Gareth Toms:

Last week I saw ‘I Could Be wrong , I Could Be right’,

John Lydon’s ‘audience with’-type show, at the theatre in Portsmouth

 

Early on he said that the Sex Pistols weren’t influenced by the New Your Dolls –

“…that’s was what the music critics said.”

He listed Marc Bolan, The Sweet, Slade, and Mott The Hopple as being influences.

Concluding that: “The New York Dolls were like Sweet strung-out on Heroin.”

 

Gareth

(still spinning both Defiances…).

IH: I like John – don’t always agree with him and he’s very ‘forceful’ but he has ultimate balls. My view on the ‘Dolls’ was that they were let out of the cage too soon. Another 6 months rehearsing would have made a big difference. Their bass player worshipped Pete Watts!!! David was the glam Jagger – NY smart. A little rushed by their manager. 

 

 

John Mcmillan:

Ian, I truly believe if Mott the Hoople hadn’t taken that name. The bands name should have

Been defiance. Lol. Hit me. What would your word or words be to describe your whole trip

With Mott? God bless..

IH: Five very forceful personalities. Me versus the Hereford mafia!

 

 

Jacqueline Lee:

Hi, Mr. Patterson,

 

This is Jackie Rohana, saw you in Ardmore, PA a number of years ago. I’m the woman who interrupted the bands walk from Green room to stage with a kiss smack on your lips… brother missed the pic n you promised we’d re-do photo op. May I ask when…coming to East Coast US any time soon? Going to see your buddy Jeff Lynne 9/21 Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia PA. If you’re not available , I’d like to kiss him too! Can you help me get backstage? I love you Ian, hope you n yours are well! 🥰🙏 Please let me know. Thank you!

IH: Sorry, no can do.

 

 

Ooour Wullie:

Defiance part 2 fandabbydozzy

When is part 3

IH: Oh c’mon – give me a break!

 

 

Peter Scully:

I recently enjoyed seeing again the video of you and Ronno joining Bowie and the guys from Queen at the Freddie Mercury tribute for a rousing version of All the Young Dudes, and noticed that at one point, you approached Bowie on stage and appeared to whisper something in his ear. Are you willing to share what you said?

IH: Only one person knows what I said.

 

 

Dallas Cupps:

Dear Ian,

Not all of us are vinyl fans, will we ever see Defiance Part 2 on CD with all 13 tracks. I wouldn’t buy a car without a CD player and those 12 inch CDs don’t work in my player. What’s up wit dat? Anyway, keep on rocking! You’re still my favorite lyricist.

Afan since 1st MTH LP came out in America in January 1970,

Dallas Cupps from Pittsburgh (originally)

IH: Not my department – I just write them and do them. It’s changing so rapidly – the way they market etc. I can’t keep up.

 

 

Mike Scerri:

Hey Ian, been a while since ive been on here….hope you are doing well. Was at the rock n roll hall of fame last week, got a check mark off my bucket list….also voted for you 10 times….i know you dont care but all of us fans think its a real shit thing that you arent in there altho I did find a mention of you in the Cleveland Rocks room…..anyways, I’m babbling, what I wanna know is….are there any plans for a tour yet? and if so are you coming to Toronto and if you are, can i buy you a beer or 7?????

IH: Beer? C’mon – Lansons!!!

 

 

Seth:

Ian if you came across the Fountain of Youth, would you have a bubble or a pig’s ear?

IH: I’d be too busy for either.

 

 

Nick Malcolm:

Nigel Farage. I think it’s time, you make plans to write one about

Nigel.

Xtc.

IH: We’ve got enough problems this side of the pond.

 

 

Peter Jordan:

As a Connecticut resident would you say there’s an identity about the state or is it subsumed within New England or the big city to the south?

I’m asking this as an English Northerner who has moved to the Midlands and feel that it has a lot less of a distinct vibe than where I’m from.

Maybe it’s because three counties (Staffs/Derbyshire and Leicester) all come together with Warwicks and Notts minutes away?

These days all English counties have been given flags even though some have been invented in the last few years …. I wondered how Connecticut compared?

I have family in Texas and you see the lone star flag everywhere down there!

