OK - so we've just got back from Brooklyn. Record done. Title: 'When I'm President' - which is a title of one of the songs. I was thinking of calling it 'Recreational Skull Diving' but that was considered too long. 'Ancient Babies' was another one that got passed over. Already talking to people - and we have interest!!

Les Rowland: 'Who decides on the various instrumental tones e.g. harmonium - on 'Man Overboard'?' Usually, Andy York.

Stephen Keates: 'Change the lyrics to 'Violence'?' Nah. It is what it is - frustration.

Fiona (Glasgow): See you there.

David Crisfield is on the mend!! Good oh!!

Tom McGarry: 'What did you think of the Roxy as a venue for 'Welcome to the Club'?' I just thought we're there for a few nights so if we don't get it right the first night they'll be more to choose from. Nightmare going through it all - fortunately Mick liked doing that kind of stuff. The audiences were great - so all in all - it worked.

John De Santis: I have no recollection of this.

Alan in Kent, WA: 'Please pause for a minute for the passing of Mike Davis of the MC5 on February 17th. For the time I knew him besides being a great musician he was a good father. You did meet him once in Tucson and he said he saw you kick your piano off the stage at Cobo Hall in Detroit (which you said you didn't remember doing). I was also an alumni of the Fillmore East.' Oh, dear.

Suzanne: I'm not the one for tips - it's changing so fast these days. It's the Wild West out there. All I can tell you is if the desire is there you will find a way. But it's like I said before - you knock one skyscraper down - there's another one right behind it. Not an easy business, but then what is? Anyway - get well girl!! You'll be fine.

Nigel Downing: 'Most of the front row in Birmingham will consist of members of your message board. The message board has been really good over the years for meeting people from all over the world, sharing info and finding suitable pubs! Thank you for that.'

Karen Macmillan: 'Do you do meet and greets?' No, not really. We're kind of haphazard on that kind of thing. Janet from Sydney: 'I was wondering - why my (later) edition of Diary has a pic of Mott on the back cover with Ariel Bender, but not Ralpher? Do you have any control over how the cover of the book looks? Love it by the way - just re-read it.' The books been coming out for years and as it's printed in the UK and I live in the U.S. I've lost touch with it. Will check that out.

Martyn Sheard: I always think of the Eurovision contest as some kind of beauty pageant gone wrong, but it gets press so Engie is going for it. Would I do it? Not for all the press in China.

Annie P: 'I'd just like to tell you how much I enjoy your body of work. There isn't a week goes by in our household when you are not played! I was born in '83 and after 21 years of mostly poorly informed musical purchases, I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful guy called Nathan (now my fiancée) with great music taste, so I've spent the last 7 years catch up on the last 50 years of good music and donating my old crap CD's to charity! Are there any modern day musicians around you enjoy listening to or would even collaborate with?' Sometimes people send me stuff and want me to help out with this or that but I'm happier doing my own thing with my own band. There are great young people out there. Let 'em get on with their own thing.

Paul Palladino: 'Winery gigs great, but missed anything from 'Shrunken Heads' - love that album.' (I thought we did 'Soul of America' - no?) Paul wants a fuller more produced album this time. Hope you like it.

Dave Grant: 'Hoping you add Aberdeen to your gig schedule in October. Last two gigs were awesome.' Unfortunately, avid, I'm not hot stuff in Aberdeen. Turnout was light - what can one do!

Ron Ando: 'Any LA gigs planned for 2012?' We're working on it.

Mike Johnson would like to sing 'Old Records Never Die' karaoke style. Unfortunately, nobody is putting it in the selections!!

Geoff S: 'Great news on the tour announcement and coming to Birmingham. If you're gonna do requests, do 'I Am What I Hated.' Sums up a time and place we know so well.'

Jay Tashjian: No problem!!

Shizuko: 'It's been ages since you played the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland). Any chance we will see you soon?' An offer came in yesterday, actually, but we'd have to tie it in with other West Coast dates to make it financially workable. So - maybe.

Denise: We'll try to get some up on the website - in negotiations now.

Richie Cornacchio: The thing about playing electric guitar live is we already have MC and James on electric and I really don't want to muddy up the sound. With MTH, Mick is the only guitarist so there's room for me to 'electrify' more. We'll see.

