Ian Hunter | June 2026 | Horse’s Mouth

 

Me again……….

  

Dru: Do you think Pete Watts would have been a good fit with Bowie?

It’s ironic that at one time the industry wanted material from you but you didn’t have time to write. Now you have plenty material with nothing but time to write, but the industry says you can’t saturate the market.

 

IH: Yes, and no – Pete was a great ‘showman’ as well as a great bass player. David already had Ronno to contend with – and Pete could be stubborn.

 

 

 

 

Joe Wyatt: Hi Ian, I saw an article from 2019 written by Joe Elliot. In said article he said he thought Mr. V Allen’s songwriting efforts for Mott were basically not worth the hassle and were recorded to ‘keep the peace’. What are your thoughts on this? I think he’s well wide of the mark myself. Cheers Ian, I hope you’re well!

 

IH: Phally still is a really great organist. I don’t feel qualified enough to comment further.

 

 

 

 

Jem H: Ian – Mott’s the story (again, sorry, this is the last reference to it by me) – your quote in the middle of p451, Wow! I didn’t see that one coming… I’ve also enjoyed the references to Roxy (Music) and Andy Mackay, in particular… Thanx man, and continued good health…

 

IH: You’re welcome!

 

 

 

 

David Gray: Hi Ian, Happy belated birthday from an Obanite who became a fan following the TOTP appearance for “Midnight Lady”. I was 7!

 

IH: That’s when you get ‘em!!

 

 

 

 

Dina Coleman: Mott and your solo stuff have been huge influences in my life! I saw you on Long Island and I had my hand on your guitar while you were playing All the young dudes and you let me keep it there and that was amazing and something I’ll never forget!!! My question is do you remember giving your hotel room to Gregory Pastorius, Jaco’s brother after some gig , I’m not sure of the details. You were leaving town and Gregory didn’t have a room and you gave him your suite. Do you remember? Unfortunately Gregory since passed- but he was a great, great friend of mine and a wonderful artist and he remembered you kindly. Much love to you!!

 

IH: Don’t remember – too far back. Could have happened. Jaco was great to be around back then. Good times.

 

 

 

 

Mike Costanzo: David Byrne (Talking Heads) wrote a book titled “How Music Works.” It contains a ton of information about recorded music history as well as his own musical upbringing. Whats is really revealing is just how the industry works and how the artist is often left to fend for himself financially. Every deal the artist signs has a downside, and Byrne explains the viscous cycle of constant recording and touring. Also how Spotify and Amazon rip off the artist. I really give you, and anyone who’s ever signed a record deal, credit for hanging in there. Byrne told a story where he received $200,000 to make an album and was left with a $7,000 profit when all was said and done. Ouch. He strongly suggests exactly what you are doing, which is record your own stuff in your own studio, as well as writing your own songs. Byrne, as well as you, have both come out of all of this a bit ahead, along with your sanity intact I now feel like i’ve walked in your shoes, and thank you even more for all you do to bring us your music.

 

IH: One adapts accordingly!!

 

 

 

 

Scott: Nope, still no book from Rufus Publications. They totally ignore my emails also!! The money is bad enough but I really wanted the book!! I guess I will just have to be happy with Defiance 3. I hope to see a Defiance box set one day also!! I hope you are well.

 

IH: I don’t know what to tell you. I know people were waiting. Campbell Devine was waiting – but he’s got his now. It’s not like they’re a small company – I just don’t get it. I don’t know these people personally, but I will see what I can do.

 

 

 

 

Dave Grant: I have to agree with Scott in the last Horse’s Mouth (#280) when he said that Rufus Publications was a rip-off. I paid £550 in July 2025 for the signed edition, and it’s never arrived, and Rufus Publications don’t answer emails. Avoid them at all costs, people.

 

IH: OK I’m going to follow this up.  I’ve just spoken to my Guy – we are trying to sort it out.

 

 

 

 

Andrey: Hi Ian! I hope you’re doing well. Could you share a funny story from your career? Maybe something amusing that happened to you and Ronno?

 

IH:  Every day was fun with Mick. After the shows in the dressing rooms – he would tell the same joke – every night. The joke wasn’t even that funny, but he laughed so much at his own joke that everybody else did too. Mott were fun – that was a big part of what Rock was all about.

