Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Eyebrows were raised when Mott The Hoople's initial reunion shows at the Hammersmith Apollo sold out so fast that further dates had to be added, then more. One expects the likes of Led Zeppelin to inspire such sizeable affection, but Mott? Who knew there was such a collective yearning for the glam boogie monsters?
Well, everybody here tonight. I've seen a few reunion shows, including the Cream and Zep shows, and none elicited the genuine waves of joy – as opposed to reverence or awe – Mott did tonight. Their fans clearly view them more as mates than rock gods, an attitude which Ian Hunter's bluff, self-deprecating banter does nothing to dispel.
Not that their repertoire didn't rely heavily on the classic rock mythos, with louche anthems such as "Rock'n'Roll Queen" and a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" greeted with huge roars, and the hit "The Golden Age Of Rock'n'Roll" pivoting on the principle "gotta stay up, never grow old".
For the audience, this is a principle best realised on foot: unlike other reunion shows, Mott's audience stays stood up from the moment the band step onstage, causing Hunter to observe that it was the first time they'd had a standing ovation for the entirety of their set.
Though best known for their glam-era successes, the band were formed in the late Sixties by producer Guy Stevens, who wanted to create a group that sounded like Dylan being backed by the Stones. They were about to throw in the towel when David Bowie threw them the lifeline of "All The Young Dudes". But that original formula continued to dominate their shows, represented tonight by the "Jumpin' Jack Flash" chant which concluded the anthemic "Walkin' With A Mountain", seguing into "Like A Rolling Stone".
One of the great misconceptions about glam-rock was that, being built on gender uncertainty, it was soft and fluffy. This was far from the truth: there were plenty of glam hard nuts itching for lairy fun, and Mott The Hoople offered them plenty of no-frills boogie, exemplified by the swaggering "Honaloochie Boogie" and "All The Way From Memphis" that close tonight's set with a sort of sledgehammer grace. But it's "One Of The Boys" that sums up Mott's appeal best: "I'm one of the boys that don't say much, but I make a big noise.
To 6 October (www.mottthehoople.com).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments