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Man Overboard  City Winery  Mott The Hoople Reunion  Have Guitars Will Travel

Man Overboard

Man Overboard will be issued on 21 July 2009 by New West Records, and is Ian Hunter's 13th solo album since his eponymous debut in 1975. Recorded in late 2008 in Pawling NY, the 11-song set is a stunning follow up to the overwhelmingly critically acclaimed Shrunken Heads album. Man Overboard was produced by Andy York (veteran guitarist for John Mellencamp) and Ian Hunter and features a backing band of superstar talent comprised of Steve Holley on drums and percussion (Wings, Joe Cocker), Paul Page on bass (Dion), Jack Petruzzelli on electric guitar (Rufus Wainwright, Joan Osbourne), James Mastro on electric guitar (Patti Smith, John Cale), Andy Burton on piano and organ (The Db's) and Producer Andy York on guitar and backing vocals. Many of the band members are returning from the Shrunken Heads sessions. Regarding Man Overboard, Ian Hunter stated, 'When we did Shrunken Heads, I felt like we had a good thing going so I wanted to revisit the experience before anything changed, and that's what we did.'

For almost 40 years, Ian Hunter's given us some of the coolest songs in the rock vernacular. Who can deny lyrics like 'you didn't know that rock 'n' roll burned, so you bought a candle and you lived and you learned'? The former Mott the Hoople main man shows no sign of letting up with his latest outing, Man Overboard.

Hunter again proves that he is a master of the sly tongue firmly planted in cheek, cockneyed rock 'n' roll song. That slick, straight-faced rebel who taunts with just a wink of his eye, set to an infectious and achingly sweet soundtrack, is present throughout the record in lines like 'you gotta get away, especially when the other guy's bigger than you,' ('The Great Escape') and 'It's too late when you discover that flowers ain't enough' ('Flowers').

Not only are the lyrics three to five minute mini-movies, but the songs are melodic and catchy as hell. Hunter lets his pop tendencies run amok, with brilliant, and at times gorgeous, results. 'These Feelings' is one of the most glowing, straightforward love songs he's ever done, while 'Up and Running' borders on pure, brooding, jangle-pop, and would have killed on adult contemporary radio in the early '90s.

Man Overboard is Hunter at his best. He sounds like a man rejuvenated-with a familiar, yet fresh sense of musical risk-taking. The song has always been the key for Hunter, and this record says that it will continue to be so for some time.

- Mark Uricheck, Elmore Magazine

Man Overboard can be pre-ordered with free UK delivery from HMV, and with free delivery in Europe from PLAY.COM. USA customers can pre-order from AMAZON. Visit New West Records.

Rocks Magazine

Issue 11 of the German music magazine Rocks features the Ian Hunter track 'Flowers' on the bonus CD that accompanies the magazine. Visit the Rocks Magazine website for details.

City Winery, 23 July 2009

Ian Hunter will be performing at the City Winery in New York City on 23 July 2009. Tickets are available to City Winery VinoFile members and Ian Hunter's fans right now through THIS LINK. The venue has reserved seating at tables and bar stools, and tickets prices range from $30 to $45 for reserved seats. City Winery is the brainchild of Michael Dorf, founder of the iconic Knitting Factory, who wanted to create a space in Manhattan where he could combine his shared passions for wine and music.

Hammersmith Residency Extended to Five Nights!

Mott The Hoople announce the final dates of their HMV Hammersmith Apollo residency. The original nights two nights (2nd & 3rd October) sold out in a weekend, and the first additional night (1st October) has now also sold out. So due to high levels of public demand, Mott The Hoople have added two final shows at the Apollo on the 5th and 6th October. See the www.mottthehoople.com website for ticket information.

Have Guitars ... Will Travel

Derrick Thompson has just sent word that his new book, Have Guitars ... Will Travel will be published on June 8, 2009. 'HAVE GUITARS ... WILL TRAVEL takes the reader on a magical music tour through Northampton during the golden years of 1957-66 From 1957, began a never-to-be-forgotten ten years of skiffle, rock `n` roll, & R&B when local groups lit up the town’s pubs and dance halls; national groups visited for one-off shows, and international stars packed out the ABC cinema. The music scene of the late 50’s and early 60’s was vivid, vibrant and volatile. Relive those years with those who were there...' For those outside Northampton, the book will be available on EBAY UK from 8 June 2009.