IH: Yeah, flags all over the place. Why do people put candidates they support on their front lawns or cars? Is that supposed to change somebody’s mind???

 

 

Pasquale:

Saw last night interview. Hope it’s all right with health issues. Hugs and prayers from a really hot summer in Catanzaro Marina. Hope to hear some good news soon regarding a tour.

Ciao

Pasquale

IH: It’s been hot here too, Pasquale. Stay cool.

 

 

Stonefly:

Greetings Ian- having been a fan of mostly English rockers, I have come across the term, “Geezer” frequently. In fact, my favorite rock bassist, Geezer Butler uses the moniker. I gather that Geezer is a term used differently in the UK than in the US (old dude) and that they (Geezers) were in prominence prior to the Mods. Could you provide an explanation of what the term Geezer means in your English neck of the woods?

Many thanks,

Stonefly

IH: Just another term for ‘bloke’ – which is just another term for man – which is shorter.

 

 

Matt Nojonen:

Dear Mr. Hunter, I might have asked this before, but have you ever listened to an Irish band from the 70s called Horslips? Johnny Fean’s leads in several songs remind me of your partner’s, Mick Ronson.

IH: Not really. Excellent band – Irish as they come.

 

 

Ross:

First thank you for all of your great music from the very beginning, and for keeping going.

Defiance albums are just brilliant. For me Part 2 just beats Part 1, but both are amazing. A truly innovative project with all of the contributors. I don’t think you can beat that at all.

Just saying.

IH: We’ll have a go at some point. No album has to ‘beat’ another album – they’ve all got their distinct personalities. Glad you enjoy.

 

 

Nick Namaqui:

I have never been a full-out fan of ‘Short Back N Sides’ – nothing to do with the music, and everything to do with the really annoying Clash-style sound effects. I like The Clash; I’m a much bigger fan of Ian Hunter – best not to blend the two.

 

Then YouTube pointed me to ‘Long Odd(s) and Out-Takes,’ which seems to be an alternative (and better-produced) version of ‘Short Back N Sides.’ It is lacking ‘Central Park and West’ but the production overall is far superior, especially for ‘Rain,’ one of your most compelling tracks about being brought up in hopeless, rain-sodden Britain and the distance between the provinces and London. It also, as I am sure you know, features a wonderful rocker called ‘Venus in a Bathtub,’ and we all want one of those.

Two questions:

Why did you release ‘Long Odd(s) and Out-Takes’?

Was Ronno primarily responsible for the production on this version of the album?

IH: Dunno – too far back.

 

 

Rick Graves:

Hi Ian! Really enjoyed your interview online. You mentioned the possibility of an acoustic tour. I think you and Lucinda Williams would be a fantastic combination in this format. She toured and talked about her songs and how they came about. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the tours John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett have done where they take turns performing a song but I think the two of you would make for an amazing show. What are the chances? Love the new record – looking forward to getting my signed copies (CD & LP.) Take care, Rick

IH: I kinda like the idea of an acoustic tour, but I lean more towards a fun evening – nothing to serious. No 1948 ‘B’ sides for moi.

 

 

Seth:

Asked, posted, but not answered ?

I love your new videos; do you wish you would have done more with that on you older records?

Im a Curley ansd a Shenp man . Ian are you a Shemp man or a curly man or perhaps a joe derita or a joe besser man

Favorite 70/80 NYC club for me peppermint lounge

IH: Videos cost – it’s as simple as that and smaller labels can’t afford it – especially these days.

• Did Curly replace Shemp?
• Neither
• First P.L – more interesting.

 

 

Bob Kleb:

Touched base last month on your dedication and commitment of your long marriage to Trudi wanted to mention unknowingly I didn’t realize ur new song on Fiction ” where would I be without you ” was totally dedicated to her, great lyrics and you can feel your patronage & love. Ian I asked last month have you ever crossed paths with any of the Beatles over your career ( besides Ringos All Star Band “… and did Clarence play on the complete ATGOAT album? I hear sax on &.off throughout the recording especially on ” Seeing Double “. Met you several times Finnegans Wake, Stone Pony few years back, own everything you’ve released a true honest songwriter and musician. Being 65 now I really hope I see the day your inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As always thanks for being you. Keep em coming.

