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Issue #85, Part 1 - April 2008

SUN - SUN - SUN - SUN

Drew Hosey asks if the lyric 'Freddie's got spots … ' Was about Freddie Mercury? No.

George + Elspeth enjoyed Aberdeen.

Stephen (KC) - Ask again, after I've finished the record.

Reg was listening to 'You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic' and accidentally hit the option button which made the track play three times faster; he says it sounds great. 'Ever consider redoing some of the good songs?' Nah - they're done.

Martin Haynes: I remember Birmingham City Hall - well echoey. The gig you're referring to would have been in 73/74.

Ian Hollingshurst: 'What's it like when one of your songs pops up on a programme or in a film you're watching?' Actually, it's a tad weird. You're looking at or listening to other situations with other people - nothing to do with you and suddenly it becomes up close and personal. Good overall.

Glen: I really have no idea when we'll get up to Canada at the moment, but you never know in the future.

Chris Scott's been a fan since early MTH. 'Will you tour the States again?' If you pay the gas!!!

Bruno Silveira is from Brazil and asks if I met Lou Reed back in the days? Yup. 'I'd like to know if he's a real bad man like everybody says.' Haven't got a clue. He asks if I ever play lead guitar on any albums or gigs? Not that I can remember. The nearest I got was 'Old Records Never Die'. I played it, but then it got bumped when Mick Ronson played it better. I hear solos - I just can't play 'em!

Per Chr. Fossen: 'Last show in Oslo was one of the best I've seen - how can I get the diary? IMP, my publisher, just did a reprint and I know we were selling it on the last tour. You could possibly order it from them - IMP, P.O. Box 69, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 6WZ.

Dave: At this time I've no plans to tour the U.S. in 2008.

Bruce Speary: 'What's it like hitting your prime in your 60s?' I'm enjoying it.

Richard Usher: 'Have you ever considered doing 'Foxy Foxy' live?' Hey Rich - no. Playing with Ronnie Spector tomorrow night at a charity do, maybe I can get her to do it.

Bob Kleb: Approximate release next spring. What do I think to the Pogues? What I've heard of them I think they're great. Watched the Foo Fighters movie last night - the gig from MSG; wow are they good. Great songs and performance.

Trond Throndsen: 'For me Haugsesund (Norway) was my first and it was great. Any chance of Bergen in the future?' I'm very fond of Bergen - as far as I'm concerned any trip to Norway should include Bergen.

Clyde Hartman: 'I'm reminded of the poem on the Mott album cover - D.H. Lawrence, 'A Sane Revolution' which urges a revolution for fun - well a MTH reunion doesn't have to be deadly serious - have a reunion for fun.' Ooooh - you never know, but don't hold your breath. 'Do Dylan's 'Man Gave Names to All Animals' from 'Slow Train Coming.' ' I don't do Dylan - he's so good at it.

Mick Mitchell: 'Play Carlisle!' We'll see. I do have a Carlisle memory. I think the hotel was either the 'Railway' or the 'Station' but we were warned by management - argy bargy - no food - no booze - horrible vibe. After the gig, when we got back they'd laid on a huge meal for us with free drinks. 'Terribly sorry', the manager said, 'we got you mixed up with Black Sabbath.'

Marcus: 'Midge Ure's autobiography says lousy stuff about Mick - drugged up; led round by gangsters - couldn't play anymore.' Maybe he was bored.

Tim Hands enjoyed Market Harborough.

Ooer Willie: 'Fantastic acoustic tour. Think I enjoyed this one best of all; the surprises in the set list fantastic.' Thank you, Willie!

Graham Stark: I can't see me doing anything but writing and recording the next record. We get offers, but I'm hunkering down.

Keith Storey loved 'Rain' on the acoustic tour. 'Do it with the big band.'

Kelly Wallace got the MTH and IH All The Young Dudes biography. 'Never realized the humor within the band.' Oh yes - you've got to have a sense of humor to do what we did. All very funny people in totally different ways. Humor was a MTH strong suit.

Larry Tate very fond of Mott Live.

Mark B.: 'Love your stuff, but disappointed at no Boston show. Would you entertain doing a double headline tour with Ray Davies? I think I'd really enjoy that.

Patrick Bernard: 'Hull may get promoted - was Ronno a football fan?' Hated it.

Kevin (Newcastle) says fantastic archival footage on YouTube.

Jim Wysocki: Never knew videos were made of WTTC album - saw 'We Gotta Get Out of Here' and 'Once Bitten'. We did 'Irene Wilde' as well (at least Ellen Foley and I did it). 'Enjoy it as much as I did over twenty years ago, and Ronson never sounded better.'

