Evening all,

'Charlie' missed Hunter Towers so we didn't have to stable the horses and flamingos. Friends of our in Florida survived it well, so all is cool and humid. What am I doing? Watching Arsenal play with Everton. 3 - 0 up already and it's only the 58th minute.

Chris: 'Talk Ralpher into touring the U.S.' Well you know Mick hates flying. It's a big problem. Plus, I'm reliable informed that it wouldn't make much difference unless we changed our name to 'Mott the Hoople'. We won't because - we're not!

Ian Hollinghurst: Did I lose a lens at Worthen? Must have if you gave it me back. Lost one at the Stone Pony too. Unreliable, that's me. Says he had a chat with Jess (great guy and a credit to the wife and me.) He is a great lad.

Everton just scored a great goal. 3 - 1.

Did I go to 23A? Yup. A downstairs toilet has disappeared. What's in Trudi's bag? Don't know - I'm not allowed in. No Torquay gig in September. The Brian May situation - I'm hoping will clear up. I don't really see a problem. I'm seeing him next week; I'll ask him.

Jeffrey: Well, I did have a question, but it just missed us.

Pete says he's Steve Holley's cousin. Really enjoyed Bilston and Bristol. When's the Astoria DVD coming out? Frank Lee from Secret is trying for a Christmas release but it's taking a while to sort out.

Doug: Any plans for a U.S. tour this year? Maybe a quick sniff round the Midwest in October and a smidgeon of New York around Christmas. We'll post them if they're confirmed.

Phil Ash: Been coming to London shows since 'Overnight Angels'. Converted the wife and sister and now his sister's nicked all his IH albums. Regards to Charlie.

Wyatt Ford's nephew named his boys after I.H; one's Ian the other ones Hunter. Best of luck with them. A mandy is (or was) a sleeping pill.

Bruce Hendrickson: Do I produce? Nah, not anymore. If it stiffs - it's my fault and if it happens its yours…

Susan K: 'Publish a book full of Ronson jokes.' Well in truth, Susan, most of Mick's jokes were old, stale and generally crap. It was the way he told them that was hilarious. I once saw an audience in Helsinki fall apart at one of his jokes and I don't think many of them even understood English. It was especially excruciating on tour as he told the same ones every night - adding and elaborating as we went along.

Pires just made it 4 - 1 for Arsenal.

Shawn/San Diego reads 'glorious reviews' and bewails lack of West Coast gigs. Well it ain't our fault Shawn, as you know. New studio album? Not for a while. How did I hook up with Mick Ralphs again? Through Peter Purnell who runs Angel Air Records in England. Peter and Trudi got us together. 'How does it compare with the previous collaboration?' Well, it's obviously totally different. We're two different people. We were both in our 20's the first time and we were sharing writing chores in MTH. Now what happens is I do my set and Mick sits in and plays 'em. That's how he wants it. I think he just likes going out and exercising his chops now and again. We don't write together because he's in the UK and I'm in the US and we have our own lives; that that's not to say we won't in the future. Who knows. Neither of us are big on 'planning'. It'll work itself out.

Bart must have seen me without my glasses in some 60's photographs (on our site actually.) PUT 'EM BACK ON!!! Oh c'mon - I look lovely without them - you're just used to them.

Garry - Gaynor: What's my policy on signing and meeting folk after gigs? I don't really have one. If there's time and we're not rushing off somewhere I'm usually around for a while.

Jim is raving on about shows. 'Say hello to Patricia' (his wife) Hello Patricia!

Roy Dawson loved Leeds. Says he's the guy who swapped his £60 mambo shirt for Ralpher's £1.20 black T-shirt. 'What happened to it?' Don't know; ask him. Says 'Rant' is on his local jukebox. Goodho.

Mike Riley picked up MTH's 'Wildlife' from Amazon. Says he never heard it before. Likes 'Long Red' (the Mountain song). Great player/singer.

Jodi Lynn saw MTH at the Uris on Broadway when she was 14. Went to BB King's. 'Anymore New York shows this year? Maybe …

Colin Thayer: 'There's 60's tours and 80's tours - how about a 70's tour?' It would all depend on who was on it. I'm not a huge mixer.

