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Scarborough Gig Added - 1 Oct 2010
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band wil be playing a warmup gig at the Ocean Room at the Scarborough Spa Complex in Scarborough UK on 1 October 2010. The cost is 20 pounds and I'm told this is a small gig and ticket availability is limited.'Scarborough Spa Complex is located in Scarborough’s picturesque South Bay and is one of the most prestigious venues for conferences, exhibitions, entertainment and events on the Yorkshire Coast. The Spa Complex is unique among British venues, not only because of its location; right on the sea front in the scenically beautiful South Bay, but also for the variety of facilities housed in what is largely a magnificent Victorian building.' See the Tour Dates page for details.
Stevie Buccini Benefit - 17 Sep 2010
Please join us at the Palace Theater, Danbury CT on Friday, 17 Sep 2010 at 8PM for a benefit to celebrate the life of Stevie Buccini. Stevie bravely battled cancer for two years until July 7, 2010, when he finally succumbed to the disease at the far-too-young age of 40. This special night features musical legend Ian Hunter, front-man for the iconic group Mott the Hoople with special guests The Doug Wahlberg band opening the night. Tickets are on sale now! See the Tour Dates page for details.
November 2010 USA Dates
UPDATE! NEW SHOW! Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have announced three dates in the Northeastern USA for November 2010: The Highline Ballroom in New York City on the 11th, Havana in New Hope PA on the 12th, and At The Tabernacle in Mt. Tabor NJ on the 13th.See the Tour Dates page for details.
October 2010 UK Dates
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have announced eight dates in the UK for October 2010: 02 Oct at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester England; 03 Oct at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow Scotland; 05 Oct at Komedia, Brighton England; 08 Oct at The Stables, Wavendon England; 10 Oct at Union Chapel, London England (Special Acoustic Evening); 11 Oct at The Journal Tyne Theatre, Newcastle England; 12 Oct at Town Hall, Birmingham England; and 14 Oct at 02 Academy, Bristol England. See the Tour Dates page for details.
Ian Hunter at the High Voltage Festival
Mott The Hoople legend Ian Hunter will be joining Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott for a one off set on the main stage at High Voltage on Sunday 25th July 2010. After his performance with Down ‘N’ Outz, Joe Elliott will welcome very special guest Ian Hunter for a standalone set. Featuring a raft of classic rock songs and some special guest appearances this is a must-see festival performance. High Voltage will be Ian Hunter’s UK festival exclusive in 2010. Details an be found at High Voltage Festival website.
Later with Jools Holland
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band appeared on the BBC's "Later ... with Jools Holland" TV show on Tuesday, 4 May 2010 and again on Friday, 7 May 2010. Other guests on the show were Iggy Pop and Courtney Love & Hole. The website for the Later show is www.bbc.co.uk/later/. Sorry, we do not have any details about broadcast times, channels, or availability outside the UK.
Ian Hunter in Florida and Georgia
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band have announced two more USA dates for 2010, this time supporting Jethro Tull. See the Tour Dates page for details.
- 04 Jun 2010 - Mizner Park Amphitheater, Boca Raton FL
- 06 Jun 2010 - Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta GA
Ian's gig supporting Jethro Tull at the Bayfront Amphitheatre in Miami FL has been changed to the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton FL. The new show is the same date and time. All tickets for the original show will need to be refunded, and new tickets will need to be purchased for the rescheduled show. Click here for more information, or call 1-877-598-8698.
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
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.
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'.
Other Recent News
Spring 2010 Tour: Ian Hunter and the Rant Band played gigs in the USA, Scotland, England, Sweden, Finland, and Italy in April and May 2010. The tour started with three gigs at the City Winery in New York City, followed by a gig at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville PA. The UK leg consisted of shows at The Musician Pub Leicester, the HMV Picture House Edinburghand Barbican Hall London. The tour then went to Alcatraz in Milano Italy, Silja Rock in Stockholm Sweden, and the House Of Culture in Helsinki.
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.
Schizophrenic 30th Anniversary Reissue: On 21 September, EMI Records in the UK issued a special edition of Ian Hunter's classic 1979 album You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic. They marked 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.
City Winery: 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.
Rockline: Ian Hunter was the featured guest on the nationally syndicated Rockline radio show with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday August 19, 2009
Here and Now: Ian Hunter was interviewed on Here and Now on National Public Radio on 22 July 2009. You can listen online at: Here and Now
Rocks Magazine: Issue 11 of the German music magazine Rocks features the Ian Hunter track 'Flowers' on the bonus CD that accompanies the magazine. Visit the Rocks Magazine website for details.
Radcliffe and Maconie: Ian Hunter called into the Radcliffe and Maconie radio show on BBC Radio 2 on 6 May 2009. They played the title track from Ian Hunter's upcoming album Man Overboard, which is due in July 2009. They also discussed the Mott The Hoople reunion concerts that are scheduled for October 2009. You can listen to the appearance online until 13 May or so by visiting the Radcliffe and Maconie website.
Mojo: Mott The Hoople were featured in a twelve-page article in the May 2009 issue of Mojo Magazine in the UK. They also had a track on the bonus CD included with the magazine.
Amy Speace: Ian Hunter sings duets on two tracks from the recent Amy Speace album The Killer In Me, which was released in March 2009.
In Performance 1969-1974: On 4 Aug 2008 Angel Air released In Performance 1970-1974, a four-disc boxed set of live material with a 48 page booklet. The box is a hardcover clamshell (similar to the Sony All The Young Dudes boxed set from 1998. The booklet has liner notes by Keith Smith, and is crammed with rare photos supplied by the band members. The live material is a repackaging of three previous Angel Air releases. Disc One contains the Fairfield Halls Croydon 1970 disc, plus the Konserthuset Stockholm 1971 concert. Disc Two has the Tower Theater Philadelphia 1972 show. Discs three and four contain the Two Miles From Live Heaven, with live material 1973 and 1974, as well as various demos and live tracks dating as early as 1969. The set is limited to 2000 copies.