IH: Na, just the Ringo tour (although I did have a slash next to George Harrison at the Speakeasy).

 

 

Scott:

I always go back to Strings Attached. Shows how your music translates to any medium . A true artist. I want an album of all the songs you wrote to and for Trudi!! I know, not happening!!! Peace and good health!!

IH: Yeah, that was a good one. Andy ‘n’ me and the ‘band’.

 

 

Damien Cavendish:

Hi Mr Hunter.

Hope you and your family are well. Here is an interesting story for you; in 2004 my US Marine battalion was deployed to “Camp Fallujah” in Iraq – you have a huge number of fans in the Corp, by the way. 20 years ago today (checked my diary) in the evening almost everyone in my unit was listening to the ‘Mott’ album on our CD players. Visualise the scene: smack in the middle of the most dangerous place in the entire world; a couple of dozen marines were sitting around singing along to “All The Way From Memphis” and “Honaloochie Boogie” before having a debate as to whether “Brain Capers” or “Mott” was the best MTH album! haha!

Anyhow, my Horse’s Mouth question is “do you find this sort of thing bizarre, or kind of funny?” (folks listening to your songs in the strangest of circumstances)

Kind regards

Damien Cavendish

IH: I find it humbling!!! Thanks for looking after us!!! I saw a clip of this lady in Africa doing a podcast and she was listening to ‘Dudes’ Stuff gets around. Nice one, Damien!

 

 

Bill McCue:

IAN~ HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FROM Mick Ralphs recently or do you know how he is doing?.

Didn’t Mick sing the opening led vocal on the song Sweet Jane on the all the young dudes album…

How’s your ears doing?

IH: From what I hear – he’s the same.

2) Me

3) They don’t like storms – and we’ve had a few.

 

 

Dave P:

Hi Mr Hunter, have you checked out the Old Black Lion in Northampton? Massive 3 mill refurb going on and all sorts of stuff being found during the digging. Good to see the place being preserved a lot of us have great memories of the place.

IH: Interesting – keep me informed. Back room – right wall – every Wednesday night. I didn’t know they were preserving it. I just thought they were knockin’ it down. Tony Marriott (our old drummer in The Shrikers) used to live there.

 

 

Philip Tremayne:

Ian, do you keep in contact with Mick Ralphs? I always though Ralpher played some great early MTH guitar, and a

IH: Mick was and is a humble kind of guy and he played for the song (not just to show off). Great West Country wit. Seriously good player, writer & arranger. Difficult talking to him from here because of time zone/meds etc. But from what I hear (Stan Tippins) he’s about the same. It was an honor to play with Mick.

 

 

 

Jerry Ross:

Hi Ian, I thought I’d chime in about Defiance 1 and 2. To me they are as good as Rant 1 but much better. Your lyrics are real deep and the musicianship is excellent. To my ears these records together should cement your legacy in the RRHOF. In reality I feel you have now transcended and even ascended them. Who needs ’em anyway? The song “Angel” brought a tear to my eye. On “Everybody’s Crazy” you say “leave me alone”, but Ian, us fans can’t leave you and will stand shoulder to shoulder with you ’til the end. What do you feel? Thanks for putting up with me all these years. May you live long and prosper…

IH: I feel extremely grateful. You all keep me going!!

 

 

Barry Sokolowski:

Hey Ian, there are a lot of weak versions of Dudes out there. But this version is pretty awesome. The guitar is spot on and the Iron Maiden vocals are intense. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/dvwO1hdMUyU?si=DHhw0xhJvyyK7U_A

IH: I don’t know why Bruce is so angry!! Did his radio show once and he told me it was one of the biggest mistakes he ever mad!! He’s singing the shit out of it, but why so aggressive? I didn’t see it that way.

 

 

Danny G:

Hey ‘I* it’s been awhile,

how’ve you been?

The last album is fierce!

And again.

You are something else.

Automatically that kind of gr8 GO of & from the coolness in the write to that melody and Again cos that’s just you !! Easy Ian Have a woderfully beautiful day

IH: Cheers, Danny.

 

Stay cool.

IH

The Horse’s Mouth

 

p.s. Joe popped in last night for a chat. We went for an Indian.