Don't forget to check www.ianhunter.com for the latest official Ian Hunter 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.
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)
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).
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.
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.
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).
Ian Hunter made a couple guest appearances in December 2006. Ian appeared with the Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland OH on 1/2 Dec, performing Cleveland Rocks and All The Young Dudes. On 15 Dec, he appeared at Carnegie Hall with Alejandro Escovedo, performing Irene Wilde and I Wish I Was Your Mother.
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).
Ian Hunter is putting the finishing touches on a new studio album called Shrunken Heads. Andy York, Mark Bosch, Jack Petruzzelli, James Mastro, Steve Holley, Graham Maby, Andy Burton have all contributed to it. Some of the new song titles are rumoured to be Shrunken Heads, Guiding Light and Words (Bigmouth).
Three Ian Hunter CDs have been issued in Japan in July 2006, featuring card sleeves and bonus tracks. Sony has issued Ian Hunter, All American Alien Boy, and Overnight Angels. All the bonus tracks are previously released.
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.
Ian Hunter opened a show for Dave Mason at the Xanadu Theater at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City NJ on 13 May 2006. He performed a semi-acoustic set with Andy York, James Mastro, and Steve Holley.
On 3 April 2006, Sony UK reissued a 30th Anniversary edition of All American Alien Boy, with six bonus tracks: To Rule Britannia from Union Jack (Session outtake); All American Alien Boy (Early Single Version); Irene Wilde (Session Outtake); Weary Anger (Session Outtake); Apathy (Session Outtake); (God) Advise to a Friend (Session Outtake).
Ian Hunter and Andy York joined the Fab Faux onstage on 4 March 2006 at the Premier Music Hall in Danbury CT, performing Keep A Knockin'. The Fab Faux includes Rant contributor Rich Pagano and Rant Band member Jack Petruzzelli.
At the inaugural Classic Rock Magazine awards at Cafe De Paris in London in November 2005, Ian Hunter was honored as the Classic Songwriter. Other award winner were Lemmy Kilmister (Living Legend), Deep Purple (Classic Album), Judas Priest (Metal Guru), Arthur Brown (Showman), Billy Idol (Comeback of the Year), The Answer (Best New Band), Neil Warnock (V.I.P.), and Tommy Vance( Inspiration).
The Ian Hunter live DVD Just Another Night was issued in the USA in NTSC format by Secret Records in October 2005. The DVD was filmed 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). It also featured a guest appearance by Brian May of Queen.
Ian Hunter and his Rant Band had scheduled a handful of USA dates for July and August 2005, but a back injury forced Ian to cancel.
In July 2005, Secret Records in the UK issued the soundtrack to the Just Another Night as a double CD called The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nuthin' But The TruthThe show was filmed 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). It also featured a guest appearance by Brian May of Queen.
Ian Hunter's 2005 tour included dates in the USA (March), and Europe and the UK (April and May). The tour included stops in the USA, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England, Scotland, and Wales. The band included Ian Hunter, Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Graham Maby (bass), Andy Burton (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums). Stan Tippins served as tour manager once again.
A new Ian Hunter live DVD, Just Another Night, was released by Secret Records in the UK in April 2005. The show was filmed 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). It also featured a guest appearance by Brian May of Queen.
The Ian Hunter live DVD and CD Strings Attached was be issued in the USA by Sanctuary in March 2005. The DVD was recorded live in Oslo in January 2002 with a 17 piece string section.
Ian Hunter appears on a track on Ozzy Osbourne's upcoming Prince Of Darkness box set. Ian and James Mastro made an appearance on Ozzy's recording of All The Young Dudes, which will appear on the set. The set was originally to be called Bible of Ozz and will be released in March 2005.
Ian Hunter appeared on Jools Holland's New Year's Eve Hootenany TV show on 31 December 2004. The show was broadcast on BBC 2 in the UK and reached 3 million viewers. Ian played four songs, including All The Young Dudes and A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square.
Ian Hunter played three dates in the New York City area in December 2004: Fri Dec 10 - The Stone Pony, Asbury Park NJ; Sat Dec 11 - The Downtown, Farmingdale NY; Sun Dec 12 - BB Kings, New York NY.
Ian Hunter contributed a track to Por Vida, a tribute album to Alejandro Escovedo. The double CD features a new Ian Hunter studio recording of the Alejandro Escovedo song One More Time, featuring Andy York and James Mastro. The CD was being issued by Or Music and includes contributions from John Cale, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, The Minus 5, Son Volt, The Cowboy Junkies, Chris Stamey, Bob Neuwirth, Charlie Sexton and many others.
Ian Hunter played a month of gigs in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Russia from May-June 2004. His band will include Mick Ralphs (guitar), Andy York (guitar), Gus Goad (bass), Ian Gibbons (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums).