 

 

 

 

Gina Wall: In the ’70’s I followed you everywhere you’d tour in Nj/NY area.My Father’s Place and all the other venues. I used to call myself your number one fan and always wore a blue carnation behind my ear at all tgr shows.Anyway,I was in a very bad car accident and the one thing that survived the wreck was the license plate that said’ Ian H ‘ I was in a big white neck brace and you were doing record stores plugging Welcome to the club.I came and brought the license plate.You and Mick signed my neck brace.Which I have.And a photographer from Rolling Stones Mag. took photos of it all .I know it was years back.But thought I’d see if by chance it rang a bell.I have photos but didn’t know how to show you.I was front row for every show and you used to point us ,me and my boyfriend out.Raven opened for you one time and one of the members grabbed me as he was coming off stage and brought me back stage,you saw I was young (17)and not happy to be there and you took me by you and Mick and walked me back out front.I’ll never forget how kind you were.Still have everything you put out albums,books,the original Diary of a Rock Star soft cover..Thanks for the years of you.The music,your words.You have always been a class act.Sorry so long.This is short considering the years of stories I can remember. Happy belated~gina~

 

IH: What a lovely letter, Gina. Much appreciated. Great days (apart from the car wreck).

 

 

 

 

Julian Richards: I know Defiance 3 is on its way, have you got a few songs started for Defiance 4. 😁

 

IH: One great lyric with a lousy song, and one great song with a lousy lyric!

 

 

 

 

Joe D: Was Leon Russell an influence in your Piano Style? I’ve heard some of his early stuff & I can hear some similarities

 

IH: Percussively, I’m similar; my rhythm’s good – but he’s light years ahead of me at actual playing. I’m a piano strummer!

 

 

 

 

Whalespoon: A quick question about songwriting…Some folks like Dylan and John Fogerty have been known to carry around notebooks to jot down ideas for songs or lines that spontaneously come to them that are later fashioned into songs. Do you do that or have you ever done it in the past?

 

IH: Oh, yes. You learn the hard way. You think, ‘Oh that’s so great, I’ll remember it.” – and then you don’t. I’ve got paper and pen with me at all times (and, alas, reading glasses)!

 

 

 

 

John Rafferty: In the song Sea Diver, do you sing ‘iron veil’ or ‘iron bell’. This is driving me crazy. Every lyric site transcribes it as ‘iron veil’ but I not only think you sing ‘bell’ but I also think it fits the metaphor better – where else would you find a diver than in a diving bell? I think people forget there used to be such things as diving bells. ‘Oh Lord, I wish I could escape this iron bell’ That looks right to me. Please resolve as it’s driving me crazy. You are my last hope.

 

IH: Sorry, John – it’s iron veil…..

 

 

 

 

John Christopher Tagg: Ian, just to tell you I was seventeen when you did all the young dudes I was in love with a young girlfriend and the record was mind blowing..loved all your music ever since..you was the perfect rock star image..fabulous..

 

IH: Cheers, John

 

 

 

 

Adrian Perkins: Hi Ian, Scott (Horses Mouth, June 2026) isn’t the only one who hasn’t received the photo book from Rufus Publications. There are quite a few others, myself included! Anything you can do to help would be much appreciated.

 

IH: I’m waiting on a call now.

 

 

 

 

Bill Milks: 53 years of enjoying your music. And, I enjoy your post MTH work as much as the MTH output. So, when you right a song such as The Truth…or Pavlov’s Dog, do you envision the slide guitar or does (did) Mr. Ronson and Mr. DeLeo suggest that?

 

IH: Just gave it to Dean and it’s all him and his ideas. Great stuff!! Same with Ronno!!

 

 

 

 

Kevin Broom: I just wanted to express my love and appreciation for you. I’m a rock & roll child. My music is online under The Growling Owls. I had a special experience in Italy while onstage performing one of your songs. I was hoping to have the outside chance to share this experience with you if possible.

 

IH: Can you share your Italian story here, Kevin – I’m not on any socials.

 

 

 

 

Bob Boyle: Blue Oyster Cult Agents Of Fortune album turns 50 Had Sandy Pearlman put in a request for you to cameo on the Agents track ‘True Confessions’ would you have done so ? I think the song sounds way too damn close to your piano styling and overall creative output anyway were they just putting this one out as an album filler ? an honest tribute to you, or a clever attempt at niche-ing it ? always wondered about this but BOC is a Columbia affiliate so i guess its All In The Family

 

IH: No idea at all about this one.

 

 

 

 

Bruce Wilk: Wisconsin here. Just ran across the band, BIAS, randomly on Spotify. Your name shows up with 3 or 4 others including Cassie Beizsley. Can’t seem to find info on the band. You are listed on all 9 tracks. Can you provide some insigt? Thanks and keep the music coming.

 

IH: I think there might be an Ian Hunter in the band BIA – but it ain’t me.

 

 

 

 

Matthew Peyton: Both a question and an apology, sir. One day when I was about 17 years old, I was riding home through Central Park to the model boat pond where I had just a few years previous gone for ice creams with mum. There was a very big gentleman in a full tuxedo carrying a tray of champagne with what my 17 year-old mind could’ve only imagine was “a famous rockstar”. Anyhow… Being a cheeky and curious lad I asked if you were in Led Zeppelin. So my apology on that one. In my own defense, we didn’t have video… It was the very beginning of all that. I’ve seen the video since. It’s awesome. Do you have any recollection of that day? You two looked like quite a vision… In my mind that day is still what “a famous rockstar” would look like. Well done. And also, you were right. All the good ones *are* taken.

