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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 23, 2020 15:56:14 GMT
I didn't know until just now that.... Rock'n'Roll Sweepstakes: The Authorised Biography of Ian Hunter Volume 1 ....was already out In a word, essential Though I might wait for the paperback version Over 500 pages in length, and the second installment is due for publication in July Who is tempted?
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Post by personunknown on Jan 23, 2020 17:46:20 GMT
Looks interesting. Hunters Diary of a Rock n Roll Star was one of the most honest, funny and sad autobiographies I've ever read. I'll also wait for the paperback.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jun 11, 2020 9:06:46 GMT
Looks interesting. Hunters Diary of a Rock n Roll Star was one of the most honest, funny and sad autobiographies I've ever read. I'll also wait for the paperback. Couldn't agree more about Diary of a Rock N Roll StarI was just playing, and loving... Ian Hunter - Once Bitten Twice Shy |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jun 11, 2020 9:10:42 GMT
I reread Diary of a Rock n Roll Star in January 2019.
Here's my review...
I read Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star by Ian Hunter back in the 1970s however all I could remember was that I'd enjoyed it. In the intervening years its reputation has grown. Q Magazine reckon it "may well be the best rock book ever" and whilst I think that might be overstating it a bit, it's certainly a brilliant read.
This new edition has a short introduction by Johnny Depp which is just a gushing fan letter. Quite endearing really. There's another introduction by Ian's official biographer Campbell Devine. This edition also includes another Ian Hunter diary, this one from his short Japanese tour in 2015 (and which was also published in Mojo magazine), and a short epilogue written by Ian in March 2018.
The diary itself, first published in 1974, is a fascinating day by day account of Mott the Hoople's 1972 US tour. The newly married Ian Hunter just writes what he sees and peppers these observations with very forthright and somewhat jaundiced opinions. Ian Hunter has no pretensions or desire to appear cool and so tells it exactly like it is. The life he describes is hard work and, ultimately, not very glamorous. He's also doing his best to give fans a real insight into the music industry and what it's like to get on a plane to visit America (something few British people had done at the time or could conceive of ever doing). Aside from travelling and sound checking, the band spend most of their town time buying guitars from pawn shops.
This is also the period when Mott The Hoople were managed by Tony Defries and working with David Bowie, both of whom make an appearance, as do Frank Zappa and Keith Moon.
Ultimately though Ian Hunter is an everyman figure, who has little interest in the trappings of celebrity, and just wants to do his best to put on a show and enjoy his moment in the sun. That he's still touring and recording 47 years later must be a source of some amazement. I've seen him live a few times over the last 20 years and he's still wonderful.
In short Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star is a brilliant period piece and well worth reading if you like Ian Hunter, Mott The Hoople or well written music books.
5/5
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Post by zeopold on Jun 12, 2020 22:05:20 GMT
The Mott, along with Roxy Music, Cockney Rebel and Sparks were the cool groups to like in the days before the new wave
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jun 13, 2020 8:23:02 GMT
The Mott, along with Roxy Music, Cockney Rebel and Sparks were the cool groups to like in the days before the new wave Along with T.Rex, Lou Reed, Iggy & The Stooges? |
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Post by personunknown on Jun 13, 2020 8:34:41 GMT
The Mott, along with Roxy Music, Cockney Rebel and Sparks were the cool groups to like in the days before the new wave Along with T.Rex, Lou Reed, Iggy & The Stooges? I'd not heard of Iggy and the Stooges at all till punk came along, same with the Velvet Underground. I always thought Be Bop Deluxe were a cool band to like. |
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Post by zeopold on Jun 13, 2020 20:41:12 GMT
Along with T.Rex, Lou Reed, Iggy & The Stooges? I'd not heard of Iggy and the Stooges at all till punk came along, same with the Velvet Underground. I always thought Be Bop Deluxe were a cool band to like. I'd heard 'Walk on the wild side' by Lou but like Pers I didn't discover the US antecedents of Punk until I joined the movement Be Bop Deluxe were cool to like, good players but they never really cut a catchy tune as far as I recall |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jun 14, 2020 16:47:53 GMT
In my crazed pre-teen head the pre-punk key signifiers of alrightness were Bowie/Bolan/Roxy/T.Rex - if you like them, or at least three of them, you were "alright"
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jun 14, 2020 16:49:26 GMT
Like Zeo I was a big Sparks fan too. I'd seen Bebop Deluxe's name here and there but don't think I heard them until years later. What is their best and/or most popular tune?
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Post by personunknown on Jun 14, 2020 17:01:22 GMT
Like Zeo I was a big Sparks fan too. I'd seen Bebop Deluxe's name here and there but don't think I heard them until years later. What is their best and/or most popular tune? Ships In The Night was their only big hit. Bill Nelson strode the avant garde/guitar rock scene and wrote many a great tune, just not commercial enough though. Check out the album Axe Victim if you get chance, a sort of continuation of the Bowie/Ronno Man Who Sold The World era. |
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Post by johnnyoi on Jun 15, 2020 12:45:26 GMT
Loved Mott.Read “Diary” years ago.The thing I seem to remember most is the amount of guitar buying.Ian must have one hell of a collection.I’d certainly consider buying the new book.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 23, 2020 13:43:47 GMT
74-76 was fallow but there were a handful of albums inadvertently pointing at things to come. Three Dr Feelgood lps with its fast, high octane, r&b. Similarly Teenage Depression and though most of us wouldn't hear it until punk broke here, The Ramones debut.  My fave Mott the Hoople - The HoopleYes, both Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974) are stunners By the way PU's quote above is taken out of context as it's from Zeo's... 1974 - 1976... lean pickings? thread talkpunk.freeforums.net/thread/369/1974-1976-lean-pickingsPU is highlighting his favourite release from the supposedly fallow years of 74-76 not necessarily his favourite Mott The Hoople album
I just used it as an excuse to revive this discussion
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Post by personunknown on Sept 23, 2020 17:41:41 GMT
Ian Hunter feat Mick Ronson, Live Rockpalast
I've been getting a few copies of this double live album from my supplier over the past year, sells well. I'd never got round to listening to it myself but one came in with a damaged sleeve, so I gave it a go before returning it. Great recording which features both Hunter and Ronson solo songs, some Mott, a Shadows instrumental cover and this old Sonny Bono sixties tune. The full concert is up on youtube and though the picture is 1980 VCR quality, the sound is perfect. Worth a look.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 23, 2020 18:17:34 GMT
Never heard that album PU
Or their version of Laugh At Me - enjoyed the vid and will check out the concert on YouTube
Thanks
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