Ian Hunter | February 2026 | Horse’s Mouth

 Hi All – how’s it goin’ !

 

Matt Nojonen: Dear Mr. Hunter, Do you have tracks in the vault that you would like to release? Any gems to polish up and get out there? Sincerely, Matt

 

IH: I don’t know; don’t like looking back. To me, if they’re not out there it’s because we weren’t too keen on then in one way or another.

 

 

 

 

Gareth: Hi Ian. Back at the reunion gigs in 2013 there was a rumor that Ralpher had a ‘ghost’ guitarist backstage playing as he was struggling physically to play. I do hope not! Any comments?

 

IH: Amazing these rumours! Millions of them – along with the opinions! No way – not true – bull____.

 

 

 

 

gary walden: Hi iAN….HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR YOUR SONGS? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG THAT YOU’VE WRITTEN AND WHY?

 

IH: Dunno. I just got this urge to write songs in my twenties (a little late in the day), and apart from a few years now and again – I just keep doing it. I guess it’s what I’m for. I can’t tell you my favourite or the others would get mad at me.

 

 

 

 

Ken Grady: Hi Ian, Hope you are doing well. A couple of questions from me. Firstly, I was at Dingwall’s back in 2009 during the Mott reunion week when Tracie’s band played, supported by Jesse’s band, Audio Cartel (I think they were called that!) . I enjoyed both sets. I have got all of Tracie’s solo records but was wondering whether Audio Cartel released any recordings and, if so, where and when were they released? Secondly, I paid for an autographed coffee table book about your good self from Rufus Publications in the middle of last year which was originally advertised as going to be dispatched last November, but it wasn’t. I have emailed them religiously every fortnight since then asking about when it is likely to be sent, but I just get ‘crickets’ – nada – absolutely no reply! Do you have any intel on the book’s current status? I have left a gap for it on the shelf next to ‘Diary’ ‘Sweepstakes 1 & 2’, ‘’We’ve Got A Great Future Behind Us’ and Campbell D’s book – but now wondering if it was a scam?? Anyway, any update would be nice. Thanks! Ken

 

IH: I don’t think Jess had a label release his Audio Cartel songs that Ricky Byrd produced – just do it yourself CDs. As far as the book – I’ve no idea. It’s Ross Halfin’s project (brilliant, world-famous rock photographer). I’m sure it will be sorted out – sorry for the delay. Ross just sent me a sample (not for sale copy) and it’s beautiful – weighs 10 lbs.!!

 

 

 

 

Peter Jordan: Ian, In all your writing/ interviews etc. I’ve never seen anything to suggest that you’re a gadget type of bloke. I’m assuming that you’re not but is there anything you’ve bought or been given that you’re fond of? My dad had one of those gurgling fish which I always thought were ridiculous but tickled him for some reason!

 

IH: Gadgetless.

 

 

 

 

Graeme Rintoul: Hi Ian. I am 69 yrs young, Mott the Hoople and then i followed your solo career, between you and Bowie, my life was changed forever. Thanks for all the great music, and i hope to see you again in some form playing live. Roger Mcguinn does an excellent chat and live play and explains how the hit records came about. Check Roger out on You Tube. Graeme.

 

IH: You’re welcome. I’ll check him out.

 

 

 

 

Tom Greff: Hi Ian. I hope this note finds you happy and healthy! While watching Olympic curling I thought of this great song. https://youtu.be/yKmvTcSzcE8 Stay well!!

 

IH: The great Howie Casey on sax.

 

 

 

 

Steve Meyer: There’s something perplexing me in my advancing years … the lyrics in that majestic trip “The Journey” written by your goodself – the line “There’s a man on a bridge called suicide” … is it the man or the bridge named “suicide”? This is important to me so I hope you can remember 🙂

 

IH: The bridge is an extremely high one (near Waterlow Park). It was common knowledge at the time that Peter Sellers talked a suicidal man out of jumping off it.

 

 

 

 

 

Ronnie Poore: You have some great cover songs in your discography (Dudes, Sweet Jane, Laugh At Me). Ever considered doing an all covers album in between a disc of new originals?

