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Leicester Gig Confirmed

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have added a small club gig as a warmup to their two theater gigs in England this year, on 29 Apr 2010 at The Musician in Leicester. Tickets go on sale at 10AM tomorrow (Tues, 09 Feb 2010) from We Got Tickets. This is a small club gig (capacity under 250) so it may sell quickly.

Edinburgh and London Gigs Confirmed

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have added shows in Edinburgh Scotland on 1 May 2010, and in London England on 2 May 2010. Tickets for both shows go on sale at 9AM GMT on Friday, 5 Feb 2010. Tickets will be available through ArtistTicket. The London show is reported to have reserved seating, while the Edinburgh show is general admission.

  • 01 May 2010 - HMV Picture House, Edinburgh Scotland
  • 02 May 2010 - Barbican Hall, London England

Sellersville Theater Gig Confirmed

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have added a show at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville PA on Sunday 25 April 2010. Tickets are onsale now at the venue website. Visit the Sellersville Theater to purchase tickets. The ten cabaret tables and the first four rows are available only to members of the theater until 60 days before the show. Membership information is on the theater website.

Third City Winery Date Added

Due to popular demand, Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have added a third show at the City Winery on Wednesday, 21 April 2010. Tickets are available to City Winery VinoFile members and Ian Hunter's fans right now, but you must use a special link to purchase tickets before the show is announced on their website: Click Here for City Winery 21 April Tickets

Italian Gigs Added

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have announced two gigs in Italy. On 4 May 2010, they will play the Crossroads Live Club in Roma Italy (Via Braccianese 771, Loc. Osteria Nuova, Roma), and on 5 May 2010 they will play at Alcatraz in Milano Italy (Via Valtellina, 25, Milano). Tickets for both shows are 30.00 Euro and available from www.ticketone.it The promoters helpline for both shows is Barley Arts Promotion at +39 (0)2 76113055 or by email at info '@' barleyarts.com.

The City Winery, April 2010

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band will perform three shows at The City Winery in New York City on Weds April 21, Friday Apr 23, and Sat April 24, 2010. The venue has reserved seating at tables and bar stools, and tickets prices range from $30 to $45. Tickets are now available using the links below. The City Winery is the brainchild of Michael Dorf, founder of the iconic Knitting Factory, who wanted to create a space in Manhattan where he could combine his shared passions for wine and music. (No paper tickets are issued; ticket buyers will have their name on a list at the door.) For the Wednesday, Apr 21 show, Use this link for tickets. For the Friday, Apr 23 show, Use this link for tickets. For the Saturday, Apr 24 show, Use this link for tickets. You can also see the Tour Dates page for more information

City Winery  Man Overboard  Live CD  Have Guitars Will Travel

New Yorker Festival

As part of the New Yorker Festival, Ian Hunter, Graham Parker, and Ben Greenman were featured at an event called Ian Hunter and Graham Parker talk with Ben Greenman: A Conversation with Music. This was a public discussion, followed by short live performances by Ian Hunter and Graham Parker. The show was held at October 17, 2009 at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, New York NY.

World Cafe

Ian Hunter appeared on National Public Radio's World Cafe radio show with host David Dye on 15 Oct 2009. The show was recorded over the summer and features and interview and music from Man Overboard. (Ian's segment appears during the second hour of the show). The show is currently archived for online listening at the NPR Site.

Exclusive MTH Live CD

This is your exclusive opportunity to order the live CD of the reunion gig of the year! October 1, 2009 saw the live return of one of the best loved Rock & Roll bands of all time: Mott The Hoople. It has been 40 years since this highly influential band formed in 1969, and over 35 years since the original line-up has played together. It is with great pleasure that we announce that we have recording the band at the Hammersmith Apollo on the 1st October to create an instant CD for fans to take home straight after the show.

This limited edition live CD is the ONLY recording of the Mott The Hoople reunion shows. Presented in bespoke artwork, this is an exclusive 3 CD set featuring songs from their classic albums. Concert Live recorded the band’s show on the 1st October, and sold this live CD directly at this show and at the following 4 dates the band played at the Hammersmith Apollo.

You can now order this live CD to be posted to you. Order now to avoid disappointment! Visit the Concert Live website for ordering information.

2009 Mott The Hoople Reunion

The original lineup of Mott The Hoople reunited for five gigs at the Hammersmith Apollo in the first week of October 2009. These gigs were preceded by two 'warmup' gigs at the Blake Theater in Monmouth, Wales during the last week of September. See the www.mottthehoople.com website for more information.

