Diary of a Rock ‘n Roll Fan
article by Rick Graves
photography by rick graves except where noted
This was not only about seeing a great show; it was also about the people who came from near and far to be there.
I was your typical 15-year-old: intensely into music and convinced my favorite band was better than yours. At the time my favorite band was Alice Cooper. My room was one enormous collage of posters and pictures from magazines and newspaper articles. My friend Marty was equally into Led Zeppelin. He and I used to buy the same magazines so that we could trade pictures. If Creem had an Alice Cooper article with pictures on back-to-back pages Marty would give me the pictures on the back pages so I could add them to my collage, and I’d do the same for him with Led Zeppelin pictures.
Marty was a gifted drummer and played in several local bands. One of those bands included a talented guitarist named Dan Day. Dan was a little bit older than us, so his musical tastes were more varied and advanced. One of the bands Dan brought to our attention was Mott The Hoople. I had heard of Mott The Hoople a few years before when another friend, Debby Reel played this great song for me called, “Rock and Roll Queen.” It was on their first album, and while the song and the band stuck with me I didn’t listen to them beyond this initial introduction.
The cover of the US version of the Mott album.
There was something about this band that caught my attention after Dan suggested some songs for their band to work up. Mott The Hoople had released a few albums with little success in the US and had nearly called it quits when David Bowie stepped in with a song called, “All The Young Dudes,” for them to record. That song and the album with the same title gave Mott The Hoople the boost they needed to continue.
Their next album, Mott, is the album that really caught my attention. As a young teenager with very limited funds, I wasn’t able to buy many albums, but I was able to secure a copy of, Mott, and it quickly became a favorite. There was a time where that album literally didn’t leave my turntable for 6 months. I’d come home from school, fire up my stereo and the piano intro to “All The Way From Memphis” would start. I can still hear my mom say, “Not that again!”
Sadly, Mott The Hoople disbanded before I had the chance to see them due to their singer/songwriter/leader, Ian Hunter, feeling the pressure of trying to keep the band going. However, Ian pursued a solo career. So, I was able to keep buying his excellent albums, but seeing him live eluded me.
I can still hear my mom say, “Not that again!”
Finally in late fall of 1988 I was shocked to find that Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson were playing at The Vogue in Indianapolis. At last! My chance to finally see Ian in person! And the added bonus of seeing Mick Ronson! Plus, I got to meet both of them after the show and get some albums signed. I was in heaven!
A few years later our family acquired our first computer. I soon entered the world of trading live shows via mailing lists: I’ll send copies of Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson at the Vogue in Indianapolis to the first three people who promise to do the same, etc., etc. I quickly learned that people all over the world shared my fandom of Ian Hunter and Mott The Hoople. I not only acquired a rather large collection of live shows, but I was also gaining new friendships with people I had never met.
…friends telling me this was something I had to do made my decision even harder.
In June of 2000 Ian Hunter announced he was playing a show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Ian had not toured for quite some time; I had never been to NYC. It seemed a perfect match. I contacted my old friend Kyle Hislip – who lived nearby in Cranford, NJ – about coming out for a visit and going to the show. Kyle secured a couple of tickets; I booked a flight and made plans to head east for my first trip to NYC.
Andy York and Ian Hunter at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC on June 2, 2000. Andy is known primarily as John Mellencamp’s guitar player, but he has produced Ian’s albums for the last 20 plus years.
What I quickly learned while attending this show is that this was not only about seeing Ian Hunter and seeing a great show; it was also about the people who came from near and far to be there. I stood next to a guy named Jere (pronounced Jerry) from Philadelphia. We chatted before the show and exchanged phone numbers. From time to time I’d get a random phone call from Jere just to say hello or to discuss the newest Ian Hunter album. I met people I had traded live shows with who I had only known through email. This night went a bit deeper than a typical live show. I made several other trips to NYC for Ian Hunter shows and had the same experience, gaining friendships along the way, getting to visit my dear friends Kyle and Jill and getting to explore what NYC had to offer.
