There Is No Reason Why You Shouldn't Own Every Mott The Hoople Album

I have a soft spot for Mick Ronson's Slaughter on 10th Avenue and Play Don't Worry: bizarrely, they contain two covers of Italian mainstream pop songs (his take of Lucio Battisti's I Giardini di Marzo aka Music Is Lethal is astounding).

Joe Elliott has formed a band to cover post-Mott-the-Hoople output from Ian & the boys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-lrlcmNxLY

They've received the rock doc treatment:

http://www.filmlinc.com/films/on-sale/the-ballad-of-mott-the-hoople

I found a DJ promo copy of Brain Capers yesterday!

Not much to say really, but just enjoyed the BBC4 doc on Mott, Britishes might want to watch on iplayer if they missed it. (or stay up till 2.55 this morning, when it's repeated. I guess that's an option)

I need to find out which of their lps I rate, don't think I've listened to them anywhere near enough.
Enjoyed the documentary when i saw it a couple of weeks back.

Have had a couple of their lps on disc for a few years, including the 2fer of the 1st 2 which I don't think has the best sound. THink i need to pick up The Hoople and Brain Capers on disc too.

I've seen Brain Capers refered to as protopunk or similar on a couple of occasions. Not sure if that's down to Clash connections, not hearing it on the FLAC files I have of it that I noticed anyway. May just be taht they're too quiet sounding.

I think the protopunk content of Capers is maybe down to "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" being on it? I don't really hear much protopunk going on, thought they seemed to have an influence on Slaughter and the Dogs...

All The Young Dudes is turning out to be my favorite of theirs. Most consistent - down to some of the songs being kind of samey - but really good material and production throughout.

They're back! Five November gigs in the UK, all original members but Buffin, who's in poor health. They're playing the O2 of all things. Is this their first arena gig?

I am really pleased they are back together again. I saw one of their warn up shows before their 2009 reunion and it was a lovely experience - the band were enjoying being together as much as the audience loved seeing them together.

brain capers is almost too epic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpp4C_fmhR0

RIP Buffin

http://m.herefordtimes.com/news/14212483.Mott_The_Hoople_drummer_Dale__Buffin__Griffin_dies_at_67/

very sad.

:(

i'll sometimes listen to mott the hoople albums and focus in on the drumming alone. he played with such humor and that seemingly effortless swing that characterized that wave of british rock drummers. he always seemed to be playing catch-up to the band. wait for me, guys!

that swing, or whatever it is, is entirely unachievable by modern rock drummers from what i can see. even listening to the zep reunion show, or any classic band with a new drummer (e.g. sabbath, boc, whatever). drummers today are clobberers.

Tend to agree with this last.

Thus Sang Freud otm. I remember a John Paul Jones interview from around 1990 where he was asked about Zeppelin's influence on current bands. He said the drummers all completely missed the point, and were all (in Jones' words) "BOOM. BASH. BOOM. BASH." He pointed out that Bonham was heavily influenced by Motown and (especially) James Brown records, and that those elements were completely absent from the work of late 80s/early 90s metal or hard rock drummers.

And drummers today, if they want steady work, have to learn to play with a click-track. All a click-track does is suck the soul out of a drummer. Such towering classics like "Honky Tonk Women," "Superstition" and the Isleys' "Fight The Power" speed the fuck up, which only benefits the songs. But a contemporary producer would hear such speedups as "wrong."

Buffin's playing on "Violence" is some of my favorite of anyone. He does the push-pull of the tempo like Ringo, speeding up ever-so-slightly, then pulling back. No drummer today would dare try that.

there is always that guy from Helmet...

i do love that guy from helmet...i don't love a lot of modern drummers. there are metal drummers i like.

that guy from helmet is wonderful

Interesting, Tarfumes, I've heard Jimmy Page say that the biggest 'mistake' you could make as a session musican was speeding up - so he was always deliberately breaking that rule w/ Zep.

RIP, Mott4ever

(i've said it before a million times but it bears repeating. a lot of the olden day heroes of yore had played in a zillion kid/teen/garage/club/wedding bands for years - even at really young ages - and they played a hundred different crowd-pleasing styles and THEN they joined the band that made them famous. they had years of gig experience under less than optimal conditions. battle-tested you could say. this is not true of most musicians starting out now.)

um so they - the people now - they learn how to do something one way - the thing that they like doing - or maybe two ways - and that's about it. they aren't really about variety. though technically they may be very accomplished. to me, it's rare to hear a musician now - especially within rock - who has a musical personality or identity. something that comes through in their playing that tells you who they are and what they are about. not in the way that so many of the old geezers did. of any genre.

yeah all those british drummers probably cut their teeth playing trad jazz, which benefited their later playing so much. buffin was basically the man. RIP.

