Here we are again, happy as can be ... all good friends at the end of January ... (sorry)

Sue Wells: 'Hi Ian - loved Monmouth - good to see the 'Sinatra of Beat' up there singing!'

Peejay's daughter thinks she's an IH stalker. Looks like Edinburgh, London and Leicester - May-ish. I think! Keep checking this site for confirmation.

Patty Woltz: Same old, same old. Just changed the garage doors!

Brian: 'Thanks you guys for the superb show on 3rd October - my 50th!' (It's the new 17!)

Steve K: 'Watching The Italian Job. The Noel Coward character says, 'There's more to life than breaking 'n' entering.' Is that where you got the line from?' Actually, I think I might have got the phrase via Darryl Bath. I thought Noel Coward one of the wittiest chaps ever. Read his bio; he was very busy. Met Ian Drury at Charlie Gillett's one time. Never saw him live, but heard nothing but good.

Kev: What's wrong with being a copper?' I don't know - did I say something? My Dad was a copper. What did I say about coppers?

Dave Allen: You didn't have the date we needed. Sorry. Pity, because - as you say - it's near Northampton. This routing business sometimes doesn't work out.

Mike Costanzo: Sometimes they do - sometimes they don't. To tell you the truth - once something is done - it's done. I can't get re-excited. I'm glad it's good for you.

Lorrie Mattor: Wishing me a Happy Birthday. Which one?

Brian Mad for Mott: They'll be three gigs in early May. Keep watching this site - any day now.

Jeffrey: She's a lucky girl.

Paul Martin wants 'Alice' on next MTH gig. Doubtful - too may chords in it. There's a chance of further MTH gigs, but nothing definite yet.

John Von Reine: Pissed off with lyrical spelling errors. It happens. Some of the Japanese liner notes are hilarious. Kinda better in a way!

Jonathan Bailey: Doubt it - I'm just a rhythm player.

Drew Hosey: Not as keen on traveling as I use to be. 'Freddie' on Dudes was not Freddie Mercury. Freddie was one of Bowie's mates.

Luther Center: 'Have you heard of Phoenix band 'Crash Street Kids'? I think a couple of them were in Billion Dollar Babies. They have 3 CD's out (2005-2008). Huge MTH vibe - and feature a killer and faithful version of ATYD. Great Rock 'n' Roll band.' Good. There aren't many real ones left.

Merwyn Thompson: 'Ian, you ***hole - I've been walkin' round for months with - is she good - is she good - is she good in bed.' That's what I'm for ...

Jeff Scott: Strictly First Class.

Kent Moor: 'Mad Shadows is one of my all time favourites. Especially, 'I Can Feel'. Was the band aware of the pedal squeak before the album was pressed? The only other LP I've noticed this on is John Bonham's on 'Since I've been loving you.' I don't know about the band, but I didn't notice it until Buff told me afterwards. Never bothered me much, but Buff was angry.

Rob Swift: 'What advice can you give somebody starting off?' Hang in. Two little words, but they mean so much.

Verne: Yep. Obama's my man and has been since 2003. Shame about Pelosi. You know this guy can't do everything at once. How he can go from 79% approval to 57% is beyond me. I know people are having problems, but it took years to get into this mess and it's going to take a while to get out of it. Wonder what the banks approval ratings are? Wonder what Hedge Fund managers approval ratings are? What Wall Street's approval ratings are? Wonder what the Supreme Court and the lobbyist's approval rating are?

Mark F: The latter. But that could change. It's being worked on as I write.

Sue: 'Hammersmith and Monmouth - a treat.'

Erik Hovdahl: 'Still rockin' after Hammersmith! What a night. My wife says I'm 20 years younger (I'm 50).' Tell your son we're inundated with pictures. Glad you enjoyed it.

Rolly Hough: 'Can you ever see yourself doing another 'Strings Attached'?' If it were cost effective. Universal paid for the last one. Times have changed and there's not so much money about.

Mike Pecucci: MTH always sail into Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard (unrehearsed, I might add). Pete loves all that. Especially when they don't know what's coming. 50's really moves me. I guess that was the door opening - all that fire and innocence.

Paul Cavani: We've met over the years. He's always very nice.

Derek W. Brown: 'Saw Aerosmith open for MTH at Hartford, CT.' Kickass band; shame about the covers. 'Walk This Way' one of my all time favourite tracks. It's got the lot.

Ian Bolton: 'Son's and Lovers' was a tad more psychotic, actually.

Pat: 'I was reading your book and surprised at how weight conscious you were even back then.' Some were - some weren't. I can get fat easily - I just don't like it on me. Feel sludgy.

Lynne: Well, I'm glad that's all sorted out!

John Channing: I don't remember ever editing 'Diary'. Charlie Gillette says he edited it and he may well have done, but in my mind it went as was. Funny old things memories.

Craig Smith: Nah. We made lists out before we even got together. The lists were more or less identical - it was more a question of what went where in the set. The set was long, so we just concentrated on what we'd agreed upon before hand. Talking took up a lot of time too. Never heard so much talk in my life.

Rick L: Can't remember - if there were any.

Mark Hughes: Not doing stuff at the moment, but thanks for the offer.

Tom Eul: 'You many be 70, but I have a 14 year old and a 5 year old waking up to your music.' Who put it on?

Oor Wullie: Well, the diet up there is not to be recommended - is it? Looks like lettuce and tomatoes from now on.

Lesley Eddins: My Dad was Scottish. I'm not familiar with these names.

Matthew Zuckerman: 'Whole Lotta Shakin' - Jerry Lee Lewis. The first one I saw was Little Richard. I also saw Buddy Holly.

Pasqual Truglia: 'From Southern Italy - to Hammersmith (by car, plane, train, bus and metro) and back in 48 hours to see the best live show of my life.' Nice one.

