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Issue #55, Part 1 - August 17, 2005

God it's bloody hot. I'm thinking of touring Siberia for a fortnight.

Bart asks where was the photo of me and Bob Dylan (from Campbell Devine's bio) taken? That was at a party given for Bob at the Whitney Museum in New York City.

Barry: 'Come back to southern California.' Should be sometime next spring.

Heather: Go for it.

Bruce Stein: Sorry about the cancellations, but I couldn't move - let alone work. 'How did the E-Street Band come to do Schizophrenic?' I started the recording of Schizophrenic in London, but it didn't feel right. One night my then manager, Steve Popovich, rang me and asked me if I wanted to go back to New York and start again. The E- Streeters were available and keen to do it. Ronno and I took the next plane out.

Rich Holmes loved the UK tour; found James Mastro to be a great guy (true). Rich is 20. Will I do the UK next year? A bit iffy.

Fiona (Glasgow): Hoping I'm better. Thank you, Fiona - nearly back to normal.

Bill Blankenship: Likes the site. 'Did Verden Allen and Guy Stevens have a fight over Brian Capers (The organ being too far back in the mix)?' I don't think I was there but Phally told me later when he heard the mixes he smashed the record to pieces in Guy's face. Guy was very upset. Did Guy Stevens want Mott to sound Stones-y on Brain Capers ? No - not at all. The Stones and Dylan were used as the initial yardsticks, but then all Guy wanted was for Mott The Hoople to be MTH - preferably the crazy version. Bill's a big Ralpher fan.

Victoria Marie: Looking for the next CD (same here!)

Tom Fenderheim was disappointed at the cancellations. Hey - haven't cancelled in thirty years. Sorry, but there it is.

PeeJay: 'Tour cancelled - you're not ill are you?' My back was out - herniated disc - sciatica. Bloody awful, but it's on the mend. Never had it before - don't want it again!

Rob Say: 'Buff mentions that things changed crowd-wise for MTH at a gig in Harlow New Town. Could it have been the Birdcage?' Don't know. My recollection was that we broke through at Letchworth Youth Club, but I could be wrong.

Jon White loves the web site. 'The advent of the web has reduced the chasm between performer and fan - is this a good thing?' For me it's been great. I've not been properly managed for fifteen years - nobody knew where I was or what I was up to. Gigs would be unadvertised - it was a mess. Now, not only do people know where I'm at, but they've also made new friends with the same interest (me!). 'Does it feel odd that thousands of complete strangers around the globe feel connected to you?' No.

Steve Baratta: Advice on my back (Thanks).

Walt was at 'stunning' Joe's Pub gig. Picked up Mott's 30th Anniversary set in Windsor, Ontario. Cried a lot. C'mon Walt - it's not that bad! (I know - I've used that one before). 'Svengali' (Walt says) is a great little shop in Windsor.

Joel/Reilly Graham: Converted son, Reilly. Reilly is 18 - welcome aboard! Is he going through a funny phase? Funny age, 18.

Bart is on about my back. Hey, I'm fine - it's just my back. Hopefully, I'll get rid of it totally, eventually. It's not like I'm ill. Just got to wait it out. I'm walking again - it's going.

Bobby C: Sorry about the cancellations. Will I play with Willy Nile in the future? I should think so - I like Willie. He's a very nice man with a rock and roll heart.

Kellianne Connell - thanks for your concern.

Dennis Dahill and Graham Stark: Would like to hear a full length Journey in the set. 'Do the next album'. I'm working on it.

Daniel Halferty says I nailed Twisted Steel. I like the song. It's simple and to the point. Daniels had a disc replacement. 'People don't understand the mind numbing pain.' It certainly got my attention!

David Parry: 'Get better - what CD's are you listening to?' Haven't listed in ages. Reading, actually. 'John Adams' Riveting stuff. 'Who would I go and see?' I'm not fond of going to gigs. I've always been the same - I feel awkward.

Bob Barnes: Advice on the old back. Thank you.

Dirk Verelst: Lots of advice on the old back! Very interesting.

John: All you buggers have had stuff herniated!

Dave Donner: No problem. Good luck with the new venture.

Paul Dorman: Back advice.

Bob Barnes says 'A new double CD in digipak called, The Truth - The Whole Truth - Nuthin but the Truth out by Secret Records. CAT. No. SMACD906 (distributed by Pinnacle). It's got a fold out sleeve (four folds) and eight page booklet - sleeve notes by Paul Lester. They have it on HMV.co.uk for 13.99 GBP. Are you being ripped off again? No, this is legit. I wish they'd send me one, though!

Rob Roe suggests a bed on stage complete with hanging mike.

