Having just released their second album, Mad Shadows, once again to very limited commercial success, the story of Mott The Hoople is a strange one in many ways. It is worthy of note that Ian Hunter, the leader of the band and principal songwriter, was a very late record debutant at thirty years old. He was 31 at the time of this article. Late starter? No problem, Ian has shown that you can have a long career in the music business if you have the right attitude. Still touring at the time of his 80th birthday, it is an incredible story.
Read on!
Mott the Hoople – more than just an unusual name
Just ask any group that`s had to follow them on stage!
By Roy Carr
MOTT the What’ll, or to be more explicit, Mott the Hoople have far more than just an unusual group name with which to play amusing little word games. Just ask any band who’ve recently had the unenviable task of following them on stage!
It’s true that many groups stand at the threshold of greatness, yet most of them flounder for want of the ability and direction to go forward… Mott have all the requirements, now it’s just a matter of time.
But then they have achieved a great deal in the relatively short cycle that has elapsed since their formation during the summer of last year.
In that period they have proved to be another example of a virtually unknown British club band slipping quietly over to the States, only to return bedecked in critical approval.
As camera angles were being devised for their recent appearance in the silver sculptured claustrophobic “Disco-2” studio at the BBC, organist Verden Allen explained.
“American audiences are very critical and they are very much into the music. Let’s face it, they’ve seen it all before and they know what’s good and more important what’s bad.
Big push
“OK so the record companies may give you a big promotional push, but it’s up to the kids if they like you or not. You can’t hype an audience once you’re out there alone on stage.”
So why should an unknown quantity like the Hoople crack such a tough market the first time out?
“All I can suggest is that they dug us for just being ourselves,” Verden offered in reply.
“When we go out on stage we just enjoy ourselves and rave, ’cause basically we are a rock band. And seemingly that’s what they like.”
Could it have been that there was a similarity in their first album with that of the Band? From beneath his unruly mane of blond hair and dark glasses pianist and lead vocalist Ian Hunter answered that.
“Any similarity, if there is any, was quite unintentional”, he assured me. “That first album was cut after we had been together for only a few weeks. We just drifted into the studio with our record producer Guy Stevens and laid it down.
Representative
“Now our new album,” (referring to Mad Shadows) “is quite different from the first and is more or less representative of where we are now and what we play on gigs. Also, it is entirely made up of original songs.”
Buffin the drums and Island executive Muff Winwood gave their personal views on present day Rock Americana.
“The American scene is in a transitionary state,” they both agreed. “Festivals seem to have had it… the big ones that is, and even some big clubs have closed down,” Muff confided. “The boom has definitely passed its peak and a band has to he really good if it’s going to have any chance of making an impact.”
Looking to other lucrative markets, Buffin took up the conversation. “On the Continent, things are really just beginning, and we’re certain that this is where the new scene is going to emerge, especially in Germany.
“They’ve been a little slow to start, but it seems as though they are really getting into it now.”
Mott the Hoople owe their name to American author Willard Manus and their catalysis to Guy Stevens… however, their success is entirely due to the almost naive way in which they project their talent… it should hold them in good stead.
If you have a large collection of the following magazines, don`t throw them out, but contact me as I would be very interested in these: Creem, Circus, Hit Parader and Metal Edge.
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My Things - Music history for those who are able to read. 