Ian Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (with apologies to Smokey Robinson)

I've waxed enthusiastically elsewhere on this blog about the prospect of Mott The Hoople reuniting for some gigs. As the better informed amongst you will know, these gigs are happening with five shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in early October.

Despite my enthusiasm, I won't be attending the gigs as they are just happening in London. However, I feel sure that they will be filmed and those of us outside of London or with insufficiently deep pockets will get the chance to enjoy the event.

What is most interesting about this reunion is that it's happening alongside a remarkable resurgence in the profile of Ian Hunter who, at the age of 70, is on something of a hot streak with his writing and performing at a level of quality and consistency that you might argue he's never quite been able sustain previously in his long career. He also seems to look better now in his advancing years than he did when Mott were at their post-ATYD peak.

His latest album, Man Overboard, follows on relatively shortly after Shrunken Heads and both are excellent albums full of quality songs with pithy lyrics and backed by a superb band marshalled by Andy York.

It seems from recent interviews that Hunter took a long, hard look at his life following the death of his long term colleague Mick Ronson and realised that he'd been perhaps been selling his gift a little short. Since then his creative juices have been flowing more freely, and his touring workrate has been enviable for a man his age (and one who is not able to revel in the luxury available to the major bands which seems to take a lot of the drudgery out of the gigging experience).

Whilst both Rant and Shrunken Heads generated positive reviews, it seems to have been the release of the new album allied with the Mott reunion that has sparked a considerable increase in his profile in the music press. This is one of the more welcome features of 2009 and it a joy to me as a long term fan to see Ian get the credit that he so richly deserves.

And I do still hope that they find room for The Moon Upstairs, The Journey and Thunderbuck Ram in the Hammy Apollo shows!