Martha Scott: 'Cleveland.' I'm up for that, but I need a couple more round it.

Paul Rivers: 'Thought your voice at Hammersmith in great shape. Think you sing better now than in '75 - what's the secret?' Finding the right keys for the songs, no smoking and going to bed directly from stage. The second two are kind of difficult as I miss winding down with people, but you can't have it both ways. The fifth one wasn't easy, but overall I was pretty happy. It's a high ambient room as well and that helps. 'Also, on the next UK tour, play 'Ripoff' It seems relevant now.' It was then - people just hadn't got around to noticing.

Rene (Holland): 'Like the music and the voice - why don't you play Holland?' I'm getting a lot of these - why don't you play here - why don't you play there - questions and I can't answer them until the management/agency situation is sorted. It is getting clearer, but it takes a while and one doesn't want to blow it, so we're taking our time. Sorry about the ones I haven't answered.

Chris Roberts: 'Like a Rolling Stone.'

Wayne from Vancouver: 'Do you ever miss the 70's?' I don't really think about it much. That was then - this is now - what's the point?

Christopher: Sorry about your Dad. Hope it happens. Working on it.

Niall Sinclair: Sorry - can't help you there.

Gaz Taylor: I like the place - it's seated, but it's cool.

Laurent: Who knows!

Alan Keinch: Never worked with Joe Meek. Knew where it was.

Richie Cornacchio: Large!

Larry Woodside: I split with them a while ago. Trudi will give you an address. Sorry about the other issue.

Alexander Falk: Good luck with it.

Keith Hollinshed: 'You and Andy make a great team. He makes a great team with John Mellencamp. Have you ever worked with Mellencamp?' I remember he opened for Mick and me back in the 'Couger' days.

Jim Tuyls: 'Saw Glenn Matlock Sunday night in Green Bay. He signed 'Dirty Laundry' and commented how much he liked the record. Seemed like a real nice guy.' Glenn is a real nice guy. And what's not to like about DL - I think it's great.

George: 'Can I buy your live CD in the U.S.?' Dunno - I'll ask the wife. OK - Trudi says if you are talking about solo live CDs you can go to www.amazon.com if you are talking about the MTH Live at Hammersmith it's www.concertlive.co.uk

Kenny Mac: I'm playing Edinburgh. It's not that far.

Tracy: Nope!

I'm still getting a lot on 'Man Overboard' that I'm not putting in.

Mickey Boyle says MO 'completes a trio of Classic albums.' - so I'll put that in! He also attended the Friday, Hammersmith show which 'exceeded expectations.'

Ed Able: 'It's Wednesday - January 20th in Massachusetts and Scott Brown has just won his senate seat. On the radio today they dedicated 'All the Young Dudes' to him stating that it was a song he has specifically requested as one of his favorites.' He's a moderate Republican - hopefully he'll be OK. The beefcake saga - hey - we've all done daft things.

K.H. It's not really a question of one concert - it has to be a few as costs are so high. Thank you for your enthusiasm. Obviously, if it ever were to work out, this lot would be very supportive. Leave it to the pros K.H., but thanks again.

Kellianne Flynn's two-year-old demands to hear 'Golden Opportunity.'

Alan Hynd: Nothing at the moment.

Stano: 'Resurrection Mary' is based on a true story. Mary Bedrosian is said to haunt the Resurrection Cemetery in Chicago. Good luck with his career. I met David Moyes in an elevator during the MTH gigs and wished him good luck (as you do). They do seem to be improving, don't they? I think he does a great job considering the financial restrictions.

Randy Carter: Oh - so you're done - now what?

Shawn: Clarence Clemons.

Paul Callow: Top ten for me

Uncle Todd: Fun all the way, wasn't it. Haven't seen the footage yet. 'Recollections?' Too far back.

John O'Rourke: Popping up to the Winery with mates from Texas. Hope you have a great time, John.

Hot Tub Mike: A third Winery show has been added on the Wednesday (21st).

John McMillan: 'Anyone having a hard winter - stay in and listen to some good music i.e. Mott Hammersmith 2009. I'll put it this way - if you played some tracks for someone who didn't know it was recorded in 2009 they would think 71/72 - it's that good. If anybody calls you guys old - I'll set 'em straight!' Well - we're getting up there, but thanks anyway.

Tom/Edinburgh: On autobiographies - I think I've shown about as much as I want to show.

Mark F. I thought Ethel were phenomenal. Had a chat - really nice people. 'Have you ever heard Todd do 'Bang on a Drum' on a uke. It's hilarious.'

Joe: 'Favourite band of all time?' The Stones - The band - Ike and Tina Turner Revue - Little Richard's original band. NRBQ could rock your socks off. Not really a fair question - everyone's different.

Jeffrey: 'Any chance of your book being republished?' It still is published in the UK and now they're doing a French one. In the UK the publisher is Independent Music Press (IMP).

Tony: I'm done with all these list things. How many songs are out there? How many songs have I not heard? How many great songs with no hype - how many lousy songs with all the hype? Lists don't really make sense. I just don't feel qualified - today anyway!

Nikki Clinton: Obviously, I can't speak for everybody in that organization but no names ring a bell here.

Seth Purvin: But I like it.

Peejay: 'Listen to MO a lot of times. I keep getting the feeling some of it could be from years ago (writing wise). It's absolutely brilliant - but am I wrong?' Different songs - same writer.

Wayne Mitchell: I'll hear that in mind but you have to bear in mind I don't want to stop people having a great time. It's a thinker.

Pat: What took you so long?

That's it for now. Keep an eye on the site. Things are in the works. We'll talk.

IH
The Horse's Mouth