Ian Hunter played a week of gigs in the New York City area in March 2004. His band included Andy York (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Tony Shanahan (bass), Andy Burton (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums). The dates are: 1 March 2004 - BB King's Blues Club, New York NY; 3 March - Crocodile Rock Café, Allentown PA; 4 March - The Downtown, Farmingdale NY; 5 March - The Chance, Poughkeepsie NY; and 6 March - The Stone Pony, Asbury Park NJ.
Strings Attached is the title of a new Ian Hunter live DVD and companion 2 CD set, recorded live in Oslo in January 2002. The DVD is confirmed to have been released in Norway, Germany, UK, Australia, and Canada. The double CD is confirmed in Norway, Germany, and the UK. Please be aware that the Canadian DVD release is the only one in the NTSC format for Region 1 (North America).
The Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson album YUI Orta has been reissued in the UK by Lemon Records (UK Lemon CDLEM06). Lemon is a subsidiary of Cherry Red Records. the reissue includes the 1971 Ronno single Fourth Hour of My Sleep / Powers of Darkness as bonus tracks.
Ian Hunter played the Mercury Lounge in NYC on 3 September 2003, as part of a benefit concert for Alejandro Escovedo. Ian play an hour-long set, topping a bill that also featured Willie Nile, Levon Helm and the Last Hombres, Mary Lee's Corvette, Los Lonely Boys, Cindy Bullens, and Tammy Faye Starlight. Visit www.alejandrofund.com to learn about other Alejandro Escovedo benefit concerts, or to contribute to the cause.
BMG Special Markets released a CD called Extended Versions by Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band. The material was recorded live on the 2001 Ringo Starr tour, and lists Ian Hunter's Still Love Rock 'n' Roll. The disc actually includes Irene Wilde.
Ian Hunter appears on the latest CD by Martin's Folly, sharing the vocals on I Wish I Was Your Mother. The disc is called From Hope (USA Johnson's Wax Records) and was released in March 2003. See the Martin's Folly site for more information.
Ian Hunter drummer Steve Holley released his first solo album, The Reluctant Dog (UK Angel Air SJPCD 133), on 13 March 2003. The album includes thirteen songs written and sung by Steve, and musicians include Denny Laine, Huw Gower, and Gail Ann Dorsey. Steve is also touring the US with Dar Williams in April and May.
Ian Hunter appeared at the Waltz V at Cabaret Metro in Chicago IL on March 8th. Ian performed two songs (Dead man Walkin' and Wash Us Away) at the show, accompanied by Andy York, James Mastro, and the Nick Tremulis Orchestra. The benefit show for the Heartland Alliance's Neon Street Programs for Homeless Teens also featured David Johansen, Graham Parker, James Chance, Ivan Julian, Alejandro Escovedo, and others. There are links to reviews on the Waltz V website.
A DVD of Ringo Starr's 2001 All-Starr Band was released on 1 Oct 2002 in the USA, and 14 Oct 2002 in Europe. The disc includes 19 songs from the Rosemont Theater in Chicago IL, and bonus interview footage. Two Ian Hunter songs are included, and All The Young Dudes. (A Pay-Per-View special of the show was also broadcast on 11 Aug 2002.) On 6 Aug 2002, King Biscuit Records released a live CD from the same show. King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Ringo Starr and his New All Starr Band contains 16 tracks, including All The Young Dudes. Visit the King Biscuit site for more information.
Angel Air released a new album by the Darrell Bath/John Plain band The Crybabys on 7 August 2002. Daily Misery (UK Angel Air SJPCD120) includes a song called Rock 'n Roll Heart, which was cowritten by Ian Hunter and Darrell Bath. Visit the Angel Air site for more information.
Ian Hunter recently completed his 2002 UK tour, which took place from 7 May through 22 May. This one was especially memorable, because for the first time since 1973, Mick Ralphs joined Ian Hunter on guitar.
Ian Hunter performed a short set at Amoeba Music in Hollywood CA on 22 March to promote Rant. James Mastro accompanied Ian for the acoustic set, which covered eight songs and was followed by an autograph session. The next day Ian and James performed in the living room of Concert In Your Home winner Bruce Kilgour.
Ian Hunter played two shows at the Sentrum Scene in Oslo, Norway on January 29th and 30th, 2002. He was accompanied by Andy York (guitar), Torstein Flakne (guitar), Kjetil Berkestrand (keyboards), Sven Lindvall (bass), Per Lindvall (drums), and the Trondheim Soloists, a 17 member string section. The shows were filmed for an upcoming DVD release, scheduled for release later this year.
Sony Rewind has issued a remastered CD version of Ian Hunter's Overnight Angels album (UK Sony Rewind 5060632). It was released on 28 January 2002. The album includes one bonus track, 'England Rocks'.
