Don't forget to check www.ianhunter.com for the latest official Ian Hunter news.
Don't forget to check www.mickronson.com for the latest official Mick Ronson news.
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.
April 2008 saw the relase of an Ian Hunter album called Behind The Shades, containing one disc's worth of material edited down from the The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nuthin' But The Truth CD. This is live material recorded at the Astoria Theater in London in May 2004, and features Andy York (guitar), Mick Ralphs (guitar), Gus Goad (bass), Ian Gibbons (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums). There is also a live acoustic version of All The Young Dudes included as a bonus track.
Ian Hunter completed an acoustic tour of the UK in February 2008, playing ten dates in a trio that included James Mastro and Steve Holley. He unveiled a few unusual songs, including Where Do You All Come From, Rain, and Where Do You All Come From, Scars and Sweet Jane. Amy Speace played in the support slot.
On 12 February 2008, Amerian Beat Records in the USA issued a two-fer CD pairing All American Alien Boy and Overnight Angels. The non-LP single England Rocks is the only bonus track.
Three new Mott The Hoople compilations were issued at the end of 2007. Super Hits is a USA re-package of the 1997 title of the same name, with a new cover. All The Young Dudes - Their Best is a single-disc compilation from Holland, with tracks culled from the A Tale of Two Cities album. Finally, All The Young Dudes - Demos and Live '71-'74 is a 12 inch red vinyl album issued by Cleopatra, containing tracks licensed from Angel Air.
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. There is also a review of the recent Mott The Hoople Live at Fairfields Hall, Croydon 1970 CD, which was issued by Angel Air in October (UK Angel Air SJPCD-250)
Mick Ronson received the Tommy Vance Inspiration Award from Classic Rock in a ceremony at the Landmark Hotel in London. Suzi Ronson, Lisa Ronson, Ian Hunter, and Mick Ralphs were all in attendace.
Ian Hunter's album Shrunken Heads was nominated for Album of the Year by Classic Rock Magazine, and the winner was voted on by the fans. (It did not win). But Ian Hunter and Mick Ralphs were present at the awards ceremony at the Landmark Hotel in London on 5 Nov 2007, where Mick Ronson received the Tommy Vance Inspiration award.
Ian Hunter played two dates with the Rant Band in the USA in December 2007: The Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY on Friday, 14 Dec 2007 and the Trocadero, Philadelphia PA on Saturday, 15 Dec 2007. These dates followed an October 2007 tour of the UK by the Rant Band.
Jerkin' Crocus in the UK has issued the first single from Ian Hunter's critically acclaimed album Shrunken Heads on 26 Nov 2007 (set back from 22 Oct 2007). 'When The World Was Round' will be available in three formats: a 7 inch picture disc, a CD single, and a DVD single. Each format will be on sale for £1.99, or all three can be bought for £3.99. 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. Pre-orders are available now from Townsend Records.
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.
Radio shows: My Planet Rocks: On 21 Jul 2007, Ian Hunter appeared on Planet Rock, for an hour-long show called My Planet Rocks. 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. Ian Hunter was featured on the WXPN Free At Noon concert series, performing in Philadelphia PA on Friday, 22 June 2007. Ian Hunter appeared on the Steve Jones radio show on 13 June 2007. Ian Hunter appeared on the syndicated radio show Rockline on 2 May 2007, answering phone calls and previewing his new album.
Ian Hunter performed just before the start of the Cleveland Grand Prix in Cleveland OH on Sunday, 24 June 2007.
Ian Hunter appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on 12 June 2007, performing Words (Big Mouth) and sitting down with Craig for a very entertaining interview.
Ian Hunter played a few USA dates in June 2007: Las Vegas NV Four Queens Hotel (June 14), Agoura Hills CA Canyon Club (June 15), San Juan Capistrano CA Coach House (June 16), Los Angeles CA Key Club (June 17).
The latest in the MVD Under Review series will hit stores on 24 April 2007, and includes a DVD documentary about Mott The Hoople. 'Mott The Hoople - Under Review is a 90-minute documentary film charting the career and music of one of Rock musics most influential yet all too often neglected bands. Despite being championed by many of modern cultures coolest names - from David Bowie and Morrissey to the Clash and the Sex Pistols (not forgetting Barry Manilow covering an Ian Hunter tune!) - until now, this extraordinary group has rarely had the recognition it deserves. Features review, commentary, critique and insight from: Morgan Fisher - the man behind the unique keyboard sound that the band achieved; Mick Jones - Clash guitarist/co-songwriter, and many more.'
In the UK, Ian Hunter's album Shrunken Heads was released on 14 May by Jerkin' Crocus. Townsend Records, in association with IanHunter.com, offered a limited edition of the European release which included a bonus disc with three tracks not included in the general release, 'Your Eyes', 'Wasted' and 'Real or Imaginary'.
Ian Hunter has signed with Yep Roc Records in the USA. His new album, Shrunken Heads, was issued on 15 May 2007. Track list: Words (Big Mouth); Fuss About Nothing; When the World Was Round; Brainwashed; Shrunken Heads; Soul Of America; How's Your House?; Guiding Light; I Am What I Hated; Read 'em and Weep. The first 500 pre-orders received a limited edition bonus disc containing Your Eyes, Wasted, and Real Or Imaginary.
