Beautiful autumn day here at Hunter Towers. They were going to paint the house while we were away, but it rained so much we're still surrounded by open windows and the smell of paint. Looks good, though. So, I'm a little bit late….

Birney K. Brown: 'I (ashamedly) bought a bootlegged DVD of the reunion…' The gist of this is that Birney prefers live shows that haven't been tarted up after the fact with a lot of mixing and compressions etc. Valid point. He has a suggestion which I won't forget. I like, 'the audio is profound in many ways.'

Matt G: 'I hope you and the Rant band play San Francisco again, soon. You played a double bill with the Zombies a few years ago and I was blown away!' This still isn't let in stone, but we're aiming for the last weekend in January. Watch the gig section for further developments.

Maggie Laidlaw: OK, I've noted this to Trudi.

Scott Weatherup: I have no recollection of the simulcast you mention. Ronno and I were up there quite a lot in the early 80's. Not heard anything from Toronto promoters.

Ian Hayward: Yeah - never did Jerry Lee much on this last tour. Didn't have time.

Jeffrey Cornell: 'Any idea where someone can purchase a copy of the Diary?' You can contact IMP (Independent Music Press) in the UK who are my publishers.

Seth Purvin: Everything's killing everything - it's the wild west at the moment.

Phil Wood: Your picked the only three acoustic shows. The rest were Rock 'n' Roll.

Mike W: 'Please come to Michigan. Who did you like more - Mick Ronson or Mick Ralphs?' Both great chaps on a personal level. Both have unique styles, but while Ronno was a great arranger, - Ralphs knows how to write a song. This eases the load. In short, you cannot compare; they're both great in their own ways.

Jeffrey: I don't miss the summer either. Too much.

Ed: 'There's a trend today of 'Jam Bands' to play sets heavy on covers. I have recently been listening to early MTH and have realized they were ahead of their time, and had excellent taste. Critics said you lacked original material. I disagree - it just took a few decades for everyone to catch up!'

Michael Matheson: Come to Australia!!

Seth Purvin: 'As far as 'Girl From the Office' goes, fans think it's an interesting song, but it takes up precious time.' Well, I didn't do it anyway (except in Bristol when somebody called for it). 'Great Escape' is another one. It gets shunted out, but we love doing it. Seth wants 'Silver Needles'. How did that go?

Joe Maloney: Thanks for the info. I think I'm doing an acoustic gig in Mass in December - just me, Andy York and Steve Holley. Watch the gig page and drop by!

Sue: Join the club!

Pat loves 'Girl' and 'M.O.' - so there!

Bobby Smith: 'Do 'Flowers' in Bristol.' I think we did.

Bob Knight: 'Did MTH ever play 'Drive in Saturday' at rehearsals?' I don't think so, although I think we had an arrangement of it - which was totally different. David wanted us to do the song - don't think his manager did.

Steve Cuthil! Equi's was closed for renovations!! Can you believe that! The last time we were there they were full, so we had to eat fish and chips in the car park out the back. Devine. I don't think we met, so sorry for that.

Kit: Try amazon.com

Joe Langer: 'Saw the Danbury show - great set list - new blends well with the old - MO, Rain, Wash Us Away - fantastic to name a few. Glad I was there.' Funny old gig - like a room cut in half.

Carolyn Harkonnen: 'I'm on the list of those who like 'Somewhere', but I like 'Top Gear' too - so there no accounting for taste.' I'm all for a bit of 'Top Gear', but I don't need it rammed down my throat incessantly along with Ramsey's Kitchen - boring, bloody nightmares.

Barry: Working on it and should have the answer soon. MTH, however, is another story.

Alistair Ramage: 'Just heard Mick and your take on 'Sweet Dreams' - it's brilliant.' Yeah, Mick worked on that solo and developed it over the years. I just added a tad of gospel to the end product - which Mick liked. The credit for the website belongs to out brilliant webmaster, Justin Purington.

Doug Bradley: 'Just saw Danbury - great show. Although I'm a fan of the more recent stuff - it was great to hear the classics - is this something you normally do?' It's usually around a third new, a third odd, and a third old. Approximately! Danbury was what I'd call a standard set; we had little time to rehearse. England was different again.

Nick Malcolm says MTH DID play Canada - Massey Hall in Toronto in '72 or '73.

Chris: Who was the oddest fan you've had?' That has to be Benazir Bhutto who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan; she was an original 'Sea Diver' (official MTH fan club member). I remember Trevor Francis coming to gigs (Britain's first million pound footballer).