David Fowler: Makes me think. Thank you, David.

Juliana Sand just bought 'Rant'! She's extremely complimentary! Favourites are 'Soap 'n' Water' 'Knees of My Heart' and 'No One'. She wishes I'd have been her father. Did I sing to my kids at bedtime? No - I just yelled, 'Go to bed.'

Phil Holmes: Do I know Earl Mankey? No. He was in 'Sparks' and co-produced an album for 'Concrete Blonde' that went gold. Should Phil use him on their next release? Like I say, I don't know Earl, but 'Sparks' were great and still have a big following. Unique.

Colin Mounsey: How do I look at home in front of a few hundred and look at home in Wembley Stadium? When you've been at it as long as I have, it really doesn't make much difference. I used to be really nervous in the early days, but it doesn't really bother me now. As long as nothing breaks down, I'm OK anywhere. Colin's 25 - his mum's just turned 60. Happy Birthday Susan! Colin says, 'I'm sure you can remember being unsigned - I've got so much to say and no one will listen.' Join the club Col!

Mark R. White: Thank you, Mark.

Michael Sinagoga wants the early CD remasters and the expanded MTH 2 CD set. Can you get them outside the UK? Well, that's not really my department, Michael. You could try Amazon.com OR Trudi suggest for UK releases try: Amazon.co.uk

Tracy: Glad your troubles are over. We'll try to make Milwaukee.

Pat Stanton: Liverpool awesome! Says he just read Angie Bowie's book and Ronno and me sound like we enjoyed extra curricular activities. Well, we used to have a great time but don't believe everything you read. Angie's always been hyperbole inclined.

Jeffrey: Yes, yes, Jeffrey - the filter and backwashing - the pool is doing fine. 'The handbags and the glad rags - the filter and the backwashing'

Peter Lewis: Just read the entire H.M. series (with beer). A few names appear in every issue. A few more names (including his) appear in several issues. Quite a lot of names appear in just one issue. An awful lot of names don't appear in any issue (Thank God). Now he says he's forgotten why he's writing this. Well, I know why you're writing this. You're pissed. Go to bed!

Graham Stark says 'Rollerball' is a single. Says it comes from the same template as 'Bastard' (and 'Teachers' and 'Noises'). Glad to see good reviews in Mojo and Classic Rock.

Peter Lewis (the morning after): How you feeling? A) 'Does modern technology help or hinder?' You use what's good, and you don't use what's bad. There's a place for digital and analog. B) Is the use of digital technology good or bad for the music industry? Well, it helps the young bands and solo artists who only have a limited budget, but it can be too 'clean'. When you write a song on a computer there are few mistakes and sometimes songs come out of mistakes. The Industry itself now has computer data, which advises them if a record has hit potential. Pathetic, isn't it? Clear Channel's all computered out. They call it progress. Take some Andrews Liver Salts immediately. I liked the first lot better!

Matt Wilcox: 'How do we get 'All of the Good Ones' re-released?' Call the Mafia and get them to threaten somebody!

Noel Cunningham: Come to Ireland! Well, I am coming to Ireland in a few days time - not to gig - we're going to a mate's wedding. Lovely place, Dublin.

Brian Easton: Glasgow, brilliant - band superb. Said Willie lit up when we did 'Wheels'. Do, 'The Outsider' next year!

Mike Grabau says come to Ohio. We might be. Watch this site.

Pat says 'Nightingale' one of the high points. Heard Joe Brown sing 'See you in My Dreams' to close 'Concert for George'. Says it's perfect for me when 'Nightingale' gets dropped. I've always liked Joe Brown.

Jose Luis: yes, we did play Madrid in June. I'm hoping to be back next year if all goes well. Sorry you missed it.

Jeffrey: 'Was it my idea to post 60's pics on the web site?' No, that was Justin's. Says I looked pretty in the 60's - what happened? Says I'm a cross between Duane Eddy and Gene Vincent with a touch of Bobby Rydell! Sod off!!!

