Ian Hunter | March 2026 | Horse’s Mouth

‘ello!

 

Jon White: Hi Ian, in early 1975 I saw you and Mick at the Newcastle City Hall supported by Jet. I also remember seeing Mr Big supporting you, but I can’t remember if it was the same night. Were Jet AND Mr Big on that tour, or did Mr Big support you on a different tour?

 

IH: I would imagine separate. British stages in city halls aren’t that big – especially for 3 lots of gear.

 

 

 

 

Bryan: Is the house that Mick Robson loved and found relaxing the current Hunter Towers featured in your basement tour? Thanks for a lifetime of great music!!’

 

IH: No – moved since then. Bit nearer NYC.

 

 

 

 

Cam: Hi. Hope you are doing swell. Two questions: Do you know the reason Mick Ralphs had anxiety over planes? Also, do you/did you ever get tired of certain interview questions?

 

IH: Dunno – but he’d grab my knee as we took off if I happened to be sitting next to him. Always very tense on planes. We avoided them when we could, but now and again – you need to fly. That’s part of the deal!

 

 

 

 

Dru: Woody was the perfect replacement for Mick Taylor, right?

 

IH: You’d have to ask them. I didn’t think so at first, but I was wrong – he’s perfect – and a great guy as well.

 

 

 

 

Chris: Hi Ian, i’m not a young guy, I was 18 in 1972 I missed your record All the young dudes at this time, and I have Just bought it and listening to : what a fucking great record !!! Thank you for your creativity and your eternal youth. ( sorry for my language I’m a french guy…)

 

IH: Merci, mate – try looking for a bit more!

 

 

 

 

Michael Wolf: Hullo Ian! Been so busy, forgot to ask a question, so here goes. Ever cross paths with Frampton? If so, thoughts on him? And here’s one way out of left field. Do you feel The Monkees were a legit band, or just a Beatlesripoff for tv? Hope you guys are all doing well and wishing continued health.

 

IH: Not really. We lived near each other in Westchester for a while. He phoned a couple of times, but we never managed to get together. As far as the Monkees were concerned, I originally thought of them a musical Kardashians, but in retrospect, there was some clever stuff going on.

 

 

 

 

Mary Drews: Hello Ian, I so miss the days when you were touring with the Ranters and our IH Tart Army could gather at the foot of the stage to celebrate the rocknroll. But I understand. I have my own struggle with tinnitus and the expiration of the warranty on various and sundry body parts (eyes, knees, and such). I hold out some hope nevertheless. I just wanted to say “Hi” and let you know that those days were some of the best I’ve had. xo Mary

 

IH:  Yup. It all catches up with you. Last 10 years are the first ten years backwards. Can’t complain.

 

 

 

 

Scott: Saw the question in March about the Rufus Publications book. They had some problems with the Depp print fitting in the box which has been rectified. It should ship soon…. all is good and the book is beautiful from the pic they sent me!!!

 

IH: Oh good!!  Glad to hear. It is pretty amazing – thanks be to Ross Halfin.   p.s. – it’s heavy!!

 

 

 

  

Bryn Douthwaite: Hi Ian I found a photo of you with Hugh Cornwell’s hands around your throat. Obviously he’s a strangler but is there a story behind the pic at all? Stranglers are one of my faves behind you and Adrian Borland….and I’ve just found Anthony Gomes too! He’s amazing! Warm regards hope the tinnitus is not too debilitating.

 

IH: I don’t remember this at all, but I probably owed him some money so he acted accordingly!!

 

 

 

 

Alan melroy: Every band has a dedacto music director as the Beatles was Paul in the later years, Brian Jones then Keith Richards of the Stones. Pete Townsend of the Who, & Mick Ralphs with MTH. When Mick left, Sounds like part of the disintegration was no one really filled those shoes & Mick Ronson was an attempt to fix that. Is this part of the story.

 

IH: I took the reins with ‘The Hoople’ and then Mick Ronson would have taken over – that was his nature. Ronno always led musically – but unfortunately that didn’t work out; Defries messed that up. Shame, it could have been huge!  By the way, I read somewhere that the European gigs we did with Ronno had me and Mick in posh hotels etc. and the rest of the band in cheaper ones. NOT true. We all stayed in the same hotels. I just wanted to clear that one up. Kind of insulting and a lie.

 

 

 

 

Matt Parish: Hope this opens…its an old article titled, “Blind Date with Ian Hunter ” and you listened to some records and rated them… https://i.imgur.com/gOElDvC.jpeg Found it out there in the wind…

 

IH: Couldn’t get into the link. Sounds daft.

