Mike Costanzo: 'From 'I Hate Music' by Dave Thompson (2008) names 'Bastard' as one of the 10 great Disco songs (page 40) - go figure (Well, it has the groove). 'Also, MTH live is named as one of the great live Double albums (even though it was released as a single LP - Dave goes with the 2004 reissue. Odd as it is - he sounds like a fan!! Did not know that.

Gary M.: 'Why should Roy Bitten be upset - it's your song?' Roy was convinced that if we did it his way we would have monster sales. He was upset for a bloody good reason; I just couldn't do it. His version was never finished. What you get is a track 'on the way'.

Kitty: says Mick's Memorial needs tidying up. I can't do it from here! Kitty says there should be a brass statue.

Matt Parish: Prints 'Road to Birmingham'. Don't think I have this - cheers!

Brit Fan: 'Have you considered doing a Bob Dylan cover and giving it your own feel?' I remember doing 'Love in Vain' for a while in the '80's.

Paul Sale: 'Ever done 'It Aint Easy When You Fall' live?' No - not yet.

Keith Nickless: No idea. I'd rather not, quite frankly, but we'll see.

Kieran: Arthur Lee and Love did some brilliant stuff - very odd. Robert Plant was a huge Arthur/Love fan so we did the Beacon Theatre in New York and Robert used the Rant Band for back up. I got up and did an Everly Brother's song with him. A most enjoyable evening.

Sebastian: Electric Lady

John Wittbrodt: What did she say?

Luis Echeverria: Sorry, no meet or greet but we did do some of the songs you mentioned. In fact, I think we did them all!

Carl: We'll just have to wait 'n' see.

Scott Taylor: Not too good. I'll ring him tomorrow.

Yucca Flats: We'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

T.S. Don't worry about it. Alarming lapses have come out of my mouth over the years. People seem tolerant.

Jim Tuyls: I'm not up on this - but I'll be watching.

George Miller: Well, you don't just turn up - you have to be asked.

Cindy/Glenn travelled 4250 Km (Kirkland Lake, Ontario) to San Francisco. 'Just to see you - do you fell special?' It amazes me that people do this. More humble than special. Hope it was up to expectations. I didn't stick around as we had to leave at 7 AM the following morning to catch a flight to LA. Sorry.

Paul Cavani: Don't use gas; too dangerous!

Todd: The back up band at the Fillmore? Kelley Stoltz - heard the last three songs - very good.

Avdeva Olga: Sorry, we don't do autographs on this site, but thanks for your support and welcome to the Horse's Mouth.

Ed Rudman: Sorry, we don't do that.

Justin August: I've never been there. Ronno and I got offered a tour many years ago and I was offered shows there last year, but they wanted two shows a night and I don't do that. You never know.

Pete Jordan: Suffice to say the happy cheerful lad you see on stage is not the same person who writes the material. He's another chap, altogether. You go where your instincts take you.

Bobby: 'Great show in Bristol - any idea about the Mott film?' March/April last I heard.

Kurt/Michelle: Thank you.

Joe S. To Jeff Parsons - Hear things are a bit sticky at the moment, Jeff. This is by way of a 'get well again soon' card. You can do it!! C'mon!! I.H.

Pennz: 'You were phenomenal last night at the Fillmore! Thank you and the band for a wonderful night. Who was the extra guitarist?' Scott from REM.

Tim Davis: 'Which song works best for an Al Yankovik parody? No idea.

Ralph: 'Your show a the Fillmore last night was amazing.'

Peggy: 'Just got back two hours ago from seeing the El Rey show. The crowd I was with at the El Rey was amazing. Folks asked me if I'd seen you in SF the night before as they had done. Several people came from England and the gentleman next to me had flown cross country. This may sound silly, but I liken the experience to sipping fine wine or cognac. I first inhaled the crowd and then I tasted your music - still a bit giddy.'

Jim Hodgman: 'Thanks for a great El Rey show, Ian.'

