If you grew up in the 60’s and 70’s you were spoilt for choice with the different ranges of music in your grasp. New genre’s were established and we were disciples of bands that changed our lives. Many still remain favourites and ‘Mott The Hoople’ was one band that I absolutely adored, I loved the music, the clothes, the names, just everything about them. I broke my arm in 1975 and when Mott’s keyboard player, ‘Verden Allen’ autographed my plaster at a biker disco, not far from Hereford, I was ecstatic. ‘Mott’ and Ian Hunter have done so much to help other bands over the years as well, ‘Queen’ soon found fame after supporting them in 1974 and look at the spin-off bands they’ve formed. Of course we have to thank David Bowie for gifting them their first hit ‘All The Young Dudes’, preventing them from splitting up and starting a chain of top chart success. ‘All The Way From Memphis’, ‘Roll Away The Stone’ and ‘Honaloochie Boogie’ played non-stop on many a record player. Sadly I never got to see ‘Mott the Hoople’ live, but I did go and watch Ian on a solo tour a few years back, I just had to hear him sing ‘Dudes’ live.
The solo career continues and this album is a follow-up to ‘Defiance Part 1’ which came out early last year. This second part has another drop-jawing list of special guests. The names run like the credits at the end of a block buster movie, taking several minutes to read through. Talking of which, the album art is by the multi-talented Johnny Depp no less !
Ten tracks on ‘Defiance Part 2 Fiction’ and they all feature several musicians and friends of Ian’s, so I will include their names as I progress !
PEOPLE – The repeating ’Nah Nah Nah’s’ give a retro glam vibe from the off. A melodic ‘Mott’ sounding song which just pumps and the vocals are as pristine as ever. A scratchy guitar enters the fray just to enhance the ‘back bar’ atmosphere and you can only imagine the fun they all had compiling this, note the three members of Cheap Trick playing. Five minutes of enjoyable rock which provides a magical entrance for the album.
Dane Clark: Drums. Tom Petersson: Bass. Robin Zander: Keyboard, Background Vocals. Robin-Sailor, RTZ: Background Vocals. Rick Nielsen: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars. Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar. Joe Elliott: Background Vocals. Ian Hunter: Piano
FICTION – Has the most eloquent of vocals by Ian, that are delicate but persuading. Again there’s a beautiful melody and the percussion instruments add a touch of high end class. It cruises with so much ease and you drift along, quite remarkable how a simple tune can have such a massive effect. There are also superb keys from Morgan Fisher, another member of ‘Mott The Hoople’.
Dane Clark: Drums, China Cymbal . Steve Holley: Tambourine, Toms, Cymbal Swell. David Mansfield: Strings and String Arrangement Morgan Fisher: Piano Solo and Organ. Andy York: Bass, 12-String, Baritone and Electric Guitar . Ian Hunter: Piano
THE THIRD RAIL – A poignant track for a lot of reasons. The theme is a melancholy one and full of lament. The title is a term used for by Politicians for a subject deemed too controversial to discuss. Ian has penned protest songs in the past but states, “I’m neither left nor particularly right, I’m just straight down the middle. And so I tried to write from that point of view. An eagle has two wings and if one falls off it perishes. That’s what I’m trying to get at. A bit of common sense, you know, Thomas Paine stuff.” The track is dedicated to Jeff Beck who plays guitar, this album being his last studio work.
Dane Clark: Drums . Tony Shanahan: Bass. Jeff Beck – Lead Guitar. Johnny Depp: Acoustic and Electric Rhythm Guitar. Ian Hunter: Piano
THIS AIN’T ROCK AND ROLL – More upbeat and despite the title there are plenty of Rock and Roll elements. With Phil Collen of ‘Def Leppard’ adding backing vocals and multi instrumentalist Andy York on Slide guitar, it’s another with rawness that transpires into a plush little number.
Dane Clark: Drums. Tony Shanahan: Bass. Phil Collen: Background Vocals. Andy York: Slide and Electric Guitar. Ian Hunter: Piano
PRECIOUS – Was the first single off the album and is as raunchy as hell. With the late Taylor Hawkins ( Foo Fighters ) on drums and Brian May of Queen, adding his guitars, it can only be described as a sublime combination. Rhythm and blues meeting Rock in the middle and fusing to create a catchy and instantly loveable song. Watch the Video below.
Taylor Hawkins: Drums. Brian May: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Bass. Joe Elliott: Background Vocals. James Mastro: Sax Abuse. Ian Hunter: Piano
WEED – Features members of ‘The Stone Temple Pilots’ and those guitars of brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo, strum with confidence and flawlessness. Ian adds his words of wisdom, slowly uttering his lyrics as a tale that needs to be told. He has said this album needed to be heard as ‘Defiance’ is full of his thoughts on our broken society and failings, many of the tracks were written two or three years ago and aimed at those who hold power.
