Mott The Hoople

Mott The Hoople were my favourite band as a teenager in the mid seventies. It began for me with the All The Young Dudes single in 1972 and I stuck with them for the remaining just over two years of their rollercoaster career. These were their "glam" years", the years of "the suits and the platform boots" as gloriously-referenced in their valedictory final single, Saturday Gigs. At the time I had no knowledge of their earlier Dylanesque rock period from 1969 to 1972 under the producership of the madcap genius that was Guy Stevens, before David Bowie gave them the legendary shot in the arm. I have come to those challenging, but interesting albums over subsequent years.

So, like many groups who had a "glam phase" there are two incarnations of Mott The Hoople. Those early albums have a real appeal to them, but the three glam years saw the very best of the group as they became momentarily famous something that never really sat quite right with them. They were an honest, hard-working, uncompromising and often shambolic band. They were maybe the Newcastle United of rock music - passionately supported, salt of the earth, and occasionally inspired. But they were never quite as good as they might have been, were they, or maybe they were just what they were - a good time rock band who never let us down, despite what they said in The Ballad Of Mott The Hoople. Like The Clash in 1977, they were, briefly, the right band in the right place at the right time. Their laddish appeal suited me right down to the ground.

I finally got to see them live on the final night of their farewell tour in 2009 at the Hammersmith Odeon where they had played all those years before. I had been just a bit too young to see them in 1972-74. I read an interview with Queen's Brian May (Queen opened for Mott in 1973) and he said "Mott The Hoople - God bless 'em....". Indeed. He speaks for everyone there. Listen woman - it's time for Mott The Hoople.

Shall we travel a mighty long way down rock and roll then.....