After Lights

Well, Mottober has come and gone. I can't believe it was eight months ago when this whole thing began. It seems like a just a few weeks ago. It was definitely THE best concert experience of my life. This reunion was 35 years in the making and I know a big worry for many, myself included, was that it couldn't possibly live up to our great expectations. I was worried that the concerts would be five old men who used to be Mott The Hoople.

People have asked me why I would travel across the ocean to see a band that few have even heard of here in Canada. Why would I do it for any band for that matter? People thought I was crazy. I can tell you that there is no other band I would travel 8 time zones to see. Of all the great bands of the 70's, why Mott? I don't know the answer to that. I guess it is just magic. When those five guys get together to make music, magic happens for a just a few of us on this planet that I am sure none of us could explain. But we can feel it!

And magic happened on that stage at the Hammersmith Odeon for five nights in Mottober. It was not five men who used to be Mott the Hoople. It was not Ian Hunter with a back up band. It was Mott The Hoople. And it was great!

Tuesday