Mott The Hoople frontman Ian Hunter to play solo Wolverhampton show
Legendary Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter has announced a solo gig at Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall next March.
Ian Hunter is widely revered as one of rock's most compelling performers and one of its most articulate songwriters.
He plays the Wulfrun on Friday, March 15, 2013, with tickets costing £20 plus fees.
Talking about his latest album, When I'm President, Hunter says: "I'm really proud of the record, and I think that some of it's as good as I get."
That's quite a statement from the man who wrote anthems like All the Way from Memphis, Once Bitten, Twice Shy and Cleveland Rocks and put his voice to the David Bowie-penned All The Young Dudes.
While his achievements during his first decade as a recording artist would be more than enough to insure his iconic status, Hunter has never been one to coast on past achievements, and When I'm President demonstrates his ongoing musical vitality and creative restlessness.
Indeed, in the past dozen years, he's made a series of albums that have been lauded as among his best and most resonant work.
When I'm President is Hunter's first new recording since Mott the Hoople's reunion shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 2009.
"The songs seem to be more upbeat this time round," Hunter notes. "The last two albums were pretty political, just because I thought the Bush years were horrible, and thankfully that's passed.
"But I don't go looking for songs; I have to wait for them to come to me. I had a spurt there in the summer of 2011, and that grew into this album. I'd get up every day with something ringing in my head, so I'd try to catch it and get it down.
"Songwriting's always been a mystery to me in that way. Now and again you're nearer the sun, and you have to be ready to capture it.
"To me, music is holy, and it should be treated with respect," Hunter says, adding: "For the first 15 years of my life, I had no idea what I was here for. But then Elvis came out, and it was 'Oh, that's what I'm here for.' Rock 'n' roll got me out and gave me a great life, and I don't know what I'd have done without it. It's all I know, and my identity is all tied up in it."
