a pier on the west side in New York City. Most enjoyable, as I remember.

Andy Martin: 'Have you ever worked with Sha Na Na, Russ Ballard, John Miles or Alex Harvey?' I haven't worked with Russ Ballard.

Ed Ward: Berlin didn't work out, Ed. Sorry.

David Howells: Never lived on May Terrace. Left a long time ago; I was 16. Never played with Sutch either, although I thought they were great. Played with Freddie Fingers Lee for a while. Most people get that mixed up with Sutch because Fred was with Sutch on piano. Great piano player/singer.

Bob Barnes: Don't know anything about this Bob. Not quite sure it's me.

Danny Style: 'Dear Ian - we love you! We are the first glam rock 70's band in Argentina, fans of Mott the Hoople and your solo career. We hope you visit Buenos Aires someday! Please come! Thank you. Listen to our band at: www.purevolume.com/dandystyle'

Matt Nojonen: What am I listening to these days? Rush Limbaugh and that idiot Hannity and the Joe Pesci jerk at 6 on wonderful ABC. Rush is the best comedian out there. Truly America's greatest second-hand car dealer.

Graham: Has customs barred me from Canada? Actually, they can be a bit sticky coming back.

Clyde von Rosenberg: Loved Austin. Got Goosebumps when Alejandro got up on 'I Wish I Was Your Mother'. Alejandro and Jeff Tweedy - they're the only two I'd let up.

Hope C: I'll only know what I'm doing when I'm there.

Louise Saxon: Hi, Steve (Payne). Come on lad! Shape up! Louise was thoughtful enough, but she didn't leave an email address so I guess this will have to do. Get well!

Steve from Tulsa: Did we see any other acts in Austin? Not really. I heard Alejandro doing a sound check at the radio station and that was beautiful. We dropped in at the Lucky Club to see Ian McLagan, who's one of the few blokes in the biz to have been married (to Kim) as long as we have. His band was great (The Bump Band, I think they're called). His choice of songs were great and he still has that ebullient energy the Small Faces had when I first saw them all those years ago at the Finsbury Park Astoria. Great grooves. Go see them. 'Leon says hello' Leon being another of my heroes - Leon Russell. (check out 'In the Ghetto' from Bonnie 'n Delaney's first album.)

Andy Cowin: Do a book of the upcoming Euro tour. Mmmmmmm.

Rick Douglas: 'you still rock like a black man. I'm the black guy on the inside cover of 'Welcome to the Club'. We need more, southern California concert dates. You kicked butt at the Galaxy.' Hey Rick! Re: photos - ask me again the summer - I'm going away now.

ZaSu: You can read and write! Well, I know that, but you were a little tiny thing the last time I saw you. Tell your Mum and Dad we said hi and would love to get in touch. I'll pass on your details to Jesse (he's all grown up, but still gorgeous!)

Adam Coulombe: It went corporate.

Francis L: M. C. Bosch is from Francis' hometown of Willingboro, New Jersey. Actually, you're all raving about M.C.'s Philly appearance but he was just showing off because his Mum was there.

HB: I'll see what I do.

Kathy: Did I enjoy myself in Philly? Well, we got lost going there and wound up in Delaware. I settled though and it was cool in the end.

Dave Poole: 'You're on top of your game. Keep it coming.' I'm trying to.

Steve Abs: It's in the set, but don't blame me if I forget the dedication. Bergen's sold out. Have you got tickets?

Paul: Coming from Wisconsin to the Astoria gig. Any chance of a meet and greet? Actually, it's not that easy. The Astoria's security is tight, I guess because of where it is. You never know you might bump into me - and you'll bump into other U.S. visitors as well. Have a good one.

Francis L says: 'the Wheel of The Quivering Meat Conception' is part of a larger poem created by one of the characters in Kerouak's book 'The Dharma Bums'. What is the origin of the musical snippet? Was it part of something else? It was the back end of something; I can't remember quite what.

Bill Hammond: yes, I remember that. It was Cheap Trick's tour. Manager who didn't like the fact we were going down so well, so he pulled the plug on us (the swine). Cheap Trick didn't know anything about it. They didn't turn up until we were already off. Nice guys - lousy tour manager.

Rob Deluise: Yeah, some idiot reviewed the album in England calling me a curmudgeon, conveniently not even noticing that all I said was true. The place was falling apart. Oh, well.

Larry Woodside is a DJ: Got fired by KLOS (formerly KROQ, KMETT, KSTT and now Radio On) for playing 'Crash Street Kids'. Says radio stations are in the main - horror shops. I feel so bad for you people out there - and for artists like me - radio's unlistenable. Has been for years.

Marty G: Re: State Fair: 1) Are you planning any other State fair gigs? I don't plan them they get offered by the agency. 2) Will you be doing an actual tour with the Zombies? No - just this one. 3) I'm seldom on the premises when opening bands play, and if they're lousy you forget them anyway (that's a poem!)

Anthony G: 'What was Freddy Mercury and Queen's reaction when they played Seven Seas of Rye to accompanying shouts of 'We want Mott' at the Manchester Free Trade Hall'? Well, I didn't know that but Queen were much too nice a band to mention it and Fred could have cared less. He knew where that band was going and that's exactly where they went.

Dave Falconer: I don't know what it is about 'Old Records Never Die'. I've never seemed to nail it vocally live.

Dennis Lee: I'll try and remember. Don't slag me off if I forget.

Bhysmi: What does, 'From the Horse's Mouth' mean? It means from the origin; as true as you're going to get.

Doug Schaub: Glad to have been of service. I'm in tears; it doesn't come much harder than that. Heal you.

Roldan lives in the Philippines and can't find any of my stuff so he gets his sister (who lives in the U.S.) to send him stuff. He says MaBumay (which I hope is complimentary).

That's yer lot! As most of you know, I'm off on my travels (leave for rehearsal on Sunday). No Horse's Mouth until the middle of June. It's difficult getting email access in Europe, and we're more or less traveling or gigging every day so there no time for anything else. Rest assured I'll be back in no time at all and we shall resume our correspondence! Sorry, to all those missed - nothing personal - keep trying. Alrighteeeeeeeee then ... Neigh - Neigh - Neigh and all that.

IH
Hunter Towers
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