Ian Hunter co-wrote four songs for the album Back From Hell, a new album recorded by BDS (Bouchard, Dunaway, and Smith). The group features Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, and Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith from Alice Cooper's group.
Ian Hunter toured North America in late 2001, with a band that included Andy York (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Tony Shanahan (bass), Georgie Wood (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums). For the first two gigs, Andy was busy with John Mellencamp, and so Jack Petruzzelli filled in on guitar.
Fuel 2000 issued a promo CD single for Death of a Nation to radio station (USA Fuel 2000, no catalog number). The single also includes live acoustic versions of Wash Us Away and All The Young Dudes, recorded during a promotional appearance earlier in the year.
Spitfire Records has licensed a number of Mott The Hoople related albums for reissue in the US. Ian Hunter's Welcome To The Club has been announced but no release date has been set.
New Millennium in the UK have reissued the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert as a 3 CD set called The Memorial Show (UK NMC PILOT 94). The third disc is limited to 5000 copies and includes CD video of two tracks from the concert, Roger Taylor's A Kind Of Magic and Ian Hunter's All The Young Dudes.
Ian Hunter toured North America with Ringo Starr's 2001 All-Starr Band in July, August, and September 2001. Ian played Cleveland Rocks, Still Love Rock and Roll, and All The Young Dudes. Irene Wilde also found it's way into the set part way through the tour. Other members of the All-Starrs were Greg Lake, Roger Hodgson, Howard Jones, and Sheila E.
Ian Hunter's 2001 UK tour consisted of eleven dates in June.
To support his new album, Ian Hunter embarked on a short promotional tour which included live radio sessions, interviews, meet and greet sessions, and a couple club dates. At most appearances Ian performed an acoustic set, with James Mastro helping him out.
An Ian Hunter CD single, The Rant EP, was released by Papillon Records in the UK on 7 May 2001 (BTFLYS0017). The disc comes is a slimline case and includes the three tracks Still Love Rock 'n' Roll, Dead Man Walking, and Death of a Nation.
Ian Hunter's new album is called Rant and was released in the USA (Fuel 2000) and Canada (True North) on 24 April 2001. The UK release appeared on 21 May 2001 (Papillon).
Ian Hunter sat in with Paul Shaffer and the house band on David Letterman's Late Show (a USA late night TV show) on 26 September 2000, performing for the audience during commercial breaks. Unfortunately, TV viewers only got to hear a few seconds of each song as the show went in and out of commercial.
On 24 July 2000, Ian Hunter sang All The Young Dudes onstage with Def Leppard at their gig at Jones Beach on Long Island, NY.
Ian Hunter played a handful of live dates in the UK and the USA to promote the release of Sony's 2xCD anthology, Once Bitten Twice Shy. For the UK dates, Ian used the same band he used in 1999: Darrell Bath (guitar), Paul Cuddeford (guitar), Paul 'Trevor' Francis (bass), Ian Gibbons (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums). For the lone USA date, Ian's band included Andy York (guitar), John Conte (bass), Tom Mandel (keyboards), and Steve Holley (drums).
New Millenium's Missing In Action CD, a compilation of live Ian Hunter solo material, was released on 15 May 2000. Early copies of the album included a bonus disc called Collateral Damage, which contained additional live material.
Sony's new Ian Hunter anthology, Once Bitten Twice Shy, was released in the UK on 15 May 2000. This two-CD set includes over 20 rare and unreleased tracks, and early copies come with a custom slipcover. The USA release appeared on 25 July 2000 with identical packaging.
Ian Hunter completed his 1999 tour of the UK in April, playing more than two dozen shows in England and Scotland. His band consisted of Darrell Bath, Paul Cuddeford, Paul Francis, Ian Gibbons, and Steve Holley.
The First Annual Mott The Hoople Convention at the Robin 2 in Bilston (UK) on 17 April 1999. Although he was not officially part of the convention, Ian Hunter played two gigs at the club during the same weekend. Luther Grosvenor, Joe Elliott, Blue Weaver, and Verden Allen all turned up onstage during Ian's show on the 17th.
Ian Hunter appeared at the Bruce Henderson Charity Ball, held on 8 January 1999 at New York's Bowery Ballroom. Ian Hunter played two songs at the benefit concert for the New York singer songwriter, which also feature Marshall Crenshaw, Freedy Johnston, and others.
On 16 September 1998, Ian Hunter made an in-store appearance at the Virgin Megastore in London along with Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, and Blue Weaver. They signed copies of the Sony box set, and Campbel Devine's authorized biography. Virgin had advertised a live performance by Hunter, Ralphs, and Allen, but it never materialized.
