Mott the Hoople live - at last!
Friday, October 2, 2009 This evening I am going to Hammersmith Apollo to see Mott The Hoople. Thirty-five years after the band broke up, the original line-up is playing a series of 40th anniversary gigs. Lead singer Ian Hunter is 70 and the combined age of the band is 322. The drummer, 'Buffin', will only play the encores because of ill health and apart from my children I expect to be one of the younger members of the audience. But I'm really looking forward to it.
I loved the Beatles but Mott were the first band I could call my own because hardly anyone at school had heard of them and no-one bought their records. Even when the band enjoyed a brief period of commercial success ('All The Young Dudes', 'Honaloochie Boogie', 'All The Way From Memphis', 'Roll Away The Stone', 'Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll') their appeal eluded most of my friends.
I never saw them play live but I bought all the albums and I was seriously disappointed when 'Saturday Gigs', their final single, failed to chart despite getting rave reviews in Melody Maker and NME.
Sixty-nine was cheapo wine
Have a good time
What's your sign?
Float up to the Roundhouse
On a Sunday afternoon
In Seventy we all agreed
A King's Road flat was the place to be
'Cause Chelsea girls are the best in the world for company
In Seventy-one all the people come
Bust a few seats but it's just in fun
Take the mick out of Top of the Pops
We play better than they do (yeah, yeah, yeah)
In Seventy-two we was born to lose
We slipped down snakes into yesterday's news
I was ready to quit
But then we went to Croydon
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
We do, we do
The tickets for the fantasy were twelve and six a time
A fairy tale on sale
Oh, Seventy-three was a jamboree
We were the dudes and the dudes were we
Did you see the suits and the platform boots (oh dear, oh lord)?
In Seventy-four on the Broadway tour
We didn't much like dressing up no more
Don't wanna be hip - but thanks for a great trip
The Guardian has an excellent article about the reunion HERE and the Independent has a review of last night's gig HERE.
Simon Clark
Mott the Hoople storm back to London for a dazzling night at the Hammersmith Apollo (Daily Telegraph):
The sense of lifelong commitment was heightened during the encore, when the band’s original drummer, Dale Griffin, entered the fray.
Griffin has Alzheimer’s, and had to be led by the hand to a drum kit alongside his substitute for the evening, the Pretenders’ Martin Chambers. Soon, he was pounding away the rhythm to 'Roll Away the Stone’, grinning from ear to ear. 'All the Young Dudes’, then, was simply breath-taking, with Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott joining in for a verse.
And the rockin’ went on, unrestrainable, deafening, totally life-affirming.
Simon Clark
Great occasion. My son (14) enjoyed it just as much as I did. He even bought a t-shirt. Afterwards my daughter (12) complained of a ringing noise in her ears. Ah, yes, that ringing sensation. The first time I saw a band live - Be Bop Deluxe in Aberdeen in 1977 - it was so loud I was partially deaf for two days. I've had selective hearing ever since.
Reader Comments (8)
Mott the Hoople ?
Blimey, Simon - you're a frustrated Bohemian, after all !
First album still one of their best (sadly, NOT one of Mr Cameron's choices on 'Desert Island Discs').
Hope they play 'At The Crossroads': it's kind of apposite RIGHT now.
Have a great time...............(you've earned it).
Farewell to a Golden Age................
This brings back memories of riding an old banger around a field (they joy ride in stolen cars on motorways now that we have few green playing spaces left for children) and a Welsh dog named after the band - Mott The Hoople.
Simon, I hope you have a great time too. For any musicians out there here is the cord sequence, it is a lovely ballard.
C G
Sixty-nine was cheapo wine,
Am
Have a good time,
E
What's your sign
F C
Float up to the Roundhouse
G
On a Sunday afternoon.
C G
In Seventy we all agreed
Am E
A King's Road flat was the place to be F C G
'Cause Chelsea girls are the best in the world for company.
C G
In Seventy-one all the people come
Am E
Bust a few seats but it's just in fun
F C
Take the Mick out of Top of the Pops
G
We play better than they do
C G
(yeah, yeah, yeah) In Seventy-two we was born to lose Am E
We slipped down snakes into yesterday's news
F
I was ready to quit
G
But then we went to Croydon
(CHORUS)
C Am
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
F G
We do, we do
C Am
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
F G
We do, we do
C Am E F
The tickets for the fantasy were twelve and six a time
A fairy tale on sale
Also on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NIrPVd79GE
I was at last night's performance - it was absolutely blinding from the first minute onward and they were all in great form. If tonight's gig is anything like it, you should have a brilliant time!
Mott - one of the best live bands ever - I first saw them at the Empire in Edinburgh in nineteen canteen - the second time I saw them Alex Harvey was the support and he blew them away!
Hunter 70, Goodness, I really feel old.
By the way, Simon, you still have that Mott CD I loaned you back in 1998....
Brian - a fiend of mine borrowed The Slider by T.Rex back in 1975 ... I'm still waiting ...
The Mott! Oh yes........I and my belothed(beloved I mean) are celebrating our marriage in ....Oh my God...12 Days time, and we shall be subjecting all guests to Roll Away the Stone et al....By the way, we have organised the World's Biggest Smokathon to occur at the same time.....