Man Overboard

Man Overboard was issued on 21 July 2009 by New West Records, and is Ian Hunter's 13th solo album since his eponymous debut in 1975. Recorded in late 2008 in Pawling NY, the 11-song set is a stunning follow up to the overwhelmingly critically acclaimed Shrunken Heads album. Man Overboard was produced by Andy York (veteran guitarist for John Mellencamp) and Ian Hunter and features a backing band of superstar talent comprised of Steve Holley on drums and percussion (Wings, Joe Cocker), Paul Page on bass (Dion), Jack Petruzzelli on electric guitar (Rufus Wainwright, Joan Osbourne), James Mastro on electric guitar (Patti Smith, John Cale), Andy Burton on piano and organ (The Db's) and Producer Andy York on guitar and backing vocals. Many of the band members are returning from the Shrunken Heads sessions. Regarding Man Overboard, Ian Hunter stated, 'When we did Shrunken Heads, I felt like we had a good thing going so I wanted to revisit the experience before anything changed, and that's what we did.'

For almost 40 years, Ian Hunter's given us some of the coolest songs in the rock vernacular. Who can deny lyrics like 'you didn't know that rock 'n' roll burned, so you bought a candle and you lived and you learned'? The former Mott the Hoople main man shows no sign of letting up with his latest outing, Man Overboard.

Hunter again proves that he is a master of the sly tongue firmly planted in cheek, cockneyed rock 'n' roll song. That slick, straight-faced rebel who taunts with just a wink of his eye, set to an infectious and achingly sweet soundtrack, is present throughout the record in lines like 'you gotta get away, especially when the other guy's bigger than you,' ('The Great Escape') and 'It's too late when you discover that flowers ain't enough' ('Flowers').

Not only are the lyrics three to five minute mini-movies, but the songs are melodic and catchy as hell. Hunter lets his pop tendencies run amok, with brilliant, and at times gorgeous, results. 'These Feelings' is one of the most glowing, straightforward love songs he's ever done, while 'Up and Running' borders on pure, brooding, jangle-pop, and would have killed on adult contemporary radio in the early '90s.

Man Overboard is Hunter at his best. He sounds like a man rejuvenated-with a familiar, yet fresh sense of musical risk-taking. The song has always been the key for Hunter, and this record says that it will continue to be so for some time.

- Mark Uricheck, Elmore Magazine

Schizophrenic 30th Anniversary Reissue

On 21 September, EMI Records in the UK will issue a special edition of Ian Hunter's classic 1979 album You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic. They are marking the 30th Anniversary of this amazing album with a deluxe re-mastered package containing the original LP with bonus tracks plus an extra disc featuring unreleased live performances of the period. Originally released worldwide in April 1979 on Chrysalis Records and was Ian's first release with the label.

Disc One:

  1. Just Another Night (2009 Digital Remaster)
  2. Wild East (2009 Digital Remaster)
  3. Cleveland Rocks (2009 Digital Remaster)
  4. Ships (2009 Digital Remaster)
  5. When The Daylight Comes (2009 Digital Remaster)
  6. Life After Death (2009 Digital Remaster)
  7. Standin' In My Light (2009 Digital Remaster)
  8. Bastard (2009 Digital Remaster)
  9. The Outsider (2009 Digital Remaster)
  10. Don't Let Go (Demo)
  11. Ships (Take 1)
  12. When The Daylight Comes (Early Version)
  13. Just Another Night (Early Version) (aka The Other Side Of Life)
  14. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Disc Two:

  1. F.B.I. (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)
  2. Once Bitten Twice Shy (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)
  3. Life After Death (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)
  4. Sons And Daughters (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 22/11/79)
  5. Laugh At Me (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 22/11/79)
  6. Just Another Night (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 22/11/79)
  7. One Of The Boys (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 22/11/79)
  8. Letter To Brittania From Union Jack (Live In Berkeley 7/7/79)
  9. Bastard (Live In Berkeley 7/7/79)
  10. All The Way From Memphis (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)
  11. Cleveland Rocks (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)
  12. All The Young Dudes (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 22/11/79)
  13. When The Daylight Comes (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)
  14. Sweet Angeline (Live In Cleveland 18/6/79)

Have Guitars ... Will Travel

Derrick Thompson has just sent word that his new book, Have Guitars ... Will Travel will be published on June 8, 2009. 'HAVE GUITARS ... WILL TRAVEL takes the reader on a magical music tour through Northampton during the golden years of 1957-66 From 1957, began a never-to-be-forgotten ten years of skiffle, rock `n` roll, & R&B when local groups lit up the town’s pubs and dance halls; national groups visited for one-off shows, and international stars packed out the ABC cinema. The music scene of the late 50’s and early 60’s was vivid, vibrant and volatile. Relive those years with those who were there...' For those outside Northampton, the book will be available on EBAY UK from 8 June 2009.

