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Issue #87, Part 2 - June 18, 2008

Gareth: Thanks.

Paul Bitner: Thanks.

Frederik Pettersson: 'Happy Birthday. Are there any plans for a video of the song 'Shrunken Heads'? No. Hi Fred and all the hat gang!

Jim Hoss: Thanks.

Ron Capko: Thank you.

Patty and Chip Woltz: I don't know - you were the last ones I talked to!!

Carmela Long: Sorry I don't. But thanks for the HB.

Francis L: Essentially a writer. But they have to get in touch.

Shawn Jones: Mystery is a handy tool when it comes to perception. The third of June is correct, the rest is up for grabs? A great idea for kids though. Shawn makes school a little more palatable.

Dave Drew: Thank you. Glad you did well.

Hot tub Mine: 'I moved in '75 because I thought England was badly governed - a lot of people who didn't come with me now wish they had. It's been down hill all the way. Government after government and I include Thatcher - your basic rip off. Don't get me wrong - I love England, but I can't live with some of these idiots.

Just wait till Obama gets into office. Where are you going then? The inmates will be running the asylum. McCain is no bargain - it will depend on the no. 2 spot. That's politics. On a lighter note - keep up the great work - you get better and better.' We'll soon find out.

Dr. Clack: 'Can we put a nail in all the reunion rumours going around thanks to Mr. Watts - or am I wrong here? I do not see the point of it all. I prefer the solo CDs. The past is nice, but the future sounds a lot more fun.' Pete's a great chap when you meet him in person and he was probably having a good time in good company. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Gregor Addison: I'll have a look.

Dean Roecker: 'H.B. How are my trousers?' They are taking a well-deserved rest; it's shorts at the moment. Not a pretty sight! 'I may be out of the loop, but have you heard the Who's 'Real Good Looking Boy'? Sounds just like you!' Don't remember that one.

Jonny Bedford: 'Make 'Diary' into a movie'. Easier said than done.

Mark Trude: You couldn't be more wrong, mate; it thought it was a great record (Ellen Foley's Night Out)

Eric Hemphill celebrating his 35th year as a rock music fan, a MTH fan and an IH fan. Congrats.

Heather: Enjoy the Alter experience!

Parizia: 'I write from Rome, Italy (love that city). Patrizia wrote a novel in 1992 called Blackout Mentale 'The hero is a frontman and guitar hero of a rock band. Your fan. I'd like to send a copy.' My Italian is crap. All I know is 1 - 10 which my Dad taught me after the war. He was in Sicily. Anyway, thanks for the offer!!

Wyatt: 'Happy Birthday. Loves SH - every song. Tell Trudi to contact 'Tangiers' in Akron. They would love to have you!' We shall see.

Truenobleman: No question. SH great work. IH gets better with age. Very impressive - been a fan since 'When My Minds Gone'. Truly believe Ian is the English Bob.' (blush)

Rob: 'Been listening for years (though not a long as most). Written quit a bit about you for www.nudeasthenews.com. Just wanted to say I'm amazed how often your music ends up in my rotation all these years. Some bands have come and gone - big ones too - but you've been there and always will be. A big thanks!' Mutual!

Verne: (i) Nice in principle - until you get to the lawyers. (ii) If Obama does get in, and it is a mess (which I don't think it will be) who will you have to thank? The same person that's bringing out hundreds and thousands of formerly apathetic to voters - George Bush.

Rick Graves: Thanks for your participation!

Steve Parsons: 'Just a quick not to say one of your songs - 'The Loner' - helped me make someone's day. My mates Birthday is the same day as yours - he'd been made redundant so I sent him a text and he was over the moon. He was down because his marriage had recently failed and was having a subdued birthday celebration with his children. To cap it off it was his 50th. Thanks for the reminder.'

Jim Riley: 'You're appreciated.

Paul Harris: 'Planning anything for Auckland, New Zealand? Many thanks for the songs.'

Bob Rynerson: 'Geez - give a guy a break! First you release SH and you get grief for your 'right' wing politics - then you put a word in for Obama and you get grief for that. Do these people actually listen to your music? If your pissing off people on the left and on the right you must be doing something right!!!'

Wullie: At the rate petrol's rising, we'll be in it with you!

Pat: Thanks.

Ulf: 'Denmark?' I actually enjoyed the last venue we played in Denmark very much. I think it was a Wednesday night - the place was gorgeous and the crowd were animated. So - yes - if it works out.

Jim Wilkinson: No, I never worked with Dan Federici. My deepest condolences to the Federici and Springsteen families.

Michele Lynn: 'Good morning, Ian. It's really hot in NYC and very humid. My hair is starting to frizz more than curl. What's your best hair tip?' Move.