 

IH: Nah. There’s some great stuff out there. I just never had the inclination.

 

 

 

 

Francis L: Sir Ian, After all these years I knew, but never asked: Schizophrenic and All of the Good Ones, AAAB, et al; you have recorded with Little Feat, Jaco Pastorius, various members of the E Street Band including Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg, Gary Tallent and Clarence Clemens; Ellen Foley through the Cleveland International years; Mick Jones ( ‘without MTH there would be no Clash’), Todd Rundrengren and Utopia on tour in 1980 (Short Back’n’Sides); Steve Holley from Wings; and the most incredible most brilliant Mick Ronson: ( Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue – which opens up another can of beans)! Joe Elliott, Brian May, Queen. Now Andy York of John Mellencamp, Ringo, Johnny Depp, Jeff Beck, Taylor Hawkins … Bowie toured with E Streeters … Who’d I miss? Wait, just kidding! I remember in the early 2000s when HM was just starting, I said to you, “Do you realize that all bands are connected to Mott the Hoople?” You replied “… when you tell them …” Well I’m tellin ’em on the radio and my playlist is overflowing with tunes. Still writing. Sure does look like you’ve been working on it ! Happy New Year ! 3 Cheers to 2026 … in ‘Defiance Veritas’ Peace, Francis L

PS: I didn’t forget Cheap Trick or the Heartbreakers did I … ? Ho-ho

 

IH:  Well, you’ve got a couple of mistakes in there (and you’re missing a few).  Multiple thanks for the enthusiasm!!

 

 

 

 

Phil Bentley: Hi Ian, you mentioned in a post that a Q&A could be on the cards sometime in the future. Graham Parker is doing ‘An Audience With’ next month in Pontefract here in the UK, the show sold out in 20 minutes, so maybe this is something you may consider doing. Speaking of GP,there is a fabulous book which came out at the end of last year called ‘Howlin’ Wind’ by Jay Nachman with contributions by GP & the Rumour & many others. Sadly we lost the keyboard player Bob Andrews last June & Andrew Bodnar the Bass player this January. All the best to you & yours. Kind regards, Phil Bentley.

 

IH:  Yeah, and all the best to Graham Parker –  a great artist and funny as hell.  Sorry for the losses – it’s not much fun.

 

 

 

Stonefly: Greetings and Salutations, I was wondering if you ever visited Jeff Tweedy’s “Loft” when you were working with him? If so, any impressions regarding The Loft, specifically? On another note, so easy to have access to file footage of your solo work, Mott, and various interviews. Both a blessing and a curse, in some ways- in the 70s and 80s one was left to actively visualizing what it meant to be a curly haired Rock idol. These days, punch in some key words and there you have it. While I appreciate the access, I do miss the adventure of accruing hard sought information and artifacts. Cheers

 

IH: James Mastro and I went to Chicago and visited Jeff and the Loft. It’s huge with tons of gear and a studio up one end. Great experience.

 

 

 

Dru:    I don’t understand why people want you to do interviews or a public Q&A when you’re willing to answer any question they have right here. For example: Is the old man stuff causing you stress or are you pushing through it like you would tell us to do?

 

Was the Fred tribute show the only time you played Dudes with Dave?

 

IH:  Q & A can lead to fun stuff if done live.  Yeah, I think that was the only time I did ‘Dudes’ with Dave. He came to see us a few times (once with Mick Jagger) but they didn’t get up.

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Hearne: Will ‘Salvation’ be the last track on Defiance 3?

 

IH: No, I know what it is.