Greg Dennen: 'Ian - just saw your show at the El Rey in LA last night - it was amazing!!! It was cool you pulled out 'Shallow Crystals'. Hadn't heard that song in years!! What is the song about? I'm so glad you came again - hadn't seen you since '89 - sure miss Ronno.' 'Shallow Crystals' is about a not too good childhood.

Lulu: 'Who played piano on 'Alice'? I would say Morgan Fisher. He did all the Hoople stuff - and extremely well, too.

George Saadi: That was Jimmy Vivino (Conan's band leader/Fab Faux).

Rick Lake: 'My son and I just saw your fantastic show in Santa Ana. Show was unbelievable. Thank you for coming and enjoying yourself so much it made it great for one and all who were fortunate to be there. The band was so tight. The show to me, seemed to have all the essence of what original Rock 'n' Roll is really about and I'm so glad my son got to experience it.'

Joan McHugh: Thank you for blessing us with three west coast shows that required minimal travel! Well, minimal by WC standards. From the shows, I've been blessed to see over the last ten years, starting with Irving Plaza, you are drawing bigger crowds as the years go by - there were a lot of first timers (and not just the ones I brought). Old fans out for the first time as well as a lot of new ones from the smattering I talked to. One tip - more merch. By the Galaxy you were sold out of everything. I didn't see a CD - even at the Fillmore - so you may have missed a chance to get newer fans acquainted with 'Man Overboard's' new material. Glad to hear you are recording again soon.' Like I say, you never know what will happen with merch. It's expensive to move around and if it doesn't sell it gets even more expensive. As for the CD's, you can blame New West who were asking so much for CD's we couldn't make it work. What an exceedingly stupid situation. We didn't think we'd do as well crowd wise as we did, so that's another thing to be taken into consideration. We just really wanted people to see where we are at now, and I'm glad we did.

Laurent: 'Flowers' on stage is capo on second fret - the guitar is turned a semi down.

Seth Purvin: 'You make everything a little better.' Why thank you, Seth. 2nd bits not a problem. 3rd bit noted.

Mike Bay: 'What were your impressions of the Galaxy gig?' The place is getting a little funky. Nice people working there but the PA's taken a bit of a beating. Workable! Great food (thanks, Rick). 'Pre-gig rituals' Just the usual nattering (Holley's the main culprit). I open a bottle of champagne a half hour before show time - so if we go on late it's their fault - not mine. We just psch up. Had a political discussion with Rick the chef - smart guy.

Jim McConnell: Hopefully, yes, but nothing definite as of yet.

Judi Wight: 'Galaxy was surreal.' Thanks, Judi. We've done 'Marionette' (mixed in with 'Morons'). Haven't done 'Daylight'.

Geoff S.: Nothing confirmed as of yet. Check the site now and then.

Ted Bryan: 'Best show yet at the Galaxy on Sunday. Wanted to get an album signed but was told no dice.' If you get somebody to bring it to the dressing room - it gets signed. We're not exactly overstaffed at the moment.

John Huffman: 'Thank you for the West Coast shows - absolutely fantastic. My son's 7th Ian hunter show. He's a human teleprompter - sings every word to every song.' (That's more than I do!!) He's your biggest 16 year old fan on the planet. Looking forward to many more shows.

Rich Michi: Bowie's words - not mine - I just sang 'em.

Craig A: 'Your California shows were your best shows ever. Please come back soon. You're always welcome.'

Erron: Got them in the car but haven't had a chance yet.

Sooooo - remI'm happy you chaps out West got to see us. The show was pretty much based on the U.K. tour we did in October. I really wanted the West Coast to see it. We're working on doing the Mid-West, but promoters are leery (as they were on the West Coast) because business across the board has been 'light'. What with state taxes, hotels, airfares, wages, crew etc. - touring is very expensive! The crowds have been bigger, but that doesn't mean we'll draw everywhere so bear with us and we'll try to work our way round.

Once gain - thank you to the travelers. We don't' know how or why you do it - but we're grateful!

P.S. Opening act at the Fillmore - Kelley Stoltz. Opening act at the Galaxy - Waldo Bliss. I'm happy to recommend both.

IH
The Horse's Mouth