Here we are again; sunny day … windows open … sooooo …

Heather Kirton: Can't help you with any of this, Heather. It's all alien.

Matt Nojonen: 'Dr. Ian Hunter is professor emeritus at the University of Western Ontario - edited two collections of Muggeridge's writings.' (Malcolm?) Well, you gotta do something in your spare time.

Bryan from San Diego loves the song 'Rose'. Who was it about? Mind your beeswax!

Michael J. Powell: This is difficult. You can appreciate the amount of mail I see and while I'm sorry for what happened to David and extend my best wishes and condolences to his son, I can really do no more than that.

Joe S.: 'Was the Classic Rock Award for one particular song or your entire catalog?' Entire catalog. Joe wants downloads of concerts.

Jan Reeves: 'It seems awfully quiet among IH news groups - only good new is the award you got. Will you tour the UK/Europe next year? Possibly. 'New Material?' Well, this is the thing Jan. Whenever you're getting ready to record - everything always goes quiet. People think you're not doing much when in fact, it's a rather exciting time for me. There are 11 or 12 new songs now. They will be put down throughout December and January.

Bob Garza bought a 19 month-old mare 'that's not broke'. 'She started nipping me - not biting - nippy - why?' She loves you.

Bob Garza: 'She's dug a hole in the corral - she scratches her ack in it. Is there a reason?' She really loves you.

Bob Kleb: Actually, I preferred the original 'Waterboys,' but I don't think they got on - pity.

Ross Murdock says Ray Davies and I are 'sinfully underrated' as writers. Did I notice any back stage fighting with the Kinks? They were pretty bad on the road. I didn't poke my nose in, but it seemed the brothers had a problem on the road. The first time we toured with them many of their crew were asking us for jobs; the atmosphere was that bad. They could be awkward with regards to the amount of stage room they gave you etc. but we had our own ways of dealing with that. However, in the early days, 'You Really Got Me' was half our live set and Ray graciously allowed us to do it even though they'd be doing it again after us. I love Ray's writing. Beautifully simple.

Fiona: Don't worry - that stuff goes on down the bottom. We live up the top end.

Brian K: Saucy!

Fiona's hairdresser was at a Mott/Queen Apollo gig in Glasgow. Says Queen were awful and got bood off (sorry, Bri) and I caused trouble by telling everybody to stand on their seats - much to the horror of the Appollo staff. What can I tell you, Fiona. I was mad - I was crazy - I was the Rik Mayall of rock!

Derwood A: I'm sorry - I'll get to it.

Greg Becker: Andy York was auditioning people for a play he's involved in and Ellen Foley turned up for an audition. Andy said she looked great, but never got to speak to her as people were in and out. I don't know if she got the part, but she's still working. Don't know what happened to David Werner.

Charles Bermant: 'Found your name in the paper: HERE. Thanks for that Charles ... much appreciated.

Lorne Whitelaw: 'On your next tour of the UK, please include the Northeast. Love the Astoria CD.' Like I always say - it's up to the promoters.

Verne Davis: Moaning about the lack of Ralpher visuals on the Astoria DVD. I moaned about it too!! Unfortunately, it was shot that way and they couldn't do anything to change it. Mick didn't mind, and that's the main thing.

Graham: Play 'The Brook'. Fond of The Outsider.

Jeffrey notices on J.A.N. DVD that when I say 'It's a pleasure to be back' some chap yells, 'it's about effin' time.' Jeff is a offended at this comment, but I take it as a compliment.

Ooor Wullie has been busy in his role as unofficial Scottish manager without portfolio. It seems he wants a Rock 'n' Roll Circus Part II. Five or six dates headlining with John Fiddler, Ariel Bender and Band, reformed Buddies with Mick and Stan, circus acts - comedians. He says the Krankies are in and they're cheap. NO! Love you Willie - we'll have lunch ...

Martin Watkins: Play Melbourne, Australia!

Hope Campbell says 'Tell Peter Holsapple that 'England Rocks' can be found as a bonus track on the CD reissue 'Overnight Angels'. It's The Pattern of Life, Hope.

Oystein: 'Comments on 'Seeing Double' and 'All of the Good Ones Are Taken'. A lot, actually. 'SD' - Very organic and simple. I'm thinking about doing it live. 'AOTGOAT' annoyed me because I first got it at a rehearsal in New York and I didn't tape it. I never found the groove I wanted for it again until the 'Strings' DVD when Kjetle resurrected it. To me - that's the best version. I was not too keen on the studio situation at that time.