 

 

 

 

Steve Meyer: Another Question !! It’s 19.21 on the 20th February 2026 and I’m sitting here at the PC in Walchwil, Switzerland listening to my Hammersmith Live ’73 CD on the cans – loud. I was there that night aged 17 and thought Queen were OK but nothing special. Unfortunately, I was with a young lady (hi, Terry) who needed to be home in Epsom at a reasonable time. Sadly, you was somewhat late coming on and we had to leave before the “riot” and despite getting the last Northern Line to Morden we still missed the last bus to Epsom. A phone call to her father to collect us was not appreciated, I recall. Anyway, this CD’s reproduction is pretty damn good – you were in fine voice. So my question is – do you remember that gig like it was yesterday just like I do? Steve

 

IH:  I remember Hammersmith trying to pull the curtain down on us and Morgan pushed the piano (theirs!) under it to stop it. We had 3 little stages going out into the audience. The Great Ariel Bender and I wrestled for the middle one! It was chaos – beautiful, lovely chaos. That’s what Rock ‘n’ Roll is/was all about.

 

 

 

 

Keith: Hi Ian, Please could you give me any information on the guitar strap you used on. Roll away the stone, and all the way to Memphis. It’s wide leather with 6 horseshoes and silver studs running down each side. If you know the make, or where you got it from that would be great. Kind regards. Keith.

 

IH: I can’t remember any strap I used on any guitar – sorry Keith.

 

 

 

Peter Jordan: I greatly enjoyed the last Horses Mouth and wanted to add my thanks for sticking at this year after year! I especially admired the answers about Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. By coincidence I’d literally come across a number of quotes earlier in the day about the downsides of comparisons. Mark Twain’s “Comparison is the death of joy!” Struck home so your answers that Mick wouldn’t be bothered and ‘better’ folk not being in it and worse in it are seemed so wise ……… another lesson in life and your work is full of them . Best of all not in a preachy way but in a “Think for yourself” mode! One of mine as I get older is ‘don’t think what things used to cost’ …….. a lot of unhappiness can be avoided right there! Question? Do you think teaching ‘critical thinking’ in schools would be beneficial in helping kids avoid the elephant traps and con men out there in our troubled times?

 

IH: More so now than ever.  Shits getting SO sophisticated and face it – you are dumb when you’re a kid – I was. The stuff that’s happening now is illegal and inevitable. I guess we will ‘adapt’ as has always been the case.

 

 

Tony Maxwell: Hi Ian. I’m 63 years old – too young to have known Mott, but old enough to have made your solo work a staple in high school. Saw you in Detroit in ’79 (Rock Gods who can write!) and again in Sweden in 2016 – where I was astonished by your still-strong voice, high-octane performance, youthful energy. It might be looking for love in all the wrong places, but I see the heroes of my youth who thrive in later life as examples of how to age the way I want to. Apart from luck (you’ve held onto your hair etc.) and the keep-looking-ahead attitude I see in your newsletter, how do you stay as healthy and fit as you can be? Can’t be cigarettes, or “defiance” alone. What’s your routine, dude?

 

IH: Tony’s 63 and too young to have known Mott!! Scary!!  Yeah ‘most’ of the hair’s still hanging in and I’m lazy. Wife’s a great cook. Stay thin? No dope…. Gave up fags years ago. Why do we fall for these things?  We’re ‘cool’ right…

 

 

 

 

Wayne: Hello Ian: I’m a big fan of the movie ” Phantom of the Paradise”. Awesome soundtrack. Just wondering if you’ve ever seen it and if so what are your thoughts?.

 

IH:  No, never seen it.

 

 

 

 

Terry: Hey Ian: Best wishes for the new year. Just wondering if any contemporary bands/singer songwriters are doing it for you. And, was Standing In My Light about you? I only ask because when I hear it I think it’s about me. All the best, Terry

 

IH: Actually, I saw this incredibly large chap doing an incredibly good song recently while sifting through Google. I’ve forgotten who it was, but yeah – what a voice!! They’re still around. Apologies to the large chap.

 

 

 

 

Tammy Holt: 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗮𝗻, 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 70’𝘀. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝗻 1989, 𝗬𝗨𝗜-𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦.𝗖. 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗺 𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲,”𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲”, 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲! 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗮𝘆,𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻/𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻. 𝗢𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗵𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄. 𝗜 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆, “𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝗟𝘂𝘃 𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀!

 

IH: Glad to have been of service Tammy. You don’t have to ‘make it out of Nashville’. Nashville’s great.