Matt Nojonen: 'Your best songs seem to be rooted in your own experience happy/sad. Is it cathartic or does playing them bring it all back?' All depends on the song. Some would do you in if you thought about them too much - so I don't!

Mike Baird: Advice on a back.

Brian Fitzpatrick: Loved LA. Commiserations on my back. Hey -at least I can't see it.

Brent's got the same thing! Hey, it's not all bad. My guy says it will go in time. So far, so good.

Joe Pic: Advice on the back.

Glenn the Rock: Ditto

Kenny Mac: Loved the Garage gig in Glasgow. Do a live recording here. Crowd mad for it.

Larry Woodside: Advice on the back.

Andrew Field: Lots of stuff here, Andrew. I'll pick one. 'Do you wish you'd gone to University?' Well, you know, you look at Oxford and Cambridge and who you might have met (that net working system seems to work well in later life). Ivied walls and all that. I guess there's a minor pang, but, hey - gang life was great too! I'd have liked to have given my kids the chance, but I couldn't afford it with the two older ones and the younger, positively refused. I think we're self starters, and we know what we want, so University never really applied.

Andrew again: 'Who was the guy who died at 23 in Rain?' His name was Biddy - he was one of the chaps. 'You need Ralphs if you do full length Journey. Try getting him on the phone!!!

Kevin Keller: Back stuff. Everyone is different!

Jeffrey: Your friend is mistaken. Can you do something about this bloody weather? It's too hot for me. Jeffrey's extremely impressed by my Buddy Cage email. 'Awesome! A virtuoso - as good as Pete Drake and Buddy Emmons!'

Jim Scully: I'm gonna form a new band, 'The herniated discs!'

Alexander Falk: Get better.

Philip Whelan: 'Why did you use 'planet Earth is 4,600 years old' on YUI Orta? Great piece of writing - come to Australia.' On a flight from London to New York I came across those Greenpeace lines.

Gareth Rowell: Get better.

Chris Lewis: ' I just wanna know if the Iain Hamilton mentioned in H.M. 54 is who I think he is? He'll know if he is!!! (?)

Susan: 'Glad to know someone realizes Bono is taking over the world.' I like the one about the alien who lands on earth and tells everybody to get off because he's bought it.

Francis L. had his back cured by a large, fat Mexican dishwasher who walked on it. Sounds reasonable.

Stephen Londerholm: 'Put lyrics on the web site.' I'll tell the wife.

David: Back commiserations.

Renee: No, I'm not cranky at all. Lying around doesn't bother me that much. I could get used to it real easy!

Heather: Get better.

Bryan has 600 songs on his iPod. Dylan - Lennon - I'm third!

Andy Allison: The crawl to the bathroom - the bathroom being an added 'perk' in the back sufferers catalogue. I used crutches. Daughter, Amanda, thanks me for 'Nightingale' in Edinburgh.

Lyndon Brown: Big fan of AAAB (comes out next year on Sony again - thanks to Phil Savill and crew at in the UK - 30th Anniversary).

Steward Moffat: Get well soon - Glasgow great.

Will Barker: 'Did you know the band was going to split when you recorded, Saturday Gigs? No (but maybe my body did).

Patty Wolz: I can walk now - it just gets a little easier every week. I've done three miles a couple of times. It's so hot though. You have to get up at dawn - and I'm not into that. 'Saw Def Leppard in NJ - fantastic. Was hoping you might get up with them.' Joe tells us that Sav has something like what I have! I don't know how he's gigging...

Kevin K: 'Web site is well done and informative - first look'

Joyce Brazino: Advice on the back.

Peejay: 'So you've done your back in chasing ladies on tour.' They were chasing me, mate. Horrifying.

David S bought Strings Attached in Circuit City - the only copy (as usual). Why order one copy? Loves it.

Martin says, 'Your gigs are a treat.'

FreeSpirit loved Shrewsbury.

Zach Kleinheksel: Artist/bands - personal favourites? Dylan, Stones Nirvana, Guns + Roses, Little Richard, Jerry Lee, Lorraine Ellison, the Platters and P.J. Proby. James Mastro was up yesterday with Andy York. James had outtakes of Don't Look Back - fascinating and (great).

Kevin Shannon: 'Come to Detroit.' We'll be there.

Mark R. White: I couldn't get in a car - let alone travel.

Dennis Romano has three herniated discs (beat me by two). Says, 'Hey - it ain't cancer! Exactly.

Honalooche B: You people are mad. Stick with the day jobs! Monster poem - three pages long - no, I'm not putting it in (my hand would fall off). Great fun.