Bob Barnes tells us two new MTH albums are being released in the UK. The first, 'Mott the Hoople, Roll Away The Stone - The Best of (Music Club MCDLX062). This is a double CD mixing MTH with 'Mott material. It's being sold by HMV amongst others. The second is a mystery. It's only available from ASDA supermarkets and it's called 'All The Young Dudes'. It's a double CD on a label called 'Westgram' distributed in the UK by THE. Apparently, it is selling. Thanks for the information, Bob - always appreciated.

Andy: 'Can you share any update on the record?' It's in progress. 'Any U.S. dates?' Not at the moment.

Phyl: Yes, his wife is Maureen. We're still in contact with her - lovely girl. Get 'Shrunken Heads' and 'Rant'. I don't get much of anything in England in the way of promo, but we've got a strong following and it's nice being fringe - no pressure.

Chris Davies: 'Did you ever meet Jimi Hendrix?' I was sitting in Colin Johnston's office at NEMS when Jimi Hendrix ambled into Colin's office. He couldn't make his mind up which party to go to - one in London or one in New York - that night. That was big deal in the 60's. America was so much further away. I was duly awed. Ronno loved him.

Neil Longhorn: 'Badgered my chum Nikki into booking you at the MJC in March - assured her she would get bums in the seats - she'd never heard of you - you converted her at Shepherds Bush. Anyway, glad you were not 'Rock Starrish' in your demands back stage. Pleased to say, everybody thought the whole team were really nice - down to earth - and a pleasure to work with. Anyway, cheers for not F_ _ _ing my reputation up with Nikki. Happy to oblige - very nice place and people.

Greg Mazurek brought up his little girl and now she's big she wants him to get back to playing. Greg's 50. 'Good appearance, good stage presence.' If you are looking for a guitarist, Greg's at stringandsing@yahoo.com.

Andrew Field: Glad you enjoyed the acoustic shows. The new songs are doing fine - lyrics slow as always. We'll probably go in sometime in the summer or early fall. Yes, divorces are that expensive.

Zach Kleinheksel: Not at the moment.

Matt Bratton: 'Artists like you blow away today's music.' Oh, stop!

Joe Payne: 'How much did you have to do with 'Play Don't Worry'? Not a lot. I can't remember. I think it was already done when he decided to join us. I remember telling him not to call it, 'Play Don't Worry'.

Janet Rotko: 'Forcibly weaned' by three older brothers. Janet and he sister enjoyed Detroit.

Stefan Carlsson: 'A couple of years ago Swedish television was playing 'Roll Away the Stone' for 'Mum's real meatballs'! The Swedish bank Nordea are now playing ATYD. Saw Stockholm (great) and Liverpool in the autumn. Photos on Fred Pettersson's Ian Hunter Rocks from Bristol - see: http://web.comhem.se/~u73902044/index2.htm

Big Licks says to have a look at YouTube - 'Suddenly, there's loads of you - there is even one guy who looks like you without the spec singing AOTGOAT. In particular, you should see the super 8 film of '74 filmed and narrated by Morgan Fisher. There is also a very good pastiche of 'Ian Hunter Mott the Hoople' from Caroline 372. He does loads of other stars, but his Freddy ones are great - funny and irreverent, but never condescending or bad natured.

Jeanne: 'Resurrection Mary' is on 'The Artful Dodger'. Try Amazon.

Dave R. 'Tour was a blast, had the best time at every show. The sets were great every night - the changes now and then made it a dream tour.' Actually, I'd planned to change it more but, somehow, certain songs seemed to want to stay in and gained preference as we went along. Yes, I did do a couple of songs on Amy's new album. Good stuff.

Jeffrey: 'Monkee's version of 'Every Step of the Way' is available on YouTube. Leave it alone - you're not missing anything.' Oh, alright.

Matthew: 'I've just finished Ian's brilliant book, 'Reflections of a Rock Star' - still in awe of the man. Is there any way to coax him back to America a couple more times?' Well, actually, I've been living here since 1975.

Jeff Williams: ' 'Shrunken Heads' is such a great record - Encore - Encore!' Doing my feeble best.

Stano: 'Just drove back to the Pool from Shrewsbury. My lad plays for Ranmere (beat the Shrews 5-2). [SWINES!!] Listening to 'AAAB' my 11 year old buzzing to the words of 'God' (God said to me, gonna kick your ass). Now he is forever using the words and his mates are the same. Thanks for getting young scouscers into your music.

Rooster: Yes.

David Rowe: Barack Obama plug honest and intentional. Let's hope he fares considerably better than Sam! Maybe Sam only knew one way and it didn't fit Newcastle. Not too bad lately though, are they? Barack, though….I'm convinced he's the man for the job.

Rege: 'SH awesome. Went to see Jesse Malin. Great show (Pittsburgh). He's another one that's playing tomorrow night.

Stay tuned for Part 2 ...