Merwyn: 'Not yet, I didn't. Was 'World Was Round' the internet?' That's part of it.

Ross: Actually, I would disagree. Pete had been a lead guitarist before he was a bass player. He was very melodic on the slower stuff (i.e. Wildlife). I thought him very imaginative. He turned down a couple of heavy offers to stay with MTH.

David Nagy: 'I guess you have to be dead to be famous.' I much prefer things the way they are, thank you.

Rob Mortellaro: 'Have you ever worked with Ian McLagan?' No, but he's a very nice chap and a great player and I'm sure we'd have a great time. I think we're both fairly up fir it but you know - a lot of it's geography, logistics etc.

Gregor Addison: Seeing more and more MTH footage on YouTube.

Tim Kearns (New Zealand): 'Just returned from my 2nd stint teaching in North Korea. You may be pleased to hear I played some of your music to my NK friends. 'You Nearly Did Me In' went down extremely well. Wanted to suggest that it be released as a single in Korea - unfortunately they don't really know what a single - or a singles chart is. Anyway, beautiful people, beautiful country but in desperate trouble. Love SH; has anyone said 'Brainwashed' sounds like Split Enz?' So that's Korea covered. Congrats to you and Vanessa.

Bill Innes: My problem with the '80s was that that was when corporations started interfering in things they knew nothing about. I lost it - horrible decade for me.

Dave Nagy apologizing for the 'dead' bit. Don't worry about it - Joe Elliott says it all the time!

Joe Kube asks who sings: 'At the Crossroads' (Me); 'Laugh At Me' (Me); 'Rock n Roll Queen (Mick Ralphs); and 'Half Moon Bay' (Me).

Rick Graves saw Alejandro Escovedo and picked up the new album - apparently he gives me a mention - that's nice. We did a couple of days together a while back. He played his songs and I suggested bits of extra stuff here and there. When he got home he couldn't figure out which bits went with what - we'd taped odd bits on his cassette player, so he reverted to what he had in the first place - which would be more him anyway. Lovely chap, as I have said before. Hope it does great.

Keith R. Smith: 'How are the new songs working out?' Pretty good so far. Andy 'passed' six the other day. He'll sit and ruminate on them while I finish the others.

Dr. Artrhur: 'Did you know that Schizophrenic is ranked 167 in Amazon's top rock MP3 downloads?' No, but thanks for passing that on.

Joe S.: Comes with the territory.

Joe Payne: 'When you and Ronno were touring together he'd call fans in different cities and thank them for his support. Did you do this together or did he do this on his own?' Mick was great with fans. Some would hang around outside where he lived and he'd invite them in for a cup of tea. That goes back before me. I don't remember him ever doing it with me.

Tom Guerra/Vintage Guitar Magazine/Mambo sons guitarist relates a story which I hope none involved minds me repeating here. 'I'm writing to tell you a funny story involving Benmont Tench (Tom Petty's keyboardist). Tom invited me to his show in Hartford, CT on Wednesday night and in talking to the band, Benmont and I struck up a long and detailed conversation about the history of rock and roll and our favourite bands (and of course MTH came up with me!) Benmont (who is funny as hell and an encyclopedia of R+R) told me that one of his dreams was to play keys for MTH! After hearing the first MTH album, he was considering leaving school so he could go to England to track down the band to see if you needed another keyboardist. He said it became his dream to play keys with Mott. A short time later, he actually bought the album and he saw that you had two keyboardists in you and Verden, so he decided to stay in school and work on his chops. So he wanted me to pass along to you, that this is one case where rock and roll actually made someone STAY in school!' I actually met Mike Campbell and Benmont in LA when I was working at The Village and they were up for doing something. Unfortunately, I didn't have a song to my name at that time so we had nothing to play - which is a big regret. I'm a fan of Tom and the band. Loved the TV special - four hours long and I didn't move. Wonderful stuff. Thanks, Tom.

Mark Hughes: Thank you, Sir!

Alan Graham - Go fir it.

Mark: One bug is not enough!

Harry Gregory: 'Would you reunite MTH if they got into the Hall of Fame?' I honestly don't know. It was a diplomatic band - you'd have to ask them all. 'Which back catalog sells more - yours or MTH?' Probably mine - it's larger.

Johathan Redding: 'Doing any UK Festivals this summer?' Sorry - busy elsewhere.

Jeff Stanke: Thank you, Sir!

Chris: 'What was great working with Todd Rundgren? What wasn't?' Had a lot of fun with Todd. No downside.

So there we are again. Must get back down the basement.

IH
The Horse's Mouth