Nancy: 'Somebody pasted 'Sweet Angeline' from Don Kirshner's Rock Concert on U-tube. You're amazing in it.' Blush, bulsh.

Rich Rochford: 'Stumbled upon 'Trudi's Song'. Man o man, that's good stuff. Made me think of every girl I've loved dearly. Who was Trudi in your life, and have you written anything else so heartfelt?' 'Waterlow' was heartfelt, as was 'Picasso' and a few others. Trudi is my wife, and yesterday we celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary. Without her I would not be here - so you get the picture.

Rob Horan: Enjoyed Danbury!

Marc F: Just a song - I like the hook and it developed from there.

Mike Costanzo: Yes, we moved a lot and it wasn't much fun, but the country was in chaos, attempting to right itself after two World wars - everything and everybody was on the move. My Dad was an ex-army man - had a mean temper, but he meant well. Mum was 'Daily Express'. It was OK, but my Dad and I just didn't get on, so I was out of there by the time I was 16. I think all the moving probably helped me - you get used to being an outside and an observer.

Tripp: 'Worked on a movie with Dennis Quaid and he entertained us with 'Whole Lotta Shakin'' when we were shooting at the Ritz Carlton. Piano in the lobby and he proceeded on the spot with show stopping renditions and melodies Jerry Lee Lewis style. Talented guy.' Sorry, I thought he was bloody awful as JLL. He took Jerry's genuine craziness and made it look one dimensional and totally false. Hated that movie. Regards to Dennis though; good he's a fan of JLL- THE KILLER.

Jeff: 'Do you think you could convince David Bowie to tour with you? I'm only 24 and catching up with you guys pretty late, but a HUGE fan and it would be my dream.' Outa the mouth's of babes - welcome aboard, Jeff.

Jim Hoss: 'Saw a band recently that blew me away. Manic early MTH mixed with Jerry Lee and Led Zep. They've got an album on Vagrant Records: 'J Roddy Walston and the Business.'

Liz K: Some people - no matter how close - are A-holes. This is a simple fact. Knock it on the head - it's only guilt that's making you stick it out. And the guilt is unwarranted.

Dave Gemski: 'Great show in Danbury.'

Joejo: Complimenting the band at Danbury.

Alessandro: 'Thanks you for Milan.' Our pleasure.

Kim Fletcher: 'We had our Jesters Care Kids Charity auction last Saturday. Pete Makowski got you to sign a copy of 'Man Overboard' for us. It was auctioned for 5500 Baht (just over a hundred quid). Mottman and I ducked out at 4500 (traitors!). Jimmy Page was three and said some nice things about you and signed MO as well - upon the request of the winning bidder (another friend of mine, Graham Watkins.' Jimmy's having great fun discovering MTH; he was a bit busy the first time around.

Joel Reid: I think that song's on 'Short Back 'n' Sides.'.

Harry Oddsuck: Alex opened for us on one particular tour. I remember him introducing me to his Mum, Dad and Brother at the Apollo in Glasgow. Lovely man; huge fan of the Pipes.

Doug Monka: Sorry to hear about your misfortune, Doug. Stay with me on the site. You meet nice people here. Best of luck with it. You're not alone.

Wayne Decon thinks I should do a duet with Shelby Lynne.

Lynn: The Highline show will be a lot different from the Danbury show. Enjoy.

Geordie Graves: Only just got this email, so by now you know what we did in Newcastle.

Harry Lyons: I don't know - did I do 'Boy' in Glasgow? Sometimes we did - sometimes we didn't. ''Berkeley Square' is out at the moment.

Tom Boone on set lists - Tom likes to know. Well - lately - we don't even know. We've got a list, but it varies nightly. To me - it's better if you don't know.

Jason: Are you doing 'Overnight Angels' material in the set (re: Joe Elliott's covers album). You never know.

Clyde Hartman: Yes, I get it, but I still think it takes away some of the surprise factor if you know what you're going to hear before the gig.

Matt Watkinson: 'What keeps you rockin' after all of these years?' Because I can.

Mike Gallacher: 'Is it true you lived part of your life in Dundee, Scotland?' No. My first six years (apart from the first three months) were spent in Hamilton, Scotland.

Michael Wolf: 'Do you get tired of doing the Horse's Mouth?' Well, it started as a give back to all those outposts who stuck with MTH and me over the years before computers. The web's great in that way. I just feel obligated for some reason.