Old Records Never Die: On 26 Aug 2008 Shout! releases a 2 CD retrospective of Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter. Old Records Never Die is a comprehensive set covering everything from Mott The Hoople's debut to Ian Hunter's latest album, Shrunken Heads. The first disc is dedicated to Mott The Hoople and contains a nice overview of their Island and CBS years. The second disc is devoted to Hunter, and manages to hit every album except Dirty Laundry. The 16 page booklet contains a few unpublished photos, and excellent liner notes by former Creem editor and current mojo correspondent Ben Edmonds.
315 Bowery Grand Opening: On 17 April 2008, Ian Hunter appeared at the opening of John Varvatos 315 Bowery (the space that formerly housed CBGB's). The show was a benefit for VH1 Save The Music and featured Ian Hunter, Jesse Malin, D Generation, CJ Ramone, Cheetah Chrome, Alan Vega, Clem Burke, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ronnie Spector, and many other special guests.
February 2008 UK Tour: Ian Hunter completed a UK acoustic tour in February 2008, playing ten dates in Scotland and England accompanied by James Mastro and Steve Holley.
How's Your House?: Ian Hunter's song 'How's Your House?' is featured on Redefine 8/29, a benefit album for the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund (NOMRF), a grass-roots fund that is still making grants directly to musicians affected by Hurrican Katrina. You can donate to NOMRF HERE, and watch a video for Ian's song HERE
Classic Rock: The December 2007 issue of Classic Rock (Led Zeppelin cover) has a bonus CD that includes When The World Was Round, the new Ian Hunter single.
Mott The Hoople Live CD: In October 2007, Angel Air issued a live disc by Mott The Hoople, Fairfield Hall Live 1970 (UK Angel Air SJPCD-250)
Juno: The soundtrack to the movie Juno features Mott's 'All The Young Dudes' and hit the top of the charts.
Craig Ferguson: On 10 January 2008, the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson aired a live performance of 'All The Way From Memphis' taped during his earlier appearance in June 2007. (It was originally scheduled for 07 Jan 2008, but the show ran long.)
Norway TV: A one-hour version of Strings Attached aired on Norwegian TV in December 2007.
USA Dates: Ian played gigs in Brooklyn and Philadelphia in December 2007.
Jesse Malin: Jesse Malin was the special guest on Ian Hunter's UK tour in October 2007.
Classic Rock: Ian Hunter's album Shrunken Heads was been nominated for Album of the Year by Classic Rock Magazine. Fan voting determins the winner, to be announced in November 2007.
My Planet Rocks: On 21 Jul 2007, Ian Hunter appeared on Planet Rock, for an hour-long show called My Planet Rocks. The show was repeated 24 Jul 2007.
Alice Cooper: On Wednesday 27 June 2007, Ian Hunter was interviewed on the Nights With Alice Cooper radio show, hosted by the one and only Alice Cooper.
Cleveland Grand Prix: Ian Hunter performed just before the start of the Cleveland Grand Prix in Cleveland OH on Sunday, 24 June 2007.
WXPN Free At Noon: Ian Hunter was featured on the WXPN Free At Noon concert series, performing in Philadelphia PA on Friday, 22 June 2007. The concert is archived online.
Sirius Disorder: Ian Hunter guested for an hour with Larry Kirwan on his Sirius Disorder radio show on the Sirius satellite radio network.
Jonesy's Jukebox: Ian Hunter appeared on the Steve Jones radio show on 13 June 2007.
Late Late Show: Ian Hunter appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on 12 June 2007, performing Words (Big Mouth) and sitting down with BCraig for a very entertaining interview.
Rockline: Ian Hunter appeared on the syndicated radio show Rockline on 2 May 2007, answering phone calls and previewing his album 'Shrunken Heads' for over an hour.
March 2007 Dates: Ian played four dates in March 2007 in California. Each of these shows was opened by The Charms, followed by Ian Hunter and The Zombies as co-headliners.
Guest Appearances: Ian Hunter made a couple guest appearances in December 2006. Ian appeared with the Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland OH on 1/2 Dec, performing Cleveland Rocks and All The Young Dudes. On 15 Dec, he appeared at Carnegie Hall with Alejandro Escovedo, performing Irene Wilde and I Wish I Was Your Mother.
Classic Rock Roll of Honour: The second annual Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Show took place on 7 Nov 2006. Def Leppard’s Hysteria received the Classic Album award. As the band were on tour in America, they were unable to attend the show in person – but they sent a video thanking everyone for the award, and it was collected on their behalf by Ian Hunter. And as the first recipient of the Classic Rock Songwriters Award, Ian Hunter had the honuor of presenting this years award to Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen.
American Beat Records: American Beat Records is pleased to announce that they will be reissuing two Ian Hunter albums on CD in the USA early next year: Welcome to the Club and the long-suffering All Of The Good Ones Are Taken which has been out of print on CD for more than ten years, and has never been issued in the USA before. Welcome to the Club will be the same extended version released by EMI in the UK a few years back, and All Of The Good Ones Are Taken will include the single mixes Seeing Double and That Girls Is Rock and Roll. More information on release dates will be forthcoming.
The Journey: Sony UK is issuing a new Mott The Hoople/Ian Hunter compilation on 13 Nov 2006. This 3 CD digipack release contains 54 tracks spanning the entire career of Ian Hunter and Mott The Hoople, from 1969 to 2001. It includes three previously unreleased Ian Hunter tracks from the Rant sessions: I'm In Awe, Avalanche, and an alternate version of Morons.
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