Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople

Group from United Kingdom

Genres: country rock, folk rock, glam rock, hard rock, pop rock, rock, classic rock, 70s

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About Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople were an English rock band formed in Hereford, Herefordshire in 1966, originally under the name the Doc Thomas Group. The founding lineup included Mick Ralphs on guitar, Stan Tippins on vocals, Pete Overend Watts on bass, and Dale "Buffin" Griffin on drums. Organist Verden Allen joined in 1968. The band initially performed and recorded in Italy, releasing an eponymous album in 1967, and later used the names the Shakedown Sound and Silence for UK performances, producing demos that failed to secure a record deal. The group came to the attention of Guy Stevens at Island Records, who suggested replacing Tippins with Ian Hunter as lead singer and piano player. After Stevens read the novel "Mott the Hoople" by Willard Manus, he renamed the band after its title. The band’s debut album, "Mott the Hoople" (1969), achieved cult success, followed by "Mad Shadows" (1970), "Wildlife" (1971), and "Brain Capers" (1971), which sold poorly. By 1972, the band was close to disbanding. David Bowie encouraged the band to stay together and wrote the single "All the Young Dudes" for them, which became their first major hit. Bowie also produced the album of the same name, which furthered their success. Subsequent albums included "Mott" (1973) and "The Hoople" (1974), both achieving commercial success, although membership changes occurred frequently. Mick Ralphs left to form Bad Company and was replaced by Luther Grosvenor, who performed as Ariel Bender. The band toured extensively in the UK and US, including tours with Queen, and had their songs referenced by other artists, including Queen, R.E.M., and Reunion. Following the departure of Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, the band shortened their name to Mott and released "Drive On" (1975) and "Shouting and Pointing" (1976), which achieved limited commercial success. They later formed British Lions with John Fiddler, releasing two albums before disbanding. Hunter continued his solo career and published "Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star" in 1974, documenting life on the road during the band's early US tours. Former members reunited in 1998 to release "Shotgun Eyes", alongside a reissue of the Doc Thomas Group album. Various compilations, including "The Best of Mott the Hoople" by K-tel in 1996, circulated with recordings unrelated to the original band. The band has reunited on several occasions. In 2009, the original lineup performed multiple sold-out shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, supplemented by Martin Chambers on drums due to Griffin’s health issues. In 2013, the band performed a series of UK dates, with one show recorded for the double album and DVD "Live 2013". Founding members Dale Griffin and Overend Watts passed away in 2016 and 2017, respectively. In 2018, Mott the Hoople performed several European shows with Ian Hunter joined by Morgan Fisher and Ariel Bender, as well as additional musicians. In 2019, the band announced the "Tax the Heat" tour, marking their first US tour in 45 years, celebrating the 45th anniversary of their 1974 US tour and the release of "The Hoople" and "Live". The tour featured Hunter, Bender, Fisher, and supporting musicians, though additional US dates later that year were cancelled due to Hunter’s tinnitus. Mott the Hoople are best known for their glam rock hit "All the Young Dudes" and their influence on 1970s rock, with a legacy that includes frequent collaborations and continued recognition through reunion performances. Studio albums Mott the Hoople (1969) Mad Shadows (1970) Wildlife (1971) Brain Capers (1971) All the Young Dudes (1972) Mott (1973) The Hoople (1974)

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