Here we go again!

Bill C: Telling me what to do at the Winery. Bit late for that.

Steve Marrington: You've got a good one there, Steve.

Grant O'Keefe: 'Do Seattle.' We'll see what the winter brings. We're getting more rain than you are now.

Jack Pells: Dark Kit Kat

John: Doesn't bother me who covers my songs as long as my name's on them and I get paid. No problem in this instance. Nice you're covering it.

Oystein mentions a band called the Misers who are MTH fans from Herefordshire. Good luck, chaps.

Craig Smith: They needed lyrics so Bob Ezrin asked them who could write them and they suggested me - and I did. Didn't play - just wrote the lyrics.

Ritchie C: 'Ever play with Levon Helm? It would be incredibly interesting.' Played on the same bill with him. Wonderful musician; lovely man. I'd be up for a song with him.

Mark F: Can't remember - long time ago.

Chris Whitfield: 'All your recommendations (in Diary) as to hotels, restaurant service etc. in 1972 have been adopted!' 'Bout time too.

Chris Miller: 'Man Overboard - album of the month in Record Collector. If you were offered an MBE would you accept?' What's an MBE?

David Taylor: You are obviously not taking my vocal prowess into consideration.

Perry: 'World Was Round' was about before you find out what it really is.

Keith Nickless: 'You've been in the U.S.A. for 34 years now. Any regrets?' Nope. I don't feel like anything but me.

Phil Huband: 23A is still there. Baker Street's a car park now. The Priory School is 10 minutes walk from 23A. I was born in Oswestry, but only stayed there for six weeks.

Ed: We played in England with Three Dog Night. One of them hung out with us. Can't remember the venue. May have been outside.

Jerry Lakeman: 'Diary' is still in print. Check out Independent Music Press.

Tina Middleton: No truth in 'the rumors'. Yes, I've been to Lytham - but I never lived in Blackpool. My parents and my brother, Bob did (Bispham).

Kellianne Flynn: Hope you get better soon - a kiss to Bridget.

German Fernandez: 'They played instrumental intro to 'Roll Away the Stone' repeatedly over the PA at the Bislett Games in Oslo.' Nice One.

David R. Lea: Your welcome.

Phil John: 'Ref. Lori DeRubios in the last Horse's Mouth as to who opened for MTH at the Winterland in April of '74 - it was Aerosmith.' Phil ought to know - he was one of our tour chaps. Thanks, Phil.

Scott Chapin: 'Meet and Greets' are being looked at as we speak. Ralpher thinks it's a good idea.

Gene Metrick: No favourites, really. I just remember the duff ones.

Jack Sullivan: 'Cazel' - Google 'em up.

Peter W. Resotka: Nice one.

Jeff Jacy: Hang in Jeff. Time; it takes time.

Peter Jordan: 'New album - do you still get nervous?' Nah. I know it's good. Obviously it's great if somebody else agrees!

Verne: Just pay for it somewhere/anywhere. That's fine.

Dan Sutton: 'Saw Bad Co last week - Ralpher in fine form.' Yes, he's in a great frame of mind these days.

Hal: 'Love the new tracks.' Thank you.

Paul Stirk: 'Read Mojo - it was fantastic to see you sitting next to Judy Collins.' She was extremely gracious.

Kevin Perry: Any plans for vinyl copy of MO? Cover magnificent - brooding - personal.' I leave that up to New West, but thanks.

Christopher M. Harran: Multiply by 10 and you're in the ballpark.

Steve Law: Not my department. Shops take albums off the shelves even if they're selling reasonably well these days. Labels counter this stupidity by putting the same CD into a different sleeve - then the shop order it again! No wonder we're skint! Check the track listing before buying.

Bullet Bob: Mick always surprised me with his playing. It was never what you had in mind - and always better.

Bob Piana: Schitzo - 40th Anniversary edition - is being re-released in September by EMI (thanks, Campbell and Nigel Reeve) with a bunch of extra live tracks.

Martin Sheard: 'You're mentioned in Tony Blackburn's autobiography.' That's it then; it's all over.

Mary Fields: Cheap Trick and I get along just fine - nothing planned. 'Will you be coming to SF?' Don't know, but hopefully, yes.

Bucks Burnett: 'After the MTH gigs, will IH reunite?' That's the plan.

Phyl: I talk to Wiggy and Tina (his wife) regularly. Lovely people.

Rob Horan: Got this toooooo late. Sorry I missed you.

Liz: Long but interesting. You're doing all right - I can tell.

Murphy: No idea - but I'm there a lot any way.

Verne: My take on Lester Bangs was that he was the best - No. 1. Unfortunately, he spawned a lot of imitators - especially in the UK - who weren't! You always felt slightly 'honoured' when he wanted to do a story on you.

Clyde Hartman: Haley and the Comets rocked effortlessly - swung like hell. The music was kind of corny and Bill wasn't the 'idol' type of guy, but they were huge in their time.

Gene Bernard: Sure - Sling it up there!

Lindy: 'Who said I'm not much good at anything else?' Lots of people said that - and I'm one of them.

Jim Wiita: Never say never.

Richard Barthelme: Thank you, Richard.

Seth Purvin: I guess 'Rain' gets a bad rap - it's kind of like misery in a way.

Les Vineyard: 'Girl at the Office;' 'Arms and Legs;' are the most immediate.

Mike Reid: I think he'll be doing them as they were.

Mike Channon: Actually, the bugger hasn't sent me the book. It was a lot of fun back then.

Bob Devers: I've no idea - google up New West and figure it out from there. It's distribution stuff.

Ian Mant likes M.O.

Mark F: Yes.

Johathan Bedford: Arsenal for the premiership? You know I really don't know.

Philip Beasley: Noted.

Kevin: Oh, yes. Mil and I go back more years than we'd care to admit. Thing is - I'm not a blueser. Mil will tell you that!

Tripp Pair: OK. Thanks, anyway.

Peter Wayne Resotka and Jayne: So - you got 'Sweet Jane.'

John Giessmann: Yes, I wrote 'Memphis? We'll try - we'll try.

Al Smith: Not 'the' Al Smith? Stan will be there in full voice.

Andy: Wants IH gigs next year.

Alan (Kent, Washington) First Maltese Cross was bought in a San Francisco pawn shop for $75.00.

John Lutjes: 'You did it again!!' Glad you like it.

Anthony Newton: Thanks for the info.

David Shasha: 'M.O. Brilliant - will you tour it?' We want to tour it. It's down to promoters and the economic situation. Touring is not cheap - especially if you want to do it properly and with the full band.

Andy Dunkley: Thanks, Andy

Stoo Fae Glesga: 'New album magic!' ii) It's been offered but we don't know at the moment.

Mike: No, 'Walk on Water.' Sorry!

Stewart: I don't 'arrange' gigs. Phoenix promoters do that with my agent, Frank Riley.

Randy McNeil: 'Can't stop playing 'Flowers' - love, 'River of Tears'. I liked the Winery gig - beautiful place - clean as a whistle. Sure, I'd go back.

Barry Cobb: Loves M.O.

Rick Lloyd: 'You've done it gain.'

Rich Whalen: 'You've done it again.'

Sweeney: 'We're looking at November/December this year. We'll see.

Jeff Williams: 'Got the new record - amazing 0 amazing.' I ain't making these up folks.

Matt Nojonen: Sees it as the most somber work I've ever done. I don't.

Al Johnson: 'Best you released this century.

Keith Nickless: 'M.O. Better than S.H.'

Jane Adams 'Loves it.'

Tom Semioli: 'My wife is a lovely, respectable African American woman raised on Jazz and Motown and no big fan of R + R. However she loves dancing around our apartment to the sound of 'Arms 'n' Legs ''. Are you the new Godfather of Soul?' Yup.

Verne: 'Good stuff, yeah, good stuff.'

Bart: The song was about a time in my life where I had to make a choice. It just came out that way. You do have a point. I didn't go lookin' for it (like 'Great Escape') - it came lookin' for me.

Gary Ashton: 'Same set every night - MTH?' We'll have to wait and see.

Ian Docherty: 'River of Tears' is basically a folklore tale.

Keith Nickless: I'm fine with them all. OK 'Great Escapes' fun.

Tom Pogar: 'Was Artful Dodger ever released in the U.S.?' Don't know; I'll ask the wife. Tallin, Estonia - in '97.

Jeff: Worse than Manchester!

Bob Adams: 'I love M.O. What changes do you notice the most?' I hate to say this, but I like the singing more now than before. But that's just me.

Bill Kershaw: 'M.O. very good, but S.H. better.' How do you make this judgment when you've had S.H. for a couple of years and M.O. a couple of days? And - does it really matter?

Bruno Silviera: Still thinking.

Rolf Brunner: New record great. Come to Switzerland.

Francis L: (i) Boz Burrell passed; (ii) Ralpher flew. He will - if he absolutely has to. (iii) Yes. (iiii) Could be.

Peter Jordan: Part one - no; part two - who knows?

Howard Chapman: That's it until after London.

Jenx: 'You've released a blinder here son!'

Kellianne: Glad you enjoyed it.

Joanne Rishton: 'Beautiful, stunning album.' Thank you, Joanne.

Peter Moreland: '3 masterpieces in a row - you are an effin genius.' Now that's quite enough.

Rich Michi: 'Vintage you and another pleasure.'

Bob Kleb: 'Haven't written in a while - you and the guys created a perfect complete recording on the current CD.'

Terry Benson: My back went out. I'm sorry I didn't make those shows. I'll try my best to get up to Buffalo but it's down to your local guys.