 

IH: I was in a boat with that ‘very big gentleman’ and we were slowly inking owing to his prodigious weight. I was miming to a small floating record player!  We survived.

 

 

 

 

Peter Jordan: I just came across a video for Honaloochie Boogie in which you (especially!) and the band were really ‘Glammed up!’ Lord what were you wearing?? In the past you’ve been quoted to the effect that it’ s a slight song that doesn’t mean much and also how desperate you were at that time to prove Mott could write their own hit(s)! Have you any memories of making that video and did you ‘surrender’ to whoever dreamed it up in order to catch a trend? The clothes certainly didn’t fit with the lyrics and none of you look comfortable! Always liked the song which i’m not criticising ….. you’ve done plenty that are deep and meaningful and changed attitudes and lives. You can read us saying similar on HM all the time!

 

IH: Pete started it!! Mick was reluctant; Buff would do what Pete wanted; Phally thought it was a bit daft – I was just happy to be there. Whatever it took to get to the next level!

 

 

 

 

Ken Lucas: Haven’t asked you anything since you played in Chicago for the Mott 74 tour which I attended and loved it. Did you read the Mad magazine parody of Jaws in the 70’s where the Richard Dreyfus character was called Mott Hoople? Just wondering. I grew up on Mad and to have them mention MTH then was cool. Thanks for your music and you have responded to my nonsense in the past. Rock on!

 

IH: Actually, I did not know that (Mad Magazine). Nice One.

 

 

 

 

Tim Hewston: Ian, Grant’s Rock Warehaus has now completed its epic coverage of all Ian Hunter studio solo albums up to ‘Defiance Part 2.’ (It covered all Mott the Hoople studio albums prior to embarking on this heroic journey.) https://www.youtube.com/live/xMya88u1JCQ?si=f-y62uAh9gg0V8rI And the conclusion? That the great man (that being you) just gets better and better with each subsequent album. Amen to that. I remember a time – in the late 70s and early 80s – when there was both great excitement and a frisson of trepidation when we heard that a new Ian Hunter album was about to come out. But not nowadays. Today we are impossibly smug and like cats surrounded by bowlfuls of cream, in the certain knowledge that the next album will start at excellent and get better from there. And the thought of a world without a new Ian Hunter album on the horizon is simply too unbearable to contemplate, the world being troubling enough as it is. So, here’s to the impending release of ‘Defiance Part 3,’ or whatever it will be called, with at least a couple more by the end of the decade. In the words of a certain Mr. Ian Hunter, “Is that too much to ask?” Rumor has it that Arlen Roth is on the next one. Anyone else we might have heard of? (OK, I had to look Arlen Roth up, but he does say that he has performed and recorded with you; in fact, he lists you first on Wikipedia, ahead of such lightweights as Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy, Pete Seeger, John Prine, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Rick Wakeman etc. So, he can’t be all bad.)

 

IH: Arlen’s lovely. I just looked at a bit of “Grant’s Rock Warehaus” – how nice of them to do me!! Thanks for having me, chaps!!

 

 

 

 

Tom McGarry: Greetings from the north of Scotland where I’m badly needing the release of Defiance 3 to help me recover from our poor World Cup efforts. You very kindly signed my copy of the “ Live in the UK” CD last time you played the Lemon Tree Aberdeen. The best concerts of my life involve you and Ronno and you and the Ranters but I’m wondering if there is anything left in the vaults of possible live releases from any time in your career? Love, best wishes and thanks for the great memories. Stay well.

 

IH: Yeah, sorry ‘bout that.  That’s a Trudi question. Tru? 

We have a lot of shows recorded from way back,but never thought there was any interest.  T

 

 

 

 

Matt Nojonen: Dear Mr. Hunter, I am on the verge of retirement. Do you think you will ever fully retire or are you likely to keep your hand in music somewhere, producing, writing, guesting, etc.?

 

IH: I’ll still write, ‘cos that’s what I do. It doesn’t get easier when you’re not gigging, but life is a one-way street. Dunno about retirement – what’s that?  Golf? I don’t play.

 

 

 

 

Keith Gooden: Hi Ian Just trawling through some of the old albums and enjoying every second! I saw a few years back that you were dealing with tinnitus. Probably due to missed Marshall and Hiwatt! Hope you’ve go it under control. Just wanted to thank you for the soundtrack. And the shades! Thanks for it all! Keith          

 

IH: You’re welcome. Tinnitus is not a nice thing to have, but everybody gets something. I just wish they’d add more bass into hearing aids. They’re so top end. Even the ones with EQ.