Casetta (writes a column called Scratch, Pop + Hiss): 'What was the last CD you listened to? Can't remember. 'What is your earliest musical memory?' My Dad was a cop and they had a Christmas Police Party in Market Drayton in Shropshire. They hired a banjo player and I sat transfixed in front of him all evening. I was 8. I know I was 8 because it was the year my brother, Bob, was born. 'What was the first record you ever bought?' The Blue Tango (I can't remember who by, but I think it was Ronald Chesney (a harmonica player). 'You once played in a band that sounded like …' I had a band that copied 'Screaming Lord Sutch'. It was totally nuts, but we got lots of gigs. 'What is the most surprising thing about your musical collection?' How small it is. 'What is something you play at maximum volume?' Real Rock 'n' Roll - Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis. 'What was the first concert you attended?' The Chessmen at the Music Hall in Shrewsbury - I was 16. 'What is your favourite music moment that involved yourself?' Don't know; there's been a few. 'What is one record everybody should have in their collection?' 'Blonde on Blonde. Casetta writes for www.backwash.com

Dan Hartmann: Good on Reggie - long may he wreck!!!

Ed: How do I feel about - tape trading, recording concerts, and file sharing? Resigned. (But not if there's money involved.)

Dave Hancox: Let me elucidate for you, Dave. Does there have to be good and bad in the world? No. It's just what we've become accustomed to over the last few thousand years. Ideally, we could do without the bad, but that's not going to happen in the foreseeable future, so we all use it in different ways. Some of those ways can actually be positive. It doesn't all stink!!

Hope Campbell: Why do they put a 'p' in Campbell? Why is there an 'a' in Michael? Gets me every time. Talking about dissecting animals in school. Should they do it? No!! It's insane!! For a start - out of a class of 30 - there's probably 4 people who are actually interested. Then there's a couple more who take it as a license to kill a few animals after school and the rest of them are as disgusted as you are. It made me physically sick. No! Stop the stupid bastards. They're trying to stop sports in the UK because the little darlings might fall and hurt themselves (insurance?) but it's OK to dissect up a frog in front of them.

Actually, Jeff - what we're having here is an English summer - or at least what used to be an English summer. (Yankees 1; Seattle 1 end of the second).

Dave Phillips: Andy's out with John Mellencamp for a while now. He won't be thinking web site any time soon, although he does like the idea (kind of).

Francis L. thanks me, The Ranters, Ralpher, Joe Elliott, and Brian May 'for the astounding Astoria show.' Francis got the new Mott live CD through Tower Records on line. 'Bender once again a star!' He's a star anyway. How will you get the Astoria DVD? Frank Lee's in the middle of negotiations right now, but he won't tell me who it is in the U.S. because it still might not come off - Murphy's law. Don't say anything until the papers are signed. 'Is a hairy also a hippie?' No. No.

James Kaa wants an LA gig. So do I.

Jim McConnell: 'Astoria DVD by Xmas or we all get a free T-shirt.' This isn't my call. It's the label's. They say they want it out in the UK by Christmas. That's all I know. One thing I do know - I ain't Santa!

Tom McGarry: 'Rant and Strings both fantastic. Glasgow the best concert I've been to ever. This site's taking off - more and more fans - (new and old). Does it impact positively on sales?' Yes, I think this site helps people know what's going on. Before - nobody really knew what I was up to. I'm not exactly over-hyped in the record industry, so you need all the help you can get.

Marty G. says is the new Mott live CD any indication of the global warming between the members of MTH? Well, we all think it's great. I don't think any one of us had a real hand in it. Thanks do go to Phi Savill from Sony and Campbell Devine. I know Buff got in touch with Phil and said he thought it was great. Perhaps it sounds so good now because there was no money around for the original. It was done on the cheap and we were big then - pretty unforgivable on the label's part at that time. That's my two cents.

Moke Walton: Come to Norwich! Last time I played Norwich - it was a University - and somebody laid Earl Slick out with a bottle. I'm too scared! Loves MTH live set.

Paul Kennett: 'Re-record new version of Irene Wilde' Was a DVD done at the Astoria? Yes, as above.

Horse's Mouth #45, Part 2 will follow shortly ...