Ian (Hunter) Patterson`s early life as footloose troubadour, chancing his arm as a talent-contest skiffler, bopping around Lynn`s cafe juke-box with his loyal friends and blazing a jagged trail across the cutting edge of Northampton`s beat revolution, is chronicled beautifully in this gem of a book which covers the whole spectrum of local combos.

Join Ian and his chums as they travel with their guitars, washboards and tea chest basses through the whole crazy scene. Journey with him from Butlin`s Pwllheli, via Jimmy`s End to The Old White Hart Inn where the landlady, Ma Wilkinson, would cry out, "Turn it down, George!" if the Apex turned up the volume too high. Soak up the great tales of his classic Apex years and his frenzied antics with other beat groups, before completely flipping over the edge as Hurricane Henry, then with Freddie 'Fingers' Lee and the Shriekers ... the manic liaisons of the crazy few!

'Have Guitars ...Will Travel' is an inspired literary pearl, celebrating the classic years throughout which Ian was at the very heart and soul of the scene, and which is now selling like hot cakes. It meanders sublimely through the skiffle and rock `n` roll eras and is crammed with snippets of essential data and excellent newly discovered photos of Ian never before published. Ian was right at the heart of the matter, habitually lighting the blue touch paper, and running.

Featuring a kindly word from Ian`s pen to wet your appetite in the foreword, along with the text of one of his greatest compositions centred upon Lynn`s, this archive is a 'must-have' acquisition for Ian Hunter fans ... an 'essential' for the avid completist.

River To River  The Killer In Me  When The World Was Round  Shrunken Heads

River To River Festival

Ian Hunter played an outdoor evening concert at Rockefeller Park in New York City on 24 June 2009, as part of the River To River Festival. Joined by members of his Rant Band (Mark Bosch and James Mastro on guitar, Paul Page on bass, Andy Burton on keyboards, Steve Holley on drums), Ian played a fantastic 90-minute set despite being threatened by rain showers all afternoon. Def Leppard's Joe Elliott was in attendance and got up to sing 'All The Young Dudes' with the band.

Amy Speace and Rich Pagano

Ian Hunter has made a couple guest appearances recently. He sings duets on two tracks from the upcoming Amy Speace album The Killer In Me, which will be released in March 2009. The title track features Ian, and can be heard on the Paste Beat Channel on American Airlines' inflight entertainment radio. The upcoming debut CD by drummer/producer Rich Pagano also features a guest appearance by Ian Hunter.

When The World Was Round

Jerkin' Crocus in the UK released the first single from Ian Hunter's critically acclaimed album Shrunken Heads on 26 Nov 2007. 'When The World Was Round' is available in three formats: a 7 inch picture disc, a CD single, and a DVD single. The picture disc includes 'When The World Was Round' (radio edit) b/w 'Words (Big Mouth)' (live 2007). The CD single contains 'When The World Was Round' (radio edit) b/w 'Once Bitten Twice Shy' and 'Twisted Steel' (live 2007). The DVD will include 'When The World Was Round' (animated video), BBC Paul Franks interview 2007 (audio), and a photo gallery of Ian Hunter and the Rant Band. The animated video is now available on YouTube! (Depending on your browser, you may need to click the 'play' button twice)

Shrunken Heads

Legendary Mott the Hoople frontman and renowned solo artist Ian Hunter released a new album in May 2007. Shrunken Heads is Mr. Hunter's first studio recording since 2001's highly acclaimed album Rant. Ian Hunter is represented by industry veterans Danny Goldberg and Jack Leitenberg for Gold Village Entertainment.

In the USA, Shrunken Heads was issued by Yep Roc Records on 15 May 2007. Located in North Carolina, Yep Roc is the home of such acclaimed artists as Paul Weller, Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock, The Apples In Stereo, Sloan, Kristen Hersh and many more. The Yep Roc version of Shrunken Heads can be ordered through the Yep Roc Web Shop website. Orders made through the Yep Roc Web Shop include a free download of the album.

In Europe, Shrunken Heads was released by Jerkin' Crocus on 14 May 2007. Other artists on the Jerkin' Crocus label include blue-eyed soul legend Frankie Miller, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Dan Baird's Homemade Sin. The Jerkin' Crocus version of Shrunken Heads is available from Jerkin' Crocus and can be ordered from Townsend Records. The initial pressing comes packaged in a special gatefold sleeve, and includes a bonus CD with three extra tracks, 'Your Eyes', 'Wasted' and 'Real or Imaginary'.

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