Ian (Hunter) Patterson`s early life as footloose troubadour, chancing his arm as a talent-contest skiffler, bopping around Lynn`s cafe juke-box with his loyal friends and blazing a jagged trail across the cutting edge of Northampton`s beat revolution, is chronicled beautifully in this gem of a book which covers the whole spectrum of local combos.

Join Ian and his chums as they travel with their guitars, washboards and tea chest basses through the whole crazy scene. Journey with him from Butlin`s Pwllheli, via Jimmy`s End to The Old White Hart Inn where the landlady, Ma Wilkinson, would cry out, "Turn it down, George!" if the Apex turned up the volume too high. Soak up the great tales of his classic Apex years and his frenzied antics with other beat groups, before completely flipping over the edge as Hurricane Henry, then with Freddie 'Fingers' Lee and the Shriekers ... the manic liaisons of the crazy few!

'Have Guitars ...Will Travel' is an inspired literary pearl, celebrating the classic years throughout which Ian was at the very heart and soul of the scene, and which is now selling like hot cakes. It meanders sublimely through the skiffle and rock `n` roll eras and is crammed with snippets of essential data and excellent newly discovered photos of Ian never before published. Ian was right at the heart of the matter, habitually lighting the blue touch paper, and running.

Featuring a kindly word from Ian`s pen to wet your appetite in the foreword, along with the text of one of his greatest compositions centred upon Lynn`s, this archive is a 'must-have' acquisition for Ian Hunter fans ... an 'essential' for the avid completist.

Mott The Hoople Reunion  City Winery  When The World Was Round  Shrunken Heads

City Winery, 23 July 2009

Ian Hunter played at the City Winery in New York City on 23 July 2009 to launch his new album Man Overboard. Ian and his band (Mark Bosch and James Mastro on guitar, Paul Page on bass, Andy Burton on keyboards, Steve Holley on drums) played a 90 minute set that included seven songs from the new album. Amy Speace opened the show.

River To River Festival

Ian Hunter played an outdoor evening concert at Rockefeller Park in New York City on 24 June 2009, as part of the River To River Festival. Joined by members of his Rant Band (Mark Bosch and James Mastro on guitar, Paul Page on bass, Andy Burton on keyboards, Steve Holley on drums), Ian played a fantastic 90-minute set despite being threatened by rain showers all afternoon. Def Leppard's Joe Elliott was in attendance and got up to sing 'All The Young Dudes' with the band.

Amy Speace and Rich Pagano

Ian Hunter has made a couple guest appearances recently. He sings duets on two tracks from the upcoming Amy Speace album The Killer In Me, which will be released in March 2009. The title track features Ian, and can be heard on the Paste Beat Channel on American Airlines' inflight entertainment radio. The upcoming debut CD by drummer/producer Rich Pagano also features a guest appearance by Ian Hunter.

When The World Was Round

Jerkin' Crocus in the UK released the first single from Ian Hunter's critically acclaimed album Shrunken Heads on 26 Nov 2007. 'When The World Was Round' is available in three formats: a 7 inch picture disc, a CD single, and a DVD single. The picture disc includes 'When The World Was Round' (radio edit) b/w 'Words (Big Mouth)' (live 2007). The CD single contains 'When The World Was Round' (radio edit) b/w 'Once Bitten Twice Shy' and 'Twisted Steel' (live 2007). The DVD will include 'When The World Was Round' (animated video), BBC Paul Franks interview 2007 (audio), and a photo gallery of Ian Hunter and the Rant Band. The animated video is now available on YouTube! (Depending on your browser, you may need to click the 'play' button twice)

Shrunken Heads

Legendary Mott the Hoople frontman and renowned solo artist Ian Hunter released a new album in May 2007. Shrunken Heads is Mr. Hunter's first studio recording since 2001's highly acclaimed album Rant. Ian Hunter is represented by industry veterans Danny Goldberg and Jack Leitenberg for Gold Village Entertainment.

In the USA, Shrunken Heads was issued by Yep Roc Records on 15 May 2007. Located in North Carolina, Yep Roc is the home of such acclaimed artists as Paul Weller, Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock, The Apples In Stereo, Sloan, Kristen Hersh and many more. The Yep Roc version of Shrunken Heads can be ordered through the Yep Roc Web Shop website. Orders made through the Yep Roc Web Shop include a free download of the album.

In Europe, Shrunken Heads was released by Jerkin' Crocus on 14 May 2007. Other artists on the Jerkin' Crocus label include blue-eyed soul legend Frankie Miller, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Dan Baird's Homemade Sin. The Jerkin' Crocus version of Shrunken Heads is available from Jerkin' Crocus and can be ordered from Townsend Records. The initial pressing comes packaged in a special gatefold sleeve, and includes a bonus CD with three extra tracks, 'Your Eyes', 'Wasted' and 'Real or Imaginary'.

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