Jeffrey Raubach likes Lennon and me. 'Favourite opening songs? Closing songs?' 'Once Bitten' - favourite opener - it rocks and the instruments come in one at a time allowing Mr.Keating/Mr.Miller (our esteemed UK/US sound chaps) half a chance to get it together in time for the main onslaught. I like 'Saturday Gigs' for a closer. It was never a hit and it should have been; and it's nice and easy -as I'm usually rather tired by this time in the set.

Janet Allen: The fact that you would like to say something about him suggests to me that you liked him. List what you liked and that's what you say. Honestly!

Kellianne Connell: Glad the worst is over. Hang in.

Donn: Don't know.

Eric Hemphill: 'If you threw a party and could invite anyone from an historical era, who might you invite?' Churchill, John Adams, Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Noel Coward (to take the piss) and Eric Morecombe.

Ken: Play Milwaukee!

Tyler: (i) Is there much left in the vaults of my days with Ronno? Nope. (ii) 'Can you tell us the funniest moments you shared together?' Well, I can't tell you this because I'd be here all day. It was non-stop.

Paul Wilson: Well, there was talk of a Todd tour but I think it never got off the board. Will my next album be out in 2006? Hopefully.

Chris Smith: 'Was 'Welcome to the Club' recorded 7/9/79?' Well, we recorded every night of that run and then edited and mixed it at Media Sound on 57th Street in New York. It didn't all come from one night. 'How true was 'Irene Wilde'?' Absolutely, true.

Stevievee: Put 'The Outsider' live on CD or DVD. We'll see.

Peter Jordan asks how I feel about 'The Artful Dodger' looking back? I just wish we could have gotten a decent label involved. Peter says the Virgin Encyclopedia of Rock calls 'AD' a worthy album and is positive about 'Rant' too. Pity they don't stock them.

Stephen Myles: 'Which bands did you socialize with in the '70's and who was 'oot the gang hut' as we say in Scotland'? Didn't socialize much. Hung out with Bowie a bit and the Queenies but that was about it. 'oot the Gang hut' (Willie?) I'm assuming who was unpopular? Never had a run in with anyone really. Roxy were a great bunch and so were the Spiders. Everybody was just trying to make a living. No real 'A' holes - not that I met, anyway.

Mike Edwards: Moved to Australia. Everybody's moving out of England……wonder why?

Steve: 'Commercially, which sold the most 'Ian Hunter' or 'Schizo'? 'Schizo'

Bill Milks: 'Come to Toronto!' I'm trying but they're a bit funny at the border.

Brian Schneider: 'Come to Edmunton!!'

Gregor Addison: 'Are you working on new material? Yup. Will your next album feature Mick Ralphs (Nope - unless he rings me!!) The first set Mick and I toured with was destroyed by equipment inadequacies. You get what you pay for.

Michael's found 'Thunderthighs' names - Karen Friedman (lovely girl), Dari Lalou and Casey Synge. Michael says they also backed Steve Windwood and Lou reed. Talented ladies, indeed.

Incorrigible Keith: What do you think of new technology in keyboards? That's sound mate, that's not me.

Bobby Balloch writes an excellent email: 'I can understand that looking back at 'glam' that it all may look silly at the end of the day and even 'embarrassing' to you as an artist. But let's not knock it. Mott were never 'glam' band in the sense of the Sweet, but they did use the vehicle of this movement to project an image and character which people like myself bought into….and then appreciated the music and its development (Ian Hunter/Mott/Ronson/Lions) and its past (Wildlife/Brain Capers). In isolation the suits and the boots are questionable, but if it had not been for that visual image I may not have bought my 40/50 'Mott Family' albums, CD's and concert tickets and I would not be writing this at this moment in time. So just let us all be proud of the past and have a little laugh about Glam while appreciating what it did for us all. Long live Untah!'

Jerry Murphy: What did I think of 'Drive On' and 'Shouting and Pointing'? I didn't think anything at all about these records at the time. I was into other things. This was nothing bad. I was moving somewhere else and so were they.

Nick Smith is thanking me for saying nice things about Steve Hyams. Well, he was (and presumably still is) good. Plus unique - you can't beat that.

Stay tuned for Part 2 ...