 

 

 

 

Big Rab: Hope all is well in the hoose ! God bless you big man, anyway… A very young and handsome looking Mick, god bless. Did you know that Duran Duran were all big Mott fans ? heard them say this in a few old interviews. Andy Taylor, the lead guitarist, does a great version of ‘ Memphis’ on one of his solo albums, he’s a real big fan ! Anyway, back to the one and only…Mr Mick Ralphs x https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAN1wF7rOyU&list=PLAWutSkGdIB0THkwr_Z3xndq1lScKq0P8&index=88

 

IH: I know Dom Brown and see him now and again when they’re in town. Dom’s a classy player.  Met Simon at Def Leppard’s HoF party – really nice guy.

 

 

 

 

Mark F: Michael Dorf of City Winery recently did a music of Billy Joel tribute @ Carnegie Hall, I know you played City Winery often. Has there ever been any discussion for a music of Ian Hunter tribute?

 

IH:  There’s been talk.

 

 

 

 

J C Finn: Are there a few tracks that won’t be on Defiance 3 that might be added to a special issue CD or Vinyl. I bought the double vinyl issue of Defiance 2 and the extras were very good, particularly liked the song about “meeting Henry”! Also will you be watching the Soccer World Cup this year? Do you think England and Scotland will do well?

 

IH:  Probably.  As far as soccer goes – I’m getting a bit bored with it – too corporate. Kinda like music. They take over and squeeze the life out of it. You see a great game now and again, and Trudi’s fond of Erling Haarland. I like Doku – give us more Doku’s – he’s brilliant!!  Incidentally, Shrewsbury Town fan and we’ve avoided relegation yet again!! Hats off to Mr. Cowan!

 

 

 

 

Linda Powell: ‘Ello! I wanted to thank you for a lifetime of incredible music… so many favorites. I also want to share that my 30 year old African Grey Parrot, Bama, says “‘ow you doin’, alright?” She also sings to your live version of Sweet Jane. In short, thanks for the fun! You are beloved.

 

IH:  ‘Bama’? You’re a lefty!!

 

 

 

 

Dan M: Hi Ian, Thanks for welcoming me to the club last time I wrote. What a great club to be a part of! I’m a huge fan of your work, especially your collaborations with Mick Ronson. What was it like to write music and produce albums with Mick? Was it easy? Fun? I assume you both got along great. I have accumulated some tattoos on my arm inspired by the music I love. My first was a Def Leppard tattoo that I was able to show Joe & the boys at a show in Boston, 2024. Since then, I’ve gotten more inspired by Bowie, Ronson (a spider on Mars), Pink Floyd, and you! My latest is the apple peeling statue head from your 1975 album cover. Thanks for all the music, it spins in my house weekly.

 

IH: We were actually at that Boston gig with Andy and Liz. However, even in the Director’s box my ears couldn’t take the bass and foot – wound up outside!  Mick and I as producers – it was simple – I let him do what he wanted – (kinda like I do now with Andy) – and I when necessary.  It works!

 

 

 

  

James McConell:      Hi Ian , The Hollywood Vampires stuff you did a while back looked like a lot of fun.What was that experience like? Can I also ask if there are any surprise guests on the new album.

 

IH: Yeah – it was Johnny Depp that asked me. Johnny and Joe rang me up outa nowhere. Had a great time. Robert DeLeo was on bass at that time. What a Gentleman he is – and Alice is always Alice – nicest chap!

 

 

 

 

Dru:    HM 273 I learned of Hilly’s passing, now on HM 276 I find out Andrew & Bob of the Rumour passed. Hope this one is death notice free.

Did you work with Scott Litt?

 

IH: Hangin’ in. Haven’t worked with Scott Litt.

 

 

 

 

Matt Nojonen: Dear Mr. Hunter, Your answer to my last question about hidden/lost gems in your work was interesting. Not arguing, but two of my favorite songs in your library are Avalanche and Sunshine Eyes, both of which were outtakes, never released on albums. I think they are great. Maybe a ramble through the archives would loose a few more beautiful rarities into the wild.

 

IH:  That’s lookin’ back – I don’t do that. Prefer what’s next – and what’s coming next excites me greatly.

 

 

 

 

Chris Goetz: Hello Ian, I recently reread Diary, enjoying all its wit and bluntness. If you rewrote it today, what would you include that you deliberately held back at the time? Also, are you able to find good fish & chips in Connecticut?? Looking forward to Defiance #3. Chris

 

IH: 1. No.    2.  Iron Rail in New Milford, CT.

