Ian Hunter Stories: -Ian Remembers Seeing Buddy Holly Live 

After the first couple of gigs, Ian walked up to me backstage and asked me very politely if I would sing All The Young Dudes with him. He said he didn't want me to feel pressured, so if I didn't want to do it, he wouldn't be offended. I told him I would be honored to do it. Just about everyone in the band asked me if I knew the lyrics to the chorus. I'd heard that song all my life and sung along with it in the car, so of course I knew the lyrics. I got up on stage that night and started singing along and when it got to the Boogaloo Dudes part, I had no idea what in the hell they were singing. I completely blew it. We laughed about it backstage and I got up and sang it right every night for the rest of the tour. On the last night of the tour, I realized I didn't have a single photo of me on stage with Ian and the band. As I walked on stage, I handed my camera to the guitar tech and asked him to take a photo. He was an extremely dry man with the best deadpan British sense of humor (which is why I loved being around him). When I asked him to take the picture he looked at me with the sort of disgusted look that only a veteran British guitar tech could muster. He very softly said, "Really?' I whispered, "please?" and he rolled his eyes and took the picture. I'm not sure if I can post the photo, but I now have a snapshot of me singing All The Young Dudes with Ian Hunter, The Rant Band, Martin Chambers, Joe Elliot, Mick Ralphs and Verden Allen. Not bad for some jackass from Indiana.

a few years back i got to see ian play in hoboken, it was great. leon russell had been the original headliner but the outdoor show got postponed due to rain and leon couldnt play the replacement date. sadly he would die later that year and i'd never get to see leon live. but ian, who lives in hoboken nowadays maybe(?) filled in and it was a great show.

Tears in my eyes after the fish story!

This takes me back to when I was 14-15 years old and an absolutely rabid Ian Hunter fan! What I wouldn’t have have given to see you and Ian on the same bill! Thank you, Otis, for starting my Saturday off so perfectly!

Ian is my hero. I saw him open (with Mick Ronson) for Cheap Trick in Cincinnati, one month before the tragic Who show, and again in Cleveland at the Beachland Ballroom in 2016.

What a great listen! Thanks for the share

I'm amazed at the stories I find on here. I love Ian. He's one of my favorites. Keep the stories coming!

“Thanks for lettin us close for ya..”?????? HAHAHAHAHA.. that’s pure Platinum..!!! Great stuff,Otis… Thanks again…

Love Ian Hunter been telling friends about him since the self titled album.I wore the grooves right off that record. Never got to see him live. mick was just the best player had a great guitar sound. Thanx for sharing that made my day.

Thanks for all of your posts, they're great, always make my day a little better.

OMG...He's funny as hell. I can't stop laughing!

Love this!! Thanks for sharing Otis

Thanks,it was good.

This is great stuff, so happy I came across it. I've been a Mott and Ian Hunter fan since the early 70s. I never got to see Mott live before they broke up as I was too young to be allowed to go, lol, I was only 14 when they called it quits. But I got to see them in 2009 when the played at the Hammersmith for five nights. I've seen Ian more times than I remember which is a good thing. He's still at it but the tinnitus he has has sidelined him but it won't keep him down.

Good stories great artists fine times.....thanks Mr G...

bet you never thought you would sing a Bowie penned song with Ian Hunter on stage!

Too cool 😎✌️

Nice interview. So cool. Thanks Otis

This was fantastic, would love to more anecdotes from the tour from you, sounds like it was a fun tour

Hi Otis, I really enjoyed the Ian Hunter interview. Legendary character. I wanted to write you a note to thank you for the David Grier interview where he talks about Clarence White. So great, it made me remember being a kid listening to bluegrass guys talking and hearing Clarence mentioned as this fantastic player, then to finally hear him play so strong on that Byrds live album, unbelievable stuff with the Tele and the string bender. Thanks for that Beautiful homage to him. David Grier is a dynamic guitar player and I will start investigating his records. Thanks for this work you are doing. It means a lot.

I think this was the second interview on the "Thanks for Giving a Damn" podcast. I remember listening to that interview at the time and being so excited to finally hear the story about Ian's night in the Indianapolis City Jail, or as we locals call it, the Marion County Lock Up. I'd wondered about it since I first heard Ian mention it on his live album "Welcome to the Club" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PZwvUPAsGqs.html My friend Doug and I meet Ian and Mick Ronson backstage after their show at The Vogue Theater in Indianapolis in 1986 (still one of my top five concerts of all time). As they were signing autographs and heading toward the bus I asked Ian to tell the story and all he said was, "That will have to wait until the next time mate. We have to get to the next gig." Still makes me smile all these years later. Thanks again Otis.

Just found your channel (subscribed) this was brilliant and fantastic to hear. Hearing him in such a relaxed mood telling stories is priceless. really look forward to more. I want to turn you on to a YT channel who I am sure you will recognize the name, more great stories egged on from his wife: Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel. cheers steve

Thank you. Thank god for Realistic.

good video

I met a lot of very nice people on that tour that still come to my gigs when I'm in their town. I'm curious, are any of those folks lurking around here? I'd love to hear your memories of the gig!

wonder if i'll sound that sharp when i'm seventy odd.

Otis, have to listen to whole interview, might answer my ?, but if I can ... Just Another Night story was on a Mott tour?