All-Starr Band 2001

Interview: Ian Hunter on Mott reunion, Ringo Starr and a secret collaborator

Ian Hunter makes one of his rare West Coast jaunts this weekend with shows at San Francisco's legendary Fillmore (tonight), L.A.'s El Rey Theatre (Jan. 29) and Orange County's Galaxy Theatre (Jan. 30). Coming off 2009's now legendary Mott The Hoople five-night run of reunion shows and "Man Overboard," a critically acclaimed album, the septuagenarian rocker continues from strength to strength. Our friend Jon Jepson spoke to Hunter just prior to his leaving the frozen Northeast for San Francisco about the Mott the Hoople reunion, his current work and playing in Ringo's All-Starr Band and graciously allowed us to use this interview.

Jon Jepson: Are you keeping warm?
Ian Hunter: Oh yeah, today it's not too bad, it's been a bit warmer today than it has been - it's been pretty wild. We're getting a full one!

Jon Jepson: It's been ten years since you toured in Ringo's All Star Band. What was your experience like playing with people you'd never played with before?
Ian Hunter: I thought it was interesting because it was "different". You had all kinds of different people doing it. (Note: The 2001 edition of the All Starrs included Hunter, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Howard Jones, Greg Lake of Emerson Lake & Palmer, Sheila E. and Mark Riviera). It was a chance to see how other people work because most of my life, I've just been working with my own band and playing my own songs. And working with a Beatle - that can't be bad! And he wasn't. He was really nice on the road. Ringo was great to be with and I had a great time.

Jon Jepson: Were The Beatles a personal influence on you back in the day?
Ian Hunter: No, I was influenced by the same people as they were -- Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and that. And even during the whole "Beatles VS. Stones" thing in the 60's, I was a Stones fan. But when a Beatle rings you up on the phone, you'd gotta have a look at it.

Jon Jepson: Your most recent album, "Man Overboard" has received much critical acclaim....
Ian Hunter: It kind of got buried a bit, because the Mott The Hoople gigs in London came up, so "Man Overboard" got obfuscated at the time.

Jon Jepson: I saw three of the Mott The Hoople reunion shows - the 14 year old in me was thrilled and impressed.
Ian Hunter: It was fun - it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I figured it was going to be seen as a nice oldies band - "poor old sods", you know. I thought we came off as a very powerful band. As musicians, we get along great. But not as "people." It's very difficult. Pink Floyd get on better than Mott The Hoople!

Jon Jepson: Oh my God! (laughter)
Ian Hunter: Paul Loasby, who manages Mick Ralphs (of Mott The Hoople and Bad Company) and myself, manages Pink Floyd as well, said that!

Jon Jepson: Speaking of Mick Ralphs - how is he doing after his recent hip replacement surgery?
Ian Hunter: I talk to Mick about once a fortnight. He's a bit sore, but he's able to do a lot of things he hasn't been able to do in years.

Jon Jepson: He recently played in Sacramento last fall, and he looked okay...
Ian Hunter: After about ten minutes onstage, it really started to kick in. He'd really be hurting. But now, he's out driving, shopping. He quit drinking and smoking. He sounds on top form. It may be a new era for old "Ralpher". I got an email from him today wishing me luck on this "West Coast adventure."

Jon Jepson: There's word you may be collaborating with Mick again soon?
Ian Hunter: Mick and I get on fine. No problems with him at all. We'll play together any day of the week if we were geographically in the same neck of the woods. But we're not. But every time I'm in the UK, he'll get up and play with me, and have a great time. And he'll have an even greater time now, since he got his hips fixed.

Jon Jepson: It's amazing what the lack of pain will do for you.
Ian Hunter: Oh yes, he just can't believe it. It's a major revelation, and now he can get up and about. I was one of the people who pushed him; "get it DONE!" - it's now a beginning, instead of an end.

Jon Jepson: Joe Elliot of Def Leppard is notoriously a BIG Mott The Hoople fan, and he recently did a cover album of Mott material with his band called "Down & Outz". When did you first meet Joe?
Ian Hunter: Polygram (Def Leppard's label) kept ringin' me up, saying Def Leppard wanted to meet me. And I'd had an experience with Mick Jones of the Clash. Mick thought everything out of my mouth was like the Savior spoke! And you can't live up to stuff like that. And when he found out was sort of a normal bloke, he was most upset. So I hear about Joe being a big fan and I didn't want to know, because he's going to expect me to be like, this "genius." And I'm just a guy who writes songs. But he was different, he's just a really nice working class guy from Sheffield. It started off when Mott The Hoople were playing Donacaster one night, and there were three kids hanging round the backstage door, who had no money, and we let them in. I don't remember this, but Joe does. He was 14 at the time, and that was it. Catch 'em when they're fourteen and they're with you for life!

Jon Jepson: I can personally attest to that!
Ian Hunter: Joe sent me the video of "Overnight Angels," the title track to an album of mine which I don't quite like, but he does. His band, Down N'Outz are guys from the Quireboys. They're touring with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company this spring. Joe's got up on stage with me many times over the years.

Jon Jepson: I have a true or false question for you. In 1989, you helped Mick Jones of Foreigner on his only solo album, co-writing the single "Just Wanna Hold" with Mick, and one "M. Phillips". Rumour has it "M. Phillips" is a pseudonym for Mick Jagger, whose middle name is Phillip.
Ian Hunter: It's true. Mick Jones played Mick Jagger a riff and Jagger sang some falsetto over this main riff. Mick Jones then added a lot of stuff on it, and got in a total state of confusion with it, and lost his direction. I got it back on track, and sat behind the board while he was doing the vocals. Not a bad song. He's better at singing ballads than singing rock. It was okay.

Jon Jepson: Thanks so much Ian - I'll be seeing you at the El Rey and Galaxy Theatre shows - but I don't like the Fillmore, it's essentially standing room only, and I'd prefer to sit down. I know it's a historical venue, but....
Ian Hunter: That's not the one we used to play at, you know. We played there as Mott The Hoople twice. And I remember the back stage area and it wasn't like that. The stage was lower and it was half way down on the left hand side. I remember the dressing rooms distinctly because I played there with Albert King. I got to play his "Flying V". That kind of stuck in my mind. Actually, the "Maltese Cross," a famous guitar I had, I bought it in San Francisco in a pawn shop. I was in the back and Albert kept eyeing the Maltese Cross. And he said, "that's a bad MF!" And nobody was allowed to touch his Flying V. So he finally asked me if he could have a go on it, and I said, "Sure, if I can have a go at your Flying V" He was a tad reluctant, but he did, and that was it. I was playing Albert's Flying V for a while and that's how I remember it. I played there in 2007 with the Zombies and noticed it was different.

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