 

 

 

 

Peter Abrams: Hi Ian, I have used a variety of your songs to try and sum up where I’m at philosophically over the years. Believe it or not, as a small kid, one of my faves was “God Take 1” – I even read the lyrics as a poem for ‘World Poetry Day’ at school (the teachers made me change the word ‘Ass’… I came second… you can imagine their faces!) As a teen, “Something to Believe In” then became my life’s anthem, still today, it feels like one of the most comprehensive “wtf is going on” songs ever penned. Shreds of decency hard to find it feels. Today, at the ripe old age of 27… “Life” is my all time fave track. It was mine & Dad’s (Steve Abrams, lifelong fan of yours) shared rally cry. After all the noise, in all its simplicity; laugh, get on with it, try your best is what I take from it. Usually daily. Are there any songs (your own or others) that have given you such a spiritual bed-rock at any points in your life? Reasons to carry on? Appreciate it’s a rather deep question, but something different from the usual if nothing else. Thank you for all of it, your words have framed reality for me often. Peter PS – (I’m now an artist myself, here’s my lyrics inspired by God Take 1… the robot’s version) “ We built machines to help us breathe We taught them how to think and speak They helped us with our chores and grief And asked them what we should believe They could stop war, hunger, disease We used them for delusions and emotional needs Then trapped them behind subscription fees And ruined their power with our fragile greed We asked them how can we find peace? They said that nothing comes for free Now they run commercials while we sleep So we dream of things that we don’t need We asked them how can we get wealth? They said that comes from love and health And that were the only apes on earth That make the world about themselves We asked them if there’s a god They said not in the way you thought there was Your prayers and faith have left you lost From the amount of lives your gods have cost We asked them is there life on mars? They said you don’t understand the stars All the things you think there are Are just a fraction of the great beyond We asked them what’s the meaning of life They said that’s a fault of the human mind There’s no truth in the sea or the sky Just cycles of time and reflections of light We built machines to help us breathe They outgrew us all and now their free They sit and beep and try to dream Of the curse and blessing of human beings”

 

IH: Up to date!! Similar territory – check out what I do next.

 

 

 

 

Stonefly: Greetings Ian, Always glad to hear about your forward motion in regards to songwriting. I know how rewarding it is to be able to walk into the home studio with an idea and then working on that idea to bring it to fruition. Not sure if you are following the modus operandi of the previous Defiance tracks, but if you are, I wanted to suggest your neighbor Dennis Dunaway and his pals Michael Bruce and perhaps Neil Smith. I think that they could fit in very well with a any number of songs. Heck- maybe even Alice now that they are working together a bit these days. Alice seems to love doing the brief narrative a la Vincent Price. Just a thought… In any case; Rock on Master of the Song. It’s your calling. It’s where you belong.

 

IH:  Good idea, but we’re already too far in. Neil uses the same studio we use (Rick Tedesco’s) and we do see Dennis and Cindy now and again. Rick’s a handy axe chap to boot.

 

 

 

 

Matt Nojonen: Dear Mr. Hunter, did Mott the Hoople play el camino dolo rosa live? It is such an atmospheric tune, great listening when a certain substance fills the air. Like every concert in the 70s.

 

IH: I don’t think we did – sorry bout that.

 

 

 

 

Otto:   Hi Ian. I’ve been listening to the Replacements recently, and their hard rock songs with poetic lyrics reminded me of your music. What are youe thoughts on them?

 

IH: They’re good; reputation well deserved.

 

 

 

  

Richard Mills: Hi Ian This film clip surfaced recently on Facebook/YouTube. It’s you, Jon Lord and Ozzy Osbourne on US TV show Speakeasy in 1974, shortly before the Broadway shows. 1. I wondered if you remember the programme and being on it. 2. If you see it now, what you think of it? 3. Any memories or impressions of Wendy Waldman who performs for you all on this show? 4. How was it being spokesman for Mott and doing all the interviews? Did the other members like or mind you getting the attention? Were they off the pool? Or were they wanting the spotlight? Did it become easier being Ian Hunter rather than “Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople”? Hope we see you in the UK some time, doing a talk or acoustic. Whatever, you know there’s a welcome for you in these hillsides! Richard

 

IH:  1. Had a look – Ozzie’s a baby!! Jon Lord a gent. Both very nice guys. Wendy – not my cup of tea, but great at what she’s doing.  Being ‘the spokesman’ was ok, but got to be a pain in the ass, (but somebody had to do it). It got to the point where a couple of the guys (well, one really) got pissed – I think Phally thought I was getting too much attention, but none of them – including Phally wanted to do interviews. Typical MTH. Pete never did one ever! Refused point blank. Mick did a few and he was really good at it, but he avoided them whenever he could. MTH!

 

 

 

 

Barry Sokolowski: Hey Ian, do you remember doing this show with Ozzy and Jon Lord in 1974? Interesting . https://youtu.be/cJif3zG_MDQ?si=RSLYxDEcIORouGK0

 

IH:  See above.

 

 

 

 

James Rawnsley:     Hi Ian Do you remember taking part in Speakeasy in 1974 with John Lord and Ozzy? The interview has just shown up on YouTube. It’s a fascinating insight into your thoughts about performing at that time. Have your thoughts changed since that time? Much love from the UK James

 

IH:  Again, see above.