One More Chance To Run - Live Germany 1978 (UK Angel Air NJPDVD631) will be issued on DVD by Angel Air on 4 June 2007. The track list includes One More Chance To Run; Fork Talking Man; Come On; International Heroes; My Life In Your Hands; Wild In The Streets; Booster; Wild One; Eat The Rich . Bonus features include 20 minutes of John Fiddler 'unplugged' material, featuring One More Chance To Run; Big Drift Away; Only The Roses; Return Of The Buffalo; Strong Heart. All band members have co-operated in the release, and it includes interviews with JOHN FIDDLER, OVEREND WATTS, DALE GRIFFIN, MORGAN FISHER, and RAY MAJOR.
Ian Hunter has announced ten UK dates for October 2007. Glasgow Scotland Fruitmarket (20 Oct); Newcastle England Carling Academy (21 Oct); Oxford England The Zodiac (23 Oct); Liverpool England Carling Academy 2 (24 Oct); Bilston England The Robin 2 (25 Oct); Southampton England The Brook (26 Oct); London England Sheperds Bush Empire (28 Oct); Brighton England Komedia (30 Oct).
Ian Hunter has announced five Norway dates for May 2007. These shows will feature the full band: 22 May 2007 Haugesund (Byscenen); 23 May 2007 Stavanger (Concerthouse); 24 May 2007 Trondheim (Blues Club); 25 May 2007 Lillehammer (Rock Weekend Festival); 26 May 2007 Bergen (venue to be named soon).
Ian Hunter has announced three UK dates for May 2007. These will be acoustic shows: 13 May 2007 Glasgow (King Tut's); 14 May 2007 Birmingham (Glee Club); and 15 May 2007 London (Pigalle Club). These are all small clubs and are now SOLD OUT.
The Ariel Bender Band have more 2007 dates planned. They are scheduled for the Classic Rock Festival in Sandnes, Norway (18 May 2007) and the Colne Rock and Blues Festival (26 Aug 2007).
Ian Hunter, The Zombies, and The Charms shared the bill at a handful of California dates in March 2007: The Raven Theater, Healdsburg CA (14 Mar); The Fillmore, San Francisco CA (15 Mar); The Music Box at Fonda, Los Angeles CA (16 Mar); and The Grove, Anaheim CA (17 Mar).
The Journey A Retrospective of Mott the Hoople and Ian Hunter is a new compilation issued by Sony UK on 13 Nov 2006. The 3xCD digipack release will include tracks covering the entire career of Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter, from Mott The Hoople's self-titled debut through Ian Hunter's 2001 album Rant. The set will inclyude three previously unreleased Ian Hunter tracks: I'm in Awe, Avalanche, and Morons (alternate version).
A live Bad Company CD was due from Angel Air in the summer of 2006. Live In Albuquerque 1976 (UK Angel Air SJPCD 221), as the name suggests, is a two-disc set recorded during the band's 1976 Burnin’ Through America tour. It is the first-ever live Bad Company album to capture the group at the peak of their powers in the Seventies. Unfortunately, the album was withdrawn just before release, and the few promotional copies that slipped out now command top dollar in collector circles.
The debut Mott album Drive On is scheduled to be reissued in the USA on the Wounded Bird label. Wounded Bird specializes in exact reissues of albums from the 60s, 70s and 80s and recently reissued the first three Mott The Hoople CDs. Conflicting reports put the release date as either July 2006 or September 2006.
Ten Mott The Hoople CDs have been issued in Japan in July 2006, all featuring card sleeves and bonus tracks. Universal has issued Mott The Hoople, Mad Shadows, Wildlife, Brain Capers, and Two Miles From Heaven. These five discs are also available as a promo box set designated Mott The Hooople Volume 1. Sony has issued All The Young Dudes, Mott, The Hoople, Live,(the 2 CD version) and Greatest Hits. These five titles are also available as a promo box set, designated Mott The Hoople Volume 2. All the bonus tracks are previously released.
A new live Mott The Hoople CD was issued by Angel Air on 3 July 2006. Live Fillmore West, San Francisco (UK Angel Air SJPCD 226), combines 1970 and 1971 recordings at the legendary venue with a previously unreleased studio track, Wreck of the Liberty Belle. Track List: Angel Of Eighth Avenue, It'll Be Me, Walkin' With A Mountain, Whiskey Woman, Darkness Darkness, No Wheels To Ride, Rock'n'Roll Queen, At The Crossroads, Keep a' Knockin', Thunderbuck Ram, Laugh At Me, You Really Got Me, and Wreck Of The Liberty Belle.
The British Lions' debut album, British Lions, was reissued in Japan in 2006 in an LP-style cardboard cover (Japan Archive AIRAC-1231). The release includes the same eight bonus tracks as the the Angel Air release.
Ian Hunter appeared at For The Love Of Arthur at the Beacon Theater in New York NY on 23 June 2006. The show was a benefit for Arthur Lee of the band Love, who is being treated for leukemia. The lineup included Flashy Python anf the Body Snatchers, Garland Jeffreys (with Mark Bosch on guitar), Yo La Tengo, Johnny Echols, Gavin DeGraw, Ryan Adams, Nils Lofgren, Ian Hunter, and Robert Plant. Ian's Rant Band (Andy York, James Mastro, Andy Burton, Tony Shanahan, and Steve Holley) backed Nils Lofgren, Ian Hunter, and Robert Plant. Ian did a six-song set, and returned to sing a duet with Robert Plant on the Everly Brothers' song When Will I Be Loved.
John Fiddler sings lead on the song Miracle on the new Pete Haycock album Bikers Dozen. John co-wrote the song as well. The album is available from www.petehaycock.com.
Ray Majors and Sandy Dillion are now husband and wife.
