Proper Records released the CD in a gatefold car sleeve with lyric booklet and the package echoed Mott and Trudi's literary interest of Byron: "And music meets not always now the ear . . . those days are gone," Byron. The album was also released as a limited vinyl pressing and When I'm President as a single promotion, a Rant production video filmed in the basement of Hunter's home.
The album received critical praise. It showed on charts: Billboard (Tastemaker Albums #4), and #97 on Britain's Official Album Chart. Classic Rock included When I'm President in the "Top Fifty Songs of the Year."
The live sets were well received as well. In October the Band went on the road to Scandinavia and the UK. A new band member to replace Andy Burton who had another commitment came through Paul Page who recommended Dennis DiBrizzi on keyboards. Hunter and the Rant Band live is an ideal balance of songs with one-third Mott, one-third solo Hunter, and the final third new Ian songs. In March 2013, Ian played European and UK live dates as The Ian Hunter Acoustic Trio, with guitarist Andy York and Nashville bassist Dave Roe. A resurrected When My Mind's Gone from Mott days was performed for the first time since Mad Shadows. The relaxed shows ended with Hunter stating: "I don't know if this is what you were expecting--but this is what you got." In June 2013 three sets were played in the UK including the Isle of Wight despite Hunter's misgiving about festival gigs. The Rant Band played US gigs in September and October.
On 2 April Ian recorded with Island Records artists Tribes. They taped The Man in Me by Bob Dylan plus a slower take than usual Sweet Jane.
Another Mott reunion was set for November 2013 and while preparing for the gig Ian wrote a new song Ain't That So. The temporarily reunited Mott received mixed reviews. In March, Concert Live released Mott The Hoople Live 2013, a three disc set comprised of audio and film from the Manchester Academy gig.
Hunter joined Mick Jones on 20 November to record and film for the Rotten TV project. The duo played Laugh at Me and Keep A-Knockin.'
On 3 June 2014 Ian and The Rant Band played the City Winery in NYC for "Ian Hunter's Diamond Jubilee Birthday Bash" with a stellar cast of honorees. I agree with Mick Rock who was also there and who stated: "He looks much younger."
In July, Classic Rock named "The Soundtrack of Our Life: The 200 Greatest Songs of Classic Rock's Lifetime" and Ian's When the World Was Round from Shrunken Heads was named at #60. During the same month a reissue of Strings Attached elicited overwhelming praise from Classic Rock who astutely observed that very few rock artists improve during the second half of their career and almost no one who gets better in the third: Hunter is one of those few.
In January 2015 Hunter played The Fillmore West in San Francisco, The Roxy in LA, and three first ever shows in Japan. In June through September The Band played including nine shows supporting The J. Geils Band. Along with a festival for January 2016 an anthology to exceed all compilations was planned.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
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