Aldo: 'What's the title of the new album?' 'When I'm President.' 'Finding it hard to wait.' Well, it's done - being mastered today, actually. It's just the business end of things. I'm always open to offers. German promoters are the same as any others - if they think they can make money booking us - they will. If they don't - they won't. Touring with a band is expensive. That's called life!

John Dalton: 'Since you penned the lyrics to 'Gun Control' gun related violence in the U.S. has increased.' So it's all my fault!

Colm Thornton: We did actually get a Liverpool offer but it meant singing four nights in a row (as the offer came in late). I can't do four in a row - I'm old 'n' I'm sick! I'm a 'pool fan - that's where it all began; it's nothing personal I can assure you. Sorry!!!!

Verne, Ohio - talking up Steve Harley.

Bob Knight: 'Just saw BBC doc 'How Britain rocked America' - absolutely brilliant - and MTH talked about in the same breath as Led Zep, Pink Floyd, McCartney, ELO - fantastic. How do you feel about that?' They were great times. Looking back it was a lot of fun. 'Watching a doc about classic albums - featured was Lou Reed's 'Transformer'. Lou was listening to strings at the end of 'Perfect Day' and was quite overwhelmed. I quote…..'Wow. Boy, Ronson's good….wow. Isn't it amazing just like that - I think with a good arrangement you don't need vocals.' High praise indeed.' I felt the same when he arranged 'Sea Diver'. Class.

John Caswell: 'I know you mentioned last year you wrote a reggae song in Barbados at Jesse's wedding. Did it make the new album?' No - but Jesse did.

Francis L.: 'Re: Rolling Thunder Review - as a writer, if you did join the troupe - do you think you might have inked a song or two with Dylan? Who knows? Mick said Dylan stayed separate to the rest of the revue, so probably not. But if he can write a song with Michael Bolton - there's hope for me yet!!

Shawn/San Diego: Appreciated.

Chris Miller: 'Sad to see P.J. Proby up on tax evasion charges - great voice.' He got off - right. Not guilty!!

Robert T-J: 'Will you ever do a new studio recording of 'Irene Wilde'? What for?

Rick Graves on vinyl - that's something I'll have to look into vis a vie any new situation. 'Coming to the Bell House.' That was a great audience. Graham Parker was great. They loved Graham and we had a great time. Raised a few bob for the man - very satisfying. By the way, saw Willie Nile down the Winery after the Carnegie Hall gig. He was on fire.

Tripp: We gave 'Once Bitten' time off for a while. We did it in Brooklyn and it was better for its holiday. I don't really go looking for sets - they just sort of arise. It's always worrying because there's a lot to choose from and you always piss somebody off. Boy, is this band hot at the moment. 'What's your favourite tea?' I like Dunkin decaf.

Shelly Chorak/Arizona says DJ's in Arizona NEVER play my stuff. He says they're musically retarded. Well it's one thing or another.

Matt Nojonen: Most of this gets a mention in a song on the new album. You'll know it when you hear it.

Ole Ask (Norwegian artist): Someone has my facebook page, but I don't know anything about it. So if the person who has my page is reading this - can you get in touch with us via the management link on our website.

Jack Benson: 'Come back to Philly - Phoenixville terrific. Took my grandson to his first concert - loved it - was in awe of the show. Always asking me when you're coming back.' Jeeze now granddads take the kids to gigs. When I was a kid my granddad's idea of a day out was a walk through Wellington cemetery. I can still smell the dead flowers and see the watering cans.

Alison: 'My friend, Megan and I will be coming from Canada (via Iceland) to see the Brighton show on October 26th. Can we buy you a drink before or after the show?' Maybe I should buy you one after a journey of that length!

Bill Milks was at the Ryerson Theater in Toronto in 1979. That must have been a pretty good show as I've heard it from a lot of people over the years. I know there's people that like us up there and we're fine to come up, but it has to tie in geographically and financially as I have great people working with me. Travel/hotels/wages - it all adds up.