Christopher Collins: Off we go into back land. Actually, I have painkillers (which I no longer need). The trouble is if you take painkillers, you're pain free and liable to push the envelope. Not a good idea. You've got to know the limitations. Mine's going, but it's like an inch a day. Long haul. At least I can sit back and wait it out.

John Von Reine: Feeling guilty as he's wanted me to put out a disc. Even prayed for it! Are you satisfied?

Tricia D.: Here we go. 'Are you going to have a slipped discography page?

Lorrie Mattor: Speedy recovery. It ain't speedy, but it's recovering.

Greg Wheeler: Yes, I do remember the circular stage at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. We had our first Mexican food before we went on. A novel experience. Apparently, John Hiatt told a little story about opening for us at that venue and the crowd were great. Greg was there! WOW!

Todd Applegate: Goes on about Ronno and me and asks if I ever met Phil Lynott as he's a Lizzy fan. Phil was a sweetheart of a guy. I remember we did Milton Keynes together and we didn't have a baby sitter - Phil baby-sat Jesse, while I was on stage!

Bryan Patterson: Is, Truth, the CD version of Just Another Night? Yes.

Dave Pickard: 'Leeds - great. A few of you are now saying that although this year's band was different, they were just as good - only in a different way. Sometimes you have to absorb for a little while before comparing. This year's band was great, as was last years. Mr. Holley will tell you the same thing. Nobody better than Mr. Holley.

Jim Scully talking about Steve Conte (John's brother). Saw him at Amagansett in the reformed Dolls. Says he was incredible - stole the show. I know Steve. Great singer/guitarist.

Dave Pickard: Forgot this - 'Why have you never done Whizz Kid live? We did actually, when Mick and I were in Canada. It's good with saxes.

Joe Croker's Dad has late stage Alzheimers. Played Strings Attached version of Irene Wilde and he teared up on the line, 'If you hadn't let me down, I'd still be there.' Amazing thing music.

Bonnie W. gives advice on the old back.

Douglas Taylor: Just Another Night plays on his laptop. 'Is Joe Elliott as nice a guy as he looks?' Nicer. 'Brian May - mean guitar.' 'Mick Ralphs didn't play many solos.' Mick was just getting back into it after not playing at all so he just 'sat in' in effect, and Andy did all the stuff that he didn't want to do. 'Andy terrific.' I'll tell him.

Shugster E/K 'Allo mon Dude.' Song you're most proud of? 'Dead Man Walkin'' Which song has had the most influence on people? Don't know.

Steve Parsons: 1) Don't know - could have been Ian and Lyn Flint. Don't really know. 2) Not as yet.

Andy Baker: Sympathy for the trouble.

'M': Fed up I'm not doing Buffalo. Hopes I'm better soon.

Rush Evans: I did a phoner with Rush. The story is out - the current cover of Discoveries Magazine - August 2005. Says the cover and spread look great. Immersed in Rant - Rush surfaces and decides Rant is the best album I've ever made. He's been listening for 25 years. Thanks, Rush.

Hal London (ER doc) - an epidural was suggested at the time, but I wouldn't do it. That stuff that's in those injections can mess up surrounding stuff. It was never an option for me unless absolutely optioned out.

Denise Pressnall: 'I was told you played one of my Dad's custom guitars - a white Maltese Cross (Thomas). Dad's gone.' Sorry to hear this, Denise. It's true, I had a white Maltese Cross - there are two or three about though. There's a good chance it was mine. I believe the guy who bought it lived in the south of England. I remember him bringing it to Folkstone one time.

Jesse: 'Can you leave a bridle and a bit on a horse for a day and get the horse used to the bit?' Not on this one, you can't.

Tom Andrews thinks the only real cure is extra sex. That's what I've been saying. Houston sounds good these days - or was it those days.

Alan Maddox: Don't forget small gigs - Gloucester regulars still reeling.

Paul Wilson: Lovely letter. Got Classic Rock (August issue).

Shaun: Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine with whom I've got for the time being. Besides - you'd make me look ancient!!! (Shaun's 22).

Ron Moskovitz: More advice on the back. Saw us at the Philly Spectrum years ago.

Krister Berntsson: Saw Stockholm. Fascinated with the energy. Likes the fact we could do old stuff, but instead a lot of it's new. Loved it - and Mats Ronander too! 'I haven't seen him have that much fun in years!'

Fiona: 'Just figured it out - you didn't wear a kilt in Glasgow because of your back' (I didn't wear a kilt because of my legs!)

Mike Rago (Baton Rouge) says I was an early influence on his career. 'Get well soon - remember what Confucious said, ' If you were not getting older then you would be dead.' Cheerful sod, wasn't he?

Stay Tuned! The Horse's Mouth #55 Part 2 will follow shortly ...