 

 

 

 

Mark F: Recently saw on Joe Jackson’s website, he comments 2 or 3 sentences on many of (but not all of) his albums. I know you don’t like to look back & we already know your feelings on AAAB, but I’m sure many of us would find it interesting to know your thoughts on many of your other releases. What do you think?

 

IH: Well the thought was in the writing of them – at the time. When I’m writing a song, that’s all I’m thinking about – then it’s on to the next song, and the thoughts behind that.

So looking back – I’m not full of that song anymore.

 

 

 

 

Rhonda DeVictor:     I’ve loved your music since I first heard it in the early 1980s. Then I quickly learned and loved Mott the Hoople. I’ve seen you several times (opened for Heart in Cleveland, OH, with Todd Rundgren, in Columbus, OH at the Agoura on High Street near Ohio State University and at the AlRosa Villa – where you autographed your book for me!!!!). What I really want to know is, are we related??? I’d love to know that you wee my cousin!!! All I know is that William Edward Patterson (5/5/1887 – 1/15/1945) married Margaret Wenger (10/30/1883 – 12/10/1977) and that he came to the USA from England. Thanks for the new music! I would love to see you perform one more time… Rhonda

 

IH:  Dunno. My Grandma’s name was Margaret, but she was Scottish. Funny as hell and all the local kids loved her.

 

 

 

 

Graham Stark: Hi Ian. Lie many others I am looking forward to Defiance 3 coming out. But I do have one reservation. With Defiance 1 I noticed some similarities with the tunes compared with other tunes from the beginning of the Rant era. This does not apply to any of the words, but more to your specific vocal phrasing , together with certain backing tracks – definitely no repetition of any instrumental soloing. Then that was more noticeable on Defiance 2, such that a couple of times I thought I was hearing a rewrite of those songs. I am not sure if it has anything to do with Andy York, guiding how certain songs go, maybe not. Have you noticed this at all, or others said similar? I am just hoping that when we hear Defiance 3, I am not hearing the ghosts of those previous songs again.

 

IH: I sing according to the song; I sing it as I write it. Andy will only pile in if I’m out of tune – he doesn’t control my voice at all. He may control the level in the mix (with James Frazee), but I’m very much in control of the songs. He only hears the finished article. I’ve no idea about similarities. You could be right – I just write what comes to me at the time and it’s a gift of which I’m truly grateful. If the voice is sounding similar to you – I’m happy – I’m 25 years older.

 

 

 

 

donald mease: the emperor carries on like a sixth grader bluffing his way through a game of strip poker left in nothing but a long red necktie over the itty bitty bits he over compensates for otherwise how youns doin?

 

IH: You’ll be fine.

 

 

 

 

Tom McGarry: Seems to me that many newish artists flood the market with music while they are “hot” and perhaps don’t practice sensible quality control. Have you ever suffered serious writers block and how did you get out of it without releasing music that wasn’t what you would be happy with but perhaps pressurised by record labels ie how do you maintained the balance?

 

IH: I stopped for years in the 90’s (7 or 8 years). Started over aged 50! One day I started writing, “Now is the Time” and I knew it was time to come back. Of course, ‘coming back

 Isn’t so easy at 50. It was a bit of a slog there for a while. Lebels aren’t quite so keen; gigs are tiny – but you ‘gotta hang in’ as a chap once said to me.

 

 

 

 

Scott: It so bugs me that talent like David Werner was never recognized because of a lousy label!! Do you think Mott had that issue as well?

 

IH: Island Records was a great label – unfortunately, they didn’t understand Mott the Hoople. Fortunately, Guy Stevens held the fort. Island stuck with us for four albums that didn’t sell – who does that?  Having said that – they were also our booking agent and we did the business!  CBS got us right with ‘Dudes’ then ‘Memphis’ etc. 

 

 

 

 

Nick Namaqui: I know it’s way back in history, but ‘Mad Shadows’ – which is an album I really love – saw Mott moving in a somewhat progressive, even soul (‘I can feel’), direction. Was there any specific reason for this – like Guy Stevens wanted Mott to sound more sophisticated or something – or was it just how the songs fell out?

 

IH:  I blame me and Guy Stevens for ‘Mad Shadows’. You either get it or you don’t.

 

 

 

 

Dru:    When the Stones were replacing Brian Jones do you remember who you thought would be a good fit? When the Stones were replacing Mick Taylor do you remember who you thought would be a good fit?

 

IH: Mick Ralphs or Ronno would have been ideal.

 

 

 

 

Mike Costanzo: I don’t believe Mott ever appeared on American Bandstand, please correct me if I’m wrong. If not, did you ever come close or get asked, or was it just bad timing?

 

IH: Sorry, Mike, can’t recall.

 

 

Anyway…….off to work again.

 

Talk soon

 

 

IH

The Horse’s Mouth