Eric Kretz: Drums. Robert DeLeo: Bass. Dean DeLeo: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Slide Guitar. Andy Burton: Organ . Dennis DiBrizzi: Background Vocals. Ian Hunter: Piano
KETTLE OF FISH – Is one of my favourites on the album. Taylor Hawkins and Dane Clark keep a steady pace on drums, it’s tribal and simplistic with the added snare. Then the vocals come in and increase the tension. Again Rick Nielsen from ‘Cheap Trick’ is on board with guitars, to raise the levels. Never swerving off the main trail, it has a beat to it that’s intoxicating, slowly releasing itself into your mind. Long before the tumultuous final chords sink in, you’re totally hooked.
Taylor Hawkins: Drums . Dane Clark: Drums and Snare Section. Tom Petersson: Bass .Robin Zander: Background Vocal. Rick Nielsen: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars. Steve Holley: Tambourine. Tommy Mandel: Organ. Andy York: Baritone Guitar, Background Vocal. Ian Hunter: Electric Guitar
WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU – This track allows Ian to duet with his friend Lucinda Williams. Hunter says,“Lucinda and her husband came to one of my shows in Nashville, I love her voice, there’s something very childlike and you just know it’s her straight away. You don’t forget that voice.” It’s a ballad that, like many of the tracks on the album, is simple and basic, but has character and charm. You don’t forget the voice or the music. Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan ) on organ, supplies the gospel feel and Tony Shanahan ( Patti Smith) holds the bass.
Dane Clark: Drums. Lucinda Williams: Lead and Background Vocals. Benmont Tench: Organ. Tony Shanahan: Bass. Andy Burton: Electric Piano. Andy York: Baritone Guitar. Ian Hunter: Piano.
EVERYBODY’S CRAZY BUT ME – Benmont appears on this track as well, but this time it’s a more robust and rocking tempo. Taylor Hawkins also plays and like Jeff Beck this was some of his last work in a studio. Gathering speed as it travels this is a dynamic rocker, there’s stunning guitar from both Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne) and James Mastro, that soothe with blistering yet meandering chords. Surrounded and alongside a spectacular wealth of talent, Ian Hunter is in his element, reaching every note with his instantly recognisable rasping.
Taylor Hawkins: Drums. Waddy Wachtel: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars. Benmont Tench: Organ. Steve Holley: Maracas, Tambourine. Paul Page: Bass. James Mastro: Electric Guitar. Dennis DiBrizzi, Andy York: Background Vocals. Ian Hunter: Piano
HOPE – Draws ‘Defiance Part 2 Fiction’ to a close. Slow moving waves of sultriness and dual harmonies from Lucinda and Billy Bob Thornton, congeal. This is an impressive piece, it all seems to come together during this final track as a coda for the album. Almost an anthem in part and definitely so well written, that you loose yourself in amongst the chimes of those embracing guitars, synth and piano.
Taylor Hawkins: Drums, Bass. Lucinda Williams: Harmony Vocal . Billy Bob Thornton: Background Vocals. Benmont Tench: Synth .Steve Holley: Maracas, Tambourine. J.D. Andrew: Electric Guitar. Andy York: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar. Ian Hunter: Piano
What a tremendous continuation of the ‘Defiance’ theme. Ian Hunter is a living legend, still out there writing and delivering albums, with songs that stun us. And word has it he’s already writing for ‘Defiance Part 3’ !
‘Surrounded and alongside a spectacular wealth of talent, Ian Hunter is in his element’.
HIGHLIGHTS – People, Precious, Kettle Of Fish, Weed, Everybody’s Crazy But Me.
DEFIANCE PART 2: FICTION, arrives via the Sun Records label on Friday 19th April, 2024. The 10-song collection will be available on standard vinyl, CD, and digital download. ALBUM PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE HERE via SUN RECORDS
A limited edition 2 LP vinyl edition of DEFIANCE PART 2: FICTION featuring 3 bonus tracks will be available exclusively on Record Store Day, set for Saturday, April 20. Pre-orders are available HERE. The 3 bonus tracks are – NORMAL SERVICE WILL BE RESUMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE . NEEDLE PARK ( featuring the Robinson Brothers from The Black Crowes) & HOW’D YA LIKE TO MEET HENRY ( with Joe Elliott, Mark Bosch & Matt Cameron )
ALBUM CREDITS –
All Songs Written By Ian Hunter
Produced By Andy York and Ian Hunter
Mixed By James Frazee
Album Art Johnny Depp
Special thanks to Duff Press & Sun Records