Phil Huband says my name is mentioned in the Wikipedia entry for 'Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square'. That's great. 1) Whose idea was it to use the excerpt from the 'Planet Suite' as MTH's introductory music?' Pete Watts. You can hear his guitar crashing at the end. 'Do you have an introductory theme these days?' We've got one somewhere. 2) In 'Knees of My Heart' there's a line about you not being a musician. Given the excellence of the musicians you've worked with, I can see your point, but there must be some recording where you thought your piano playing or guitar work are not bad at all. Can you think of any? Maybe on the new album?' Actually, musicians pretty much like want I do now - it just took a while. I'll never be able to play like Leon Russell - or like M.C. for that matter, but my rhythmic stuff is fine. Holley's lovely to work with - slightly behind the beat - good fun.

Jeffrey: 'Happy Birthday Boschy.' Wait 'til you hear what he's done on the new one.

Alan: 'My Dad says MTH, SAHB and Stone the Crows were the three best British bands of that time. What's your opinion?' Dunno about the best. There was a lot of good stuff out there. Could there be a slight Gaelic bias involved here?

Jeffrey: 'Spring is here - where was Winter?'

Peter Jordan: I'd say 90% of the new record is live singing. I'm happy with it.

Sam Baird: 1) I'm old fashioned, can't stand metal and glass. There are plenty of Irish pubs in Manhattan. That's where I like to go. 2) 'How, in detail, does one do the 'Honaloochie Boogie'?' It's not pretty.

Will: 'IMHO 'Rant' is the best damn album EVER!!! OK enough hero worship. Heard 'Honaloochie' on the radio - what's 'shirt shine'?' Could be spangly things they sold on Carnaby Street.

Ted: Workin' on it as we speak.

Donald Mease: 'Have you ever reworked 'Apathy for the Devil'?' I haven't been able to fit it in anywhere, but you never know.

John Frawley: 1) '19th Nervous Breakdown' (by the time we joined up there weren't many options left.) 2) 'Is that you or Jeff Tweedy doing harmony vocals on 'Guiding Light' ' Jeff.

Stan: What is it with the name Stan? You sound like Stan Tippins. I'm only seeing this now and of course it's after the event. Had I known, you would have been more than welcome. Maybe you should ask me again sometime - I'll take the $200!!

Tom McGarry: Guess so.

Nigel: 'How did you wind up with the current Rant Band line up?' Steve Holley's always been in the picture - it was Steve who introduced me to Andy York at the Bowery Ballroom. James sort of turned up during the 'Rant' sessions - he was a friend of Andy's. Andy 'n' James introduced me to Tony Shanahan who split time with me and Patti Smith for a while. When Tony got double gigged he recommended Graham Maybe - who was available when Joe Jackson wasn't touring. When Graham got double gigged both he and Tony and Steve recommended Paul Page - who is with us today. AB replaced another guy who toured with us on 'Rant'. Andy became unable to play because of his commitments to John Mellencamp, and AB and James recommended M.C. Bosch. AB and Boschy both teach at James' shops.

Michael Wolf: British Passport - Green Card.

Alan Graham: 'Just read Keith Richards' book 'Life' - best since yours. Do you know Keef - have your paths crossed? Sounds like a great bloke.' Met him once, but he wasn't feeling 100%.

Brent Coursey: Appreciated.

Terry G.: 'Do 'AAAB at the Bell House.' We did.

Dave Drew: Appreciated!

Steve Voyce: Just got this after the event. Hope it was worth it.

Kevin: There's no way of explaining it simply without compounding the fracture. However, you may not have heard the last of it. 75 quid for Lionel Ritchie! Sorry.

Tom Morrice: 'Which album are you most proud of? At the moment - the new one.

Lynne: Hope you enjoyed it.

Mark Eckert: 'Missed the Bell House - sold out. Any others round the tri-state area?' Not yet.

Lynne (post Bell House show) - Lovely review - we're happening!

Tom: 'Ferndale, MI October 11 - seen a lot of shows, but that topped them all.' Blush.

Dave P.: I'm not sure about Meet and Greets. Is it a rip off or isn't it a rip off?

Ian Mack: 'What's the misconception about your music or yourself that you'd most like to clear up?' People are going to believe what they want to believe. Their privilege. We're having fun. We get to do what we want to do - and you guys (and gals) support us.

Onwards and Upwards!

IH
The Horse's Mouth xxx