 

 

 

 

David: I think even 52 years later it’s still one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard – but what does Trudi think of Trudi’s Song?

 

IH:  She thinks it’s right on.

 

 

 

 

Graham Knowles: Hi Ian, seen Mott and Queen at the Birmingham Town Hall 1973. Great show, but a lot of the crowd gave Queen a bad time, shouting obscenities and telling them to get off. Brian May responded telling them to shut up. Do you have any recollection of this, and / or did Queen mention it after the show. They had the last laugh becoming the best group in the world.

 

IH: No, I would only get to the venue during Queen’s last two numbers (‘Keep Yourself Alive’ and ‘Liar’). They were breaking new ground. Dylan got booed when he went electric. Mainstream don’t like unique until they’re used to it. Then it’s massive.

 

 

 

 

Dru: How’s brother Bob doing?

 

IH: Fine.

 

 

 

 

Dave: Hello. Memory testing questions about the Great Escape (the song, not the movie). Can you remember what you did to upset (sully the reputation) of the best left hook in the business? Did you deserve it? Also, was it poetic license, or did you really leave your guitar behind? If so, did you ever get it back, or was it a casualty of war? Blessings. Dave

 

IH:  I can’t remember what I did to piss my mate Barry (and others) off. Anyway, they had me cornered in the Black Lion in Northampton on a Wednesday night in the 60’s. I escaped by jumping over the back bar – which led to another bar – which lead to the street. Then whizzing past Jim – crossing the street (no traffic, thank God) jumped in the back of a mate’s open topped car and off we went with me waving the ‘Vee’ sign at these would be I.H murderers!!!  I had to leave town for a couple of years till it all died down. I went back eventually and all was forgiven and forgotten. No idea what happened to the guitar.  Aaah – those were the days.

 

 

 

 

Barry N. Sokolowski: Hey Ian, check out a 26yr old Mick. https://youtube.com/shorts/Z7r-4eiEylE?si=atxQSBbz1-Y50BSo

 

IH:  Looks like I’m checking out A.I..

 

 

 

 

Scott Aurisch: Hi Ian, haven’t checked out horse’s mouth in quite some time. Life’s got in the way (why am I…losing my…enthusiasm). Anyway, hope all is as well as can be expected. Couple of quick ones. Has there been any song that never worked live and conversely any song that surprised you with how well it did work? Finally, just read the p.s about writing the new song unlike anything you’ve done. With that and the future part 3 of defiance it must feel good that people still want to hear new stuff. Cheers

 

IH: 1) Can’t think of song that didn’t work live.  2)It does feel good. I hope you all hang in there and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Bob Boyle:     Not sure if you’d consider any of this,but its good food for thought if asked by the show organiser (Quint Davis) would you consider doing a one -off performance at the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival the venue hires a great many of national performers in their last 2-3 years before final retirement some on main concert stages some in more intimate tent settings for smaller audiences I think there is a strong possibility they may get in touch with your mangmnt within next 2 years and its all very first class accommodations just giving you a heads up on it ponder the idea now and over next 12 months the festival weblink is www.nojazzfest.com

 

IH: I’m sure my management would look into it.

 

 

 

 

Richard Webster: Hi Ian, Like many I’m a fan that’s been along for the journey and thrill of the ride since 69. My question to you is , in your opinion, why wasn’t Ellen Foleys album Night Out a commercial success? Her vocals are amazing and not a weak track on the album. Production was top notch as you would be aware and this should have catapulted Ellen to super star status. It must drive you crazy when you know its a gem in your hands but others don’t recognise it , such as Man Overboard and Schizophrenic. Keep writing and recording and we will keep listening and buying. Take care x

 

IH: Who knows – lack of promo?  She charted high in Europe. She has a huge sing hit in Holland (#3) I think. Great singer.

 

 

Hello Steve Parsons – thanks for your support over the years!

 

 

THE END (for now).

IH

The Horse’s Mouth

 

p.s. Further to Ken Grady’s question about Ross Halfin’s book, I have heard that they are having trouble with the slipcase, which, apparently, needs to be precisely made.