Ian Hunter Patterson was born on 3rd June 1939. Three months later, World War 2 started. He was already 30 years old when he joined Mott The Hoople, in 1969. I saw them at my very first live gig, in 1971. Ian was 32, I was 15. Mott have been just a memory for 41 years, now, yet Ian has kept on going. Amazingly his solo output has got better as he’s got older. His live band, The Rant Band, are a brilliant collection of grizzled veterans, who rock like a seething, angry, rocking thing.
Last night was Ian Hunter Patterson’s 76th birthday. How do you think he celebrated? Yup. Here’s the opener. Happy Birthday, H
76? Pah, lightweight! Here’s, admittedly now deceased, Brum-Jamaican jazz boy Andy Hamilton, celebrating his 93rd.
@niallb he was my first musical crush (MtH support SAHB my first gig), the corkscrew hair and aviator shades. Cool as Fuck!
Saw him and a revitalised (sans poor Buffin) two years ago and they were stunningly good.
Cooler than Jezziz.
@james-blast I saw that tour as well. What a gig! Alex in his pomp, his band were red hot. So much so that Mott were loud and fired up, determined not to be outdone. Great gig. I saw Mott so many times, back then. One night, at Guildford Civic Hall, when All The Young Dudes was at No. 2 in the charts, they had recorded TOTP the night before. They came out for the third encore and H walked to the mic.
“Alright, we’re gonna do the hit. Thanks for buying it. Thanks for sticking with us. Now, we’re gonna need some help with the backing vocals…” He stepped back from the mic and, from stage right, in a white, three piece suit, out walked David Bowie.
I hope to celebrate my 76th birthday by breathing.
Come on Mike – you must remember it! What was everyone wearing? Top hats? Armour?
arf