After many years of rumors it was announced in 2009 that the original members of Mott The Hoople would be reuniting for a one-off set of shows in London at the Hammersmith Apollo. I was torn. There was little to no chance of any US tour dates and the London shows were in October in the middle of the school year; a bad time of year for a teacher. I posted about my dilemma online and the outpouring from my email friends telling me this was something I had to do made my decision even harder. After getting permission from my administration to be gone for an extended period of time, Betsy and I decided we were going. This ended up being one of my best decisions ever. Not only were the shows above what I had expected but I also met so many wonderful people I had been corresponding with over the years. I got to meet Sven Gusevik from Norway, who I had been writing for years. I met Jan Reeves from Germany, with whom I had been emailing and trading shows with for years. I met people from all over the UK and Europe – not to mention others from parts of the US who had traveled to see this reunion. And this was a band that when I mentioned them, most people would say, “Mott the what?”
In 2013 Mott The Hoople reunited again for a short tour of the UK. I really didn’t think I’d be able to attend but again my friends convinced me I should go. I got tickets for the shows in Manchester and London. Many people I knew were attending and staying at the same hotel in Manchester. I arrived a day earlier than them so on my “free day” I took a short train ride to Liverpool and took in all the Beatles attractions, a dream come true.
The day of the show there was a gathering of Mott fans at a local pub near the O2 Apollo. The place was packed with like-minded people from all over the world. I noticed a guy running around with loads of energy and enthusiasm. He was beyond himself to be there and to get to see Mott The Hoople. He was Chris Hauser from Nashville, TN and the Manchester show was his only chance to see Mott The Hoople. As we walked to the O2 Apollo I noticed another guy with a Wisconsin leather jacket shooting video of himself. This was Chris Kammer, a dentist from Madison, WI who was documenting his whole experience. I’ve since seen both at other Ian Hunter shows.
Sven Gusevik and me meeting for the first time in London at the meet and greet on October 2, 2009.
I had a train ticket from Manchester to London but opted to ride with friends by car and enjoy their camaraderie. David Crisfield offered a ride along with Jan Reeves, Constance Van Beek and Joan McHugh. I’ll admit, sitting in the passenger side of a car in England was unnerving, disorienting and almost made me nauseous. Aside from that it was a wonderful trip with amazing people sharing great conversation and music on our six-hour trip.
The show in London was great, although the O2 Arena was too big of a venue for Mott The Hoople. However, I’m glad I got the opportunity to see a show there and to see the Mott The Hoople name displayed on their marquee.
One of the songs from that album is to be played at my funeral
So what is this aside from a history of my affinity for Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter? It’s a testament to the power of music and what it can do for an individual. I was a 15-year-old hanging out with his friend while his band rehearsed. That band played a couple of songs from one album that caught my attention more than any other album. I can easily say I have listened to the Mott album more than any other in my lifetime. It is and will forever be my favorite album. One of the songs from that album, “I Wish I Was Your Mother,” is to be played at my funeral among other songs.
Because of that album, I have met friends from all across the US and the world. I have friends who have told me that if I ever come to their country to let them know and I will have a place to stay, and I have told them the same. I have traveled to cities and countries I had never visited to see shows; other places I have been many times.
Betsy, Ian Hunter, and me following his show at City Winery Nashville on November 8, 2014.
Photo credit: Dennis DiBrizzi
I have been to England twice to see shows with some of the finest people I know.
I made my first trip to New York City to see a show, and I also got to reconnect with a great friend in Kyle Hislip and see one of the greatest cities in the world.
I’ve been to Chicago many times and have met wonderful people there, including Jeff Scott who has helped Betsy and me in our travel adventures. Constance Van Beek also helped me with some autographs in Chicago a few years ago, which led to me getting to go into the dressing room after the show.
I’ve attended Ian Hunter’s birthday residency shows at City Winery New York, which became a reunion among friends and fans from all parts of the world. By attending so many shows, Betsy and I have gotten to know the Rant Band (Ian’s band) and they have always treated us with great kindness. I have met and spoken to Ian Hunter on several occasions, which as a 15-year-old I never would have dreamt would happen.
The music has been of extreme importance to me throughout my life.
The chance to travel and meet so many other wonderful friends along the way has been a bonus I never expected.
About The Author
Rick Graves is a retired art teacher and an ardent fan of music and live shows. His wife, Betsy and he have been known to travel near and far to attend shows, take in cultural events and visit art museums. Rick has seen Ian Hunter 40 times, including shows with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, Mott The Hoople and Mott The Hoople ’74.