Six O’Clock Triple Shot – 6/3/14 Ian Hunter Turns 75
(The Six O'Clock Triple Shot is a daily feature of three songs that share a common theme, heard weeknights on 94.9 WMMQ)
Tonight, we celebrate another rock and roll birthday. Mott The Hoople front man Ian Hunter turns 75. Mott The Hoople brought a new sound to the British glam rock of the late 60's and early 70's, with a big R&B influence. The boogie band got their name from a Willard Manus novel of the same name which was about an odd-fellow who joined a circus freak show. Island Records executive Guy Stevens thought the name was a great fit for the band. But, rock and roll was quickly changing at this time, and the band nearly broke up until David Bowie convinced them otherwise in 1972. Bowie offered the band "Suffragette City", they declined. However, he did produce their 1972 breakthrough LP All The Young Dudes, featuring the title track, also written by Bowie. It went on to be their biggest hit. While touring in support of the album, the band tapped a then-little-known outfit named Queen to open up for them. Queen credits Mott The Hoople as one of the biggest contributors to their success, as Queen stole the show each night by the second week of touring. Def Leppard's Joe Elliott has been on record numerous times as a huge fan of Mott The Hoople. So much so, he established a new project called Down-n-Outz to salute the music of Hoople. Ian Hunter, himself, is also the mastermind behind "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", covered in 1989 by Great White.
We celebrate Ian Hunter's birthday by playing a live version of "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" recorded in 1975, "All The Way From Memphis" from Mott The Hoople's 1973 Mott LP, and of course, the Bowie penned "All The Young Dudes". It's tonight's Six O'Clock Triple Shot on 94.9 WMMQ!
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