Mick Fleetwood!

RIP Buffin. I'm disregarding the fact that I met him and he was kind of a dick because, well, he was in Mott the Hoople.

Some Ian Hunter wisdom to cheer you up in this sad time: free summer shows of NYC 2009

This documentary is so lovely, I've watched it now like 3-4 times. I'd almost think you could do a feature film period piece on Mott and Guy Stevens. I'd really like to track down Ian Hunter's book from the period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2MJWIVeVNo

Very very cool! I will definitely watch this, thanks for posting.

Seeing reports on FB that Overend Watts has passed away (cancer).

RIP :(

Almost a year to the day after Buffin too. RIP.

RIP Overend. Recover quickly, Mick Ralphs. (suffered a stroke a short time ago.)

morgan fisher on FB:

My dear, darling, crazy friend Peter Overend Watts passed on today. I can't speak, am numb. All I can do is share one of the last emails he sent me, on December 6th 2016. Unedited, unexplained. His bravery, honesty, generosity, open heart and still-devastatingly witty humour during his last days utterly blow me away. He left this world as a total hero, a samurai. Love you, Pete <3

Oh Yay Clifford T. Whoard!
Thanks fur your lovely message me old son. Looks like the news is finally out. But PLEASE KEEP IT UNDER YER HAT. IF POSS.
Managed to keep it quiet for more than 6 years though - so that was pretty good.If you remember I wasn't great at Hammo in 2009 - felt very grimeworthy then !
I just dread being besieged by Mott fans - all PRAYING for me, sending cards or gifts -
or worse still, trying to visit me ! God forbid - even tho I don't believe in him - even NOW.
Can't deal with all that crap - even tho I know they mean well. My sis got a message from Joe Elliot yesterday which made me think the game might be up. I know Jean and Buff were overwhelmed and were upset by it all after going public.
I think it's about 5 years too late for 2nd opinions now son. I've had every type of treatment, surgery etc, - it was far worse than the illness itself ! I've had enough now and am fine about going - it might be plezz up there (or down there)- an adventure, whichever way yer look at it. I'm not in any great pain, just giddy tired and weak. To be honest I'm more worried about Ralphur than myself right now. I really hope he recovers so he can play again. I love the guy so much - just as I love you son. I hated having to tell you that only the original band were doing the reunions - I know it must have hurt you a lot. One of me worst jobs ever. I wish we could've done it but it wasn't financially possble + too difficult to co-ordinate. with everyone concerned.

The Hospice is great - very much like Carry On Nurse - so I 'aint complainin' ! Another 3 decent years of travel would've been good but it's not to be.after all - but I did a hell of a lot anyway.
Glad you shifted the skin cancer - and I hope you have a long, healthy and happy life.
I can hardly type so I may not be able to keep in touch, but i just wanted you to know that you are still the best musician I ever had the privilege to work with and a brill bloke to boot...... - but David Reid - guitarist from The Contrast 'int far behind you !!! I was gonna bloody join them on electric 6 & 12 string till this bloody disease returnrd. What a bummer that was.
Anyway, must sleep now. I refuse to say "Goodbye" [ so I;ll just say ........
Take care Morgo - Love you son - Olde Gruff Pete xxx

PS OH - PIES OF GRATE MEAT !! We had some great times didn' t we !

My list of their (and Ian Hunter's) best.

I miss Sweet Angeline which is my favorite faux Dylan ever

Nice work! I'd throw The Moon Upstairs on there, and maybe even Threads of Iron from Mad Shadows, but you got just about everything.

reunion of mott mach ii dudes.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/mott-the-hoople-reunion-2018/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mott-the-hoople-tour-782276/

Listening to the All the Young Dudes album while a bit drunk right now, "Jerkin' Crocus" revealed itself as an extremely hilarious Rolling Stones parody ("a JUDO HOLD on a BLACK MAN'S BALLS")! This is probably groundless, or else extremely commonly known, but it prompted me to take it from the top, and haha the tempo difference.

Yes, they definitely weren't a click-track band!

I've got a certain amount of patience for chaotic sloppiness, but after the first track Mad Shadows is just unendurable. They returned to this style a lot more successfully on Brain Capers. Wildlife is also quite a good record, don't know why it's generally disliked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vyvtQS88Sg

my gosh that beautiful buffin flourish at the end.