Rock 'n' Roll Sweepstakes: Rock'n'Roll Sweepstakes: The Authorised Biography of Ian Hunter Volume 1

​It's simply amazing to me that Mott the Hoople is not more universally known outside the serious boomer rock 'n' roll community that I came up in. They certainly have had their share of exposure over the years, a motion picture 'The Ballad of MTH' and DVD 'MTH Under Review', a selection of first rate albums released during a career that ran from 1969 until only 1974. Probably up to 10 live concert CD's covering the span of their existence and at least a dozen career compellations including the excellent 3 disc 'Anthology' and the Island/Atlantic Records early history 'Mental Train'. Publications include Ian Hunter's '72 tour book 'Diary (domestically 'Reflections) of a Rock n Roll Star' and the very limited and very expensive coffee table tome 2014's 'Mott the Hoople: We've Got A Great Future Behind Us' (sure would love to get a look at that one). Author Campbell Devine is probably the foremost authority on the subject of IH/MTH having written CD liner notes and 2003's All the Young Dudes: Mott the Hoople and Ian Hunter : The Official Biography. and this book... 'Rock'n'Roll Sweepstakes IH The Authorized Biography... Volume One: Mott's The Story' (whew!) Firstly, this is a long book, about 500+ pages but was a fairly quick and enjoyable read. (The typeface used was great btw.) IH's early years and career beginnings are covered in depth as is the entire MTH saga. Campbell Devine's writing style is fine and informative and while all of the quotes are certainly not necessarily new they all add up to the best history to date. IH contributed a vast amount of insight and even the most knowledgeable aficionados will be enlightened.
I grew up on Long Island and started listening to music on an old clock radio circa pre Beatles 1961. My tastes range from Coltrane to Nick Drake to Drive By Truckers and all good rock and blues in between. The period of '66-'74 was particularly great, closing up a Burger King in my high school years we would commandeer the stores PA and blast great stuff till 2AM. I got exposed to 'All The Young Dudes' this way in 1971 and was enthralled enough to search out more. I immediately found the amazing 'Brain Capers' in the cutout bin of a local record shop and soon after scored all four Atlantic releases on cassette at King Karol's Records in Times Square. It was quite overwhelming to have all of this great material all at once.
Of course in was imperative to sample MTH live and I did at the Felt Forum with Mick Ralphs and Radio City Music Hall and later the Uris Broadway Tour (supported by Queen) with Ariel Bender. The band never disappointed. When 'Mott' was released, and like everyone else, I was totally knocked out by the songs and performances, particularly by Ralphs phrasing and tone. Many diehards wish the band could have continued in that vein but pressure and scheduling took it's toll and IH and crew called it a day by 1974. It hit many of us like a death in the family, but all was not lost, to quote Jerry Wexler at Duane Allman's wake, "we have the music, and the music is imperishable."
IH went on to a brilliant solo career along with (at times) the great contributions of legendary guitarist Mick Ronson, but that will be the subject of the review of Volume II due out in February. I hated for this book to end but we're only half way and I'm eagerly awaiting the rest. God, I hope IH and wife are happy and enjoying life these days...they sure deserve it.
Part 2: The second volume of this two book set on Ian Hunter lives up to the first in terms of writing style and detailed history of the great musician-songwriter-performer Ian Hunter. It all came home to me on page 454 at the conclusion that Ian is the foremost songwriter of valid and heartfelt new music (as good as he ever has, into his 80's) when contemporaries like Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks, and Pink Floyd rest on their laurels and milk the "nostalgia market" with high priced concerts while issuing zero new material. Ian Hunter is a gift that keeps on giving and I'm glad I hitched a ride on this train long ago.

The second in a two volume biography of seminal rocker Ian Hunter, chronicles his solo career. Campbell Devine was the ultimate insider due to his long time affiliation with the band and Ian during his solo career. He does a great job highlighting each album, it’s place within Hunter’s life and the circumstances that helped drive both.

Highly readable, Devine’s book comes with both black & white and color pictures (some rare) chronicling this part of Ian’s career and life. At 81 Hunter has produced some of his best music of his long and storied career and Devine captures the acerbic wit and intelligence of one the U.K.’s most talented songwriters of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s and now 20’s.

I've read a lot of rock star bios and autobios. Too many follow the sex/drugs/rock and roll template which, frankly, becomes a bit boring. When the rock star cleans up and becomes a millionaire rock star, the story becomes even MORE boring (looking at you, Eric Clapton). I usually enjoy the first few chapters - childhood, musical influences, first steps towards being a musician, the struggle to break through. Those are the chapters that are the most captivating to me.

Campbell Devine has made a career out of writing about his favorite band, Mott the Hoople, and its defacto leader, Ian Hunter. Devine has also authored a definitive history of the band, as well as liner notes on various reissues and box sets. Here he does a deep dive into the life of Ian Hunter, and in the process has become Boswell to Hunter's Johnson.

As the title suggests, this is volume one of two volumes. Volume 1 focuses on Hunter's Mott the Hoople years up to his departure, and volume 2 is about his subsequent solo career. Although the story of Mott the Hoople is told through Hunter's eyes with extensive direct quotes set out from the narrative, Devine has pulled from his previous book on the band. If you know much about Mott the Hoople, you know how the band struggled for commercial viability through four studio albums, broke up in frustration, were "rescued" by David Bowie who gave them their first hit "All The Young Dudes," and enjoyed a modest and critically acclaimed level of success even as the original band slowly disintegrated. Just as superstardom appeared to be within their grasp, Hunter left the band for a solo career. It's a compelling story that deserves to be told.

Devine attempts to tell an even-handed story, but his subject is put in the best possible light. The antagonist is the late drummer Dale "Buffin" Griffin who comes off as being very bitter as he watches the shift of power in the band that begins when original guitarist Mick Ralphs leaves to co-found Bad Company and comes to a climax with the arrival of Mick Ronson. Devine could have lent a more critical eye toward Hunter during the break up period.

Although Hunter leaves the band and takes Ronson with him in the penultimate chapter, Devine reserves the final chapter for a "whatever happened to" narrative about the remaining members, some of whom continued a career in music. It's a nice touch that pays respect to those musicians.

Yes, I have been a fan of Mott the Hoople for many decades, so I had a personal interest in the book. But if you like rock star biographies, you will find this to be a good read and just might turn you into a fan.

Honestly, I haven't read this 544 page 2nd volume yet, I'm still slogging through the 519 page first book of the pair. I'm enjoying Vol.1 so much I've slowed down my reading lest I miss anything.
If you're a Mott The Hoople fan, or of Hunter solo work, you'll likely dig these all-encompassing books. Five stars because I know Vol. 2 will be just as good as Vol 1.
Amazing work all around!

Product was fine. How about next time, putting it behind the big ole box on the porch instead of in the step in front of it for anyone driving by to see.

It’s Ian Hunter. If you don’t know who he is or who Moot The Hoople is then why would you even be looking at the book. Buy it, or don’t it’s all rock ‘n’ roll.

Interesting band, but I would recommend a bio by a different author. He uses a band members name in one sentence, then their nickname in next and you're going who, what? Not one of those hard to put down books IMO.

Awesome story. So much insight👍👍

Excellent bio of Ian Hunter and the rise and demise of Mott the Hoople. Note that this bio only covers Ian up to 1975 when he left the band to go solo. But this is an excellent read and a must for Mott and Ian fans.

Easy reading, well written and researched history of a great band, and a great rocker!