 

 

 

 

Jon White: Hi Ian, I’ve just listened to a podcast interview with Mari Wilson. She told some wonderful stories about hanging out with Mott The Hoople in 1970 – the flat in Stonor Rd, listening to Neil Young and Crazy horse with Mick Ralphs and making you a bacon sandwich! It got me thinking – all of that was before Mott made it ‘big’, so was it more fun when you were on the way up than when you had the hits? It’s that old saying … It’s better to travel hopefully than to arrive.

 

IH: Well, it’s a lot of fun before the hits, but you’re skint. And it’s not quite so much fun when you have hits, but you’re no longer brassic. Hard to get to the right place. No hits plus money!!

 

 

 

 

Dru: In hindsight would Mick Jones have been a good replacement for Mick Ralphs ?

 

IH: The honest answer to that is – I don’t know.

 

 

 

 

Ellen: Hi! I do not have a question, but I just wanted to say that I have enjoyed your music for a long time. The only chance I got to see you live was on the Rant tour in KY and I met you outside the venue before and after the show. It was an extremely happy time for me. I’ve been playing your music for my teenager and he is digging it. I just would like to say thank you for the music and the memories. It means a lot, still.

 

IH: Cheers, Ellen; say hello to your son.

 

 

 

 

gary walden: Ian…Thank you for the thank you letter you sent me for sending you a copy of one of my books…..I will treasure it forever. If you want a copy of the book where I included an “updated” version of my take of your wonderful song “Irene Wilde”. ..I will send you a copy as another thank you for inspiring me in writing lyrics. You’re awesome! Take care to you and Trudi.

 

IH:  Look forward to it Gary!

 

 

 

 

Raymond: 1973, I’m 13 years old, reading some fan magazine. Side by side articles discussing Mott the Hoople and Brownsville Station covers of Sweet Jane. Did not know the song, but was impressed enough to immediately buy both albums. I loved both versions. I’ve been a fan ever since. When I bought All American Alien Boy, I was surprised that two of my many sisters loved the album (they were not Mott the Hoople fans). Years later, visiting them, I found that they had each bought their own copies, in vinal, then again in CD later still. I loved Jerry Weems guitar playing, it had a lot of punch. I took one of these sisters to see you when you played Ottawa for your Y U I Orta tour, with Mick Ronson. Another great album, and a great show. Back to Jerry Weems, too bad you were not able to tour with the AAAB band, was there a particular reason? It would be nice to hear how you came accrocs Jerry Weems, what you thought of his playing, and how the recording for AAAB went. Being from Eastern Canada, I was surprised to see Bob Segarini (of the Wackers) providing backing vocals on You Nearly Did Me In, did you know him or was this a management thing? Thanks

 

IH: Gerry Weems was in a band that opened for Ronno and me on tour, and I really liked his playing. Mick couldn’t do ‘All American Alien Boy’ for management reasons and scoffed when I said I was thinking of Gerry. When Mick ‘Scoffed’ – I knew I was right!! I thought he was quality. Aynsley was on drums; Jaco on bass – nobody was complaining!  We didn’t tour because the album was poorly received. People wanted more of the same and this wasn’t the same. It’s thought much better of these days, and Ronno said later on it was his favourite album of mine. You’re not supposed to buck the system. Bob Segarini was a management thing.

 

 

 

 

Malcolm Lay: I saw a good new band called Parker Barrow at a festival last week and they were excellent and the crowd loved them but they need to take the next step and need someone like you to guide them so they can progress ……they are influenced i think by the Black Crowes but ………..my question is . How and who gave Mott the guidance and advice about taking the next step to being a serious band that will sell out,stage presence,set list,stage fashion etc….I guess Bowie perhaps,Guy Stevens?? Also do you get bands asking you for help now etc???? as you have so much to offer.

 

IH: Guy was responsible, initially – then we grew ourselves for a while, and afterward, David came on board. Initially everybody needs somebody – influences 0 Pete with the fashion; Buff with album credits – that side of things Island Records hung in with us through 4 albums that didn’t sell. Chris Blackwell – who’s like him these days? I was good at set lists – stage presence was all of us.  It was scary, but we were always saved by the bell – until we weren’t.

 

 

 

 

Mark F: Local summer free concert series for July 30th featured Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts. Miles is the son of Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen. Did you ever cross paths with Cheap Trick?

 

IH: Know them quite well actually – great people – great music.

And a great ending too!

 

 

Until next time! 

IH

The Horse’s Mouth

 

p.s.  I talked to Wilf about the ‘Rufus’ situation. There’s a guy named Mark who says sometimes it’s “a bad address” or sometimes they get held up in customs.

If you haven’t received the book yet, please put your name and order number into the next Horse’s Mouth and I’ll pass it on to Wilf.

Mark also says mistakes sometimes happen. 

 

That’s all I know.