John Campbell used to holiday in Ayr. Great poem. Say hello to Liz!

Ken Moore: Noah - wasn't invited.

Geoff Symonds: Always up for a bit of fun.

Baz: Sorry - didn't include 'Rip Off'.

Mary Daly: How are you. Only just got this. Sorry!

Dave Parry: 'Are you watching the Ryder Cup?' No, too busy.

Mrs. Painter: 'My husband worships you (tell him not to do that it's uncomfortable). Spent the weekend in Scarborough - now I know why!!

Andy: 'Just came back from the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Simply stunning!! And it's nice to see rock stars still enjoying a drink or two onstage.'

Matt Nojonen: 'It must be fun playing intimate venues where the energy exchange is so immediate. Does it remind you of your early years?' I much prefer smaller venues - I've said that my whole life. Trouble is, some of the small venues are dirty and sticky and I prefer cleanliness in my old age. Hey, it's great to play bigger places - Birmingham Town Hall, Bridgewater in Manchester, Barbican in London. They are truly beautiful venues but I guess I'm a club man at heart (provided they look after you and it's clean).

Karen Bennett: 'Fab night last night in Manchester!! My friend, Mal, was there with me - he suffered a stroke, but he came in his wheelchair - at the front it was great!!'

Gust Van de Wouwer: Do I love country music re: 'Sons 'n' Daughters' 'Silver Needles'. See when I was growing up it was all just music - good music and bad music. It wasn't categorized like it is now. There was no metal /rap/punk/thrush/prog etc. There was just songs you heard on the wireless. You heard 'Berkeley Square' right after ' Your Cheatin' Heart.' P.S. Saw Brenda Lee when she was 15 year old (with John Barry T). So, yes, - I like country, if it's good.

Kirsty: We don't sign anything on this site, but wish your Dad, Steve, a very Happy Birthday from me and the band.

Fiona: 'Well it was last night you played in Glasgow and Glasgow is stil on a high! The show was amazing.' Thank you.

Tom Briggs: 'I went to Scarborough - who are the band members?' Steve Holley (drums), Paulie Page (bass), Andy Burton (keys), James Mastro guitar, baritone (mandolin), and M.C. Bosch (lead guitar).

Jalopy: 'I asked for 'Still Love Rock 'n' Roll' and 'Purgatory' and you said nah. How about 'Lounge Lizard' and 'Just Another Night' ' Nah.

Bobby Cousin: Well, I'm sorry, but we did not know this and the contracts have already been signed. Not good. Noted.

Liverpool Frank: 'Bloody great version of 'Somewhere' in Manchester (aha!) and a great show. Guitars low in the mix - solos not cutting through. Great singing - how do you keep your voice in order?' Yes, I heard the guitars were low. It was only the second gig and Scoobie was still getting the sound together. It's not easy - small venues - large venues - medium venues - everywhere different acoustics. Stopped smoking and started practicing!

Lewis Croll: 'Thank you for Glasgow - great night. Amazed at the passion and energy which resonated from the band. Your music is excellent and it's a shame I only recently realized that. Next time you are in Scotland - I'll be there.' Nice one.

Doug Moss: 'Brighton last night; superb set list ('Sweet Jane' - Lou who?). Lots of obscure stuff for us regulars and rabble rousing end.

Andy C: 'Can you describe how much fun you had rockin' out with the Maltese Cross - it sounded great too.' It is seriously a great sounding guitar. Like a Les Paul Junior - only slightly heavier. Leslie West would die for this guitar. Reminded me of the MTH gigs. That's why I did it.

Rhiannon: 'No question - just huge thanks for Brighton. Loved it. Beyond amazing. Love you and the band both.' Ta.

Timo Luopa: Bob Ezrin tried to put an all star group together, but it never quite came off. I've already talked about Alex above.

Frank: Enjoy NYC

Trevor Hirst: Yes, one of the reasons the voice is improving is that I leave the stage and I go back to my hotel room almost immediately (thereby cutting out the smoking and cutting down on the drinking (unless we've got a day off the next day). The downside is I don't get to meet people as much as I use to, but what would you prefer? Don't worry about the photos - we've got more than we can handle, but thanks for the offer - it's appreciated.

Bill Clarke: Promoters are shy and I've got a band to feed!

Ken: Go to a gig.

Jim Kane: I'm out of touch with Joe these days. Tell Jean I'll do 'Irene' for her.

Stay tuned for Part 2. See you in NYC on the 11th.

IH