Vince Marchand: If it happens, it happens, but you know it's a bit touch and go at these events.

Marty G: 'You and the band sounded the best I've ever heard you at City Winery. It was certainly not semi acoustic - unless the fact you were semi seated made it that way. Rant band phenomenal!! Is there any stringed instrument Mastro can't play?' Well, it was supposed to be semi-acoustic, but it got out of hand! They all wanted to stand - we were all going to sit at one point but it's more of a hassle changing instruments. My back's fine - I was still in semi acoustic mode! Kudos to Pete Moshay who did the sound. He's the engineer who did S.H. and M.O. Good, isn't he? Unfortunately, we can't get him most of the time.

Liz: Keep at it.

Jim Scully: 'You did it to me again!' Thanks, Jim.

Lorrie Mattor: 'City Winery the best performance I have seen. M.O. a masterpiece!'

John Pottage: to each his own.

Tony P: Sure you can over record - because you can! Fortunately for me I'm not in that econo bracket, so we do it quickly. I've done them slowly and done them quickly. In my opinion, the quicker the better. The trouble with producers is they're not you.

John Channing: 'M.O. Fantastic - brilliant playing by the Rant Band - singing better than ever.'

Anthony Caminiti: 'Just got M.O. on iTunes. That made it easier to obtain than on Amazon. Do you get the same amount of money from iTunes as opposed to regular CD's? I don't concern myself with this stuff. Ask Trudi.

Tod Denison: 'I got a date with the girl from the office (she didn't like me at first); we've been married 17 years.'

Bob Barnes: Thanks, Bob

Bill C: City winery fantastic. All cylinders tapping.

Kevin N (Virginia): 'Have you ever been approached about hosting a live satellite show?' Nope.

David Hancox: 'Don't know how you do it - but somehow another incredible album.' It wasn't just me - we had a great team working on it. 'What was the underlying rationale for the sequence of the songs?' Andy and I sat down - wrote various lists and finally agreed on this particular sequence. I'd have liked another faster one in the back half of the record, but it 'wasn't forthcoming.' There's a point where you stop because the record says - that' it.

Joe Demauro: 'You're on a terrific roll.' Any chance of MTH doing something new?' Who knows; it hasn't come up.

Gary Gick: 'Thanks you for an incredible gift.' Erm. You did pay for it?

Bucks Burnett: 'Love the album - but also love the cover.'

Tom McGarry: 'If I like something, I like it. I like M.O. To me it's more consistent than S.H. and the fact that it's not what you were doing 30 years ago doesn't make it worse - just different. We all change over time - life would be boring otherwise.'

Beth Khoury: I will pass it on.

Paul Riovers: 'Mellencamp's 'Small Town' is a dead ringer for 'When the Daylight Comes'.

Michael Lindberg: 'Rant was good; S.H. better - M.O. better still. How hungry are you to write more songs?' I just get up in the morning and if there's an idea dancing around I'll put a bit of it down and come back to it later. It's not easy, so I'm on a break at the moment.

Dan Hartman: Actually, it was rather small and I wouldn't have read it at all, but the elevator took a while coming. 'McNasty' is a good friend of mine who couldn't be credited for legal reasons.

Jeff: Rumour of Motorhead new to me. So many rumours so little truth.

Rob Horan enjoyed the Winery. Actually, we did too.

Caroline May: Adores M.O. 'Are you a good dancer.' No - I'm crap. 'Do you know your time of birth?' No.

John Penrice: 'M.O. right up there with your best work.'

Bill: 'How do you react when people tell you you've influenced their lives?' Well it's all very nice, but they say that to Rush Limbaugh as well - obviously, not the same people!!

Tom listed 76 tracks I should do at the Highline Ballroom. Had a quick look. You're out of your mind!

Gareth Toms: Dan Cairns gave M.O. a review in the culture section of the Sunday Times. (only 3 stars) the reviews great. 'Astonishingly vital.' Yes, the star thing's kind of weird. The reviewer reviews it but he doesn't necessarily assign the stars. Regarding your question - perhaps.

Doug Moss: 'Just spent a week with it. While not as immediate as Rant or S.H. - it's a grower.'

Steve Abs: 'Brainwashed with Man Overboard.'

Jeff Stehr: Gibson Gold Top - got it on the Ringo Tour. Mark Snyder got Aspreys of London to do the Ian Hunter plate. Very Cool!

Phil Taylor: 'What a beautiful song 'Win It All'. Great stuff.'

TS: Actually, Andy York has worked on a couple of albums with T. Bone Burnett. I know he's influenced Andy.

That's all for now folks!!

The only thing I would say is that 'Rant' doesn't have to be better than 'Shrunken Heads '- and 'Man Overboard' doesn't have to be better than 'Rant'. Different albums; different times. Just take them as they are.

Cheers,
IH
The Horse's Mouth