Ian Hunter Tribute: Jim Kerr, Simple Minds

Simple Minds Official
BOOKS - OF BRILLIANT THINGS : IAN HUNTER'S DIARY OF A ROCK N ROLL STAR

As with their music, I have over the years enjoyed many autobiographies from artists/ producers/music business legends etc. Those authentic voices relaying tales and details of how they made the music, as well of course as to how they came to make career's out of music, has tremendous appeal. Especially in getting to know the hardships endured on the road to producing successful music.

But it really has to be the autobiography if it is to get my attention. Biographies alternately, and no matter how well researched, always lack the voice of the main character, the true voice that resonates at the core of all great stories. I do have some exceptions to that rule in the case of Frank Sinatra, whose story accompanied me most nights on tediously long drives during our recent tour.

To be fair, and due to the fact that I try to get out walking for up to a couple of hours most days, (when not touring) it is mostly audiobooks that I listen to when doing so. Casting an eye right now over the purchases that I've made over the recent years I observe the following names. Patti Smith, David Byrne, Bob Dylan Neil Young, Brian Eno, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Viv Albertine, Tracy Thorn, and Pete Townsend. Oh and least I forget...someone gave me Chrissie Hynde's book for Christmas a couple of years ago.

I have yet to get round to Springsteen and Richards, even though I feel have already. The media promotion for both was unavoidable, and when ever things become real huge events, I find that I prefer to wait a few years and then catch up when the hype has died down, as usually I'm already bored with it on arrival.

Others that I recollect from the past are John Lydon's 'No Irish, No Black's, No Dogs.'
And Ronnie Spector's ' Be My Baby : How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts and Madness. Both possibly worth it for those engaging titles alone - 
I also survived an amount of mascara and madness. As for miniskirts? Well, still working on that.

Going way into the distant past, there is a huge place in my heart still for the first ever music autobiography that I read. It was produced in the shape of a tour diary and written by Mott The Hoople's lead singer, Ian Hunter. As much as any record, those pages more than merely influenced me in wanting to somehow get involved with music. Even if, Hunter is clearly warning the reader against that very notion.

As Wiki puts it.
"Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star is Ian Hunter's famous written-as-it-happened account of Mott the Hoople's 5 week November-December 1972 U.S. tour. It chronicles the endless traveling, hotels, sound checks, performances and, notably, strips away the glittering facade of the rock star.
As if aware of his own future career arc, Hunter warns, "It may look flashy, but it's over and you are finished before you know it - if you aren't already broken by one thing it will be another... The rock business is a dirty business full stop."

I dearly loved Mott The Hoople in those days, and I still listen to their albums, full of songs that both hit you in the heart, and are full of swagger and full on fantasy.

Although it was Bowie who wrote their huge hit, the still wonderful "All The Young Dudes " Ian Hunter nonetheless is and always was a great songwriter. One with with a voice that I loved, the entire band a noise that was way more sublime than most other around at that time.

Another reason for me to love Ian - not that any more is needed?

Well, although born in Shropshire in 1939, due to the onset of war, Hunter's mother and siblings moved to live with the family of his Scottish father in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Hunter was brought up there until the age of six and considers himself a Scot.

Coincidentally my father's family also came from Hamilton. It is not that big a place really. And as I passed by it on the train recently, how could I not consider the brilliant Ian Hunter, who is still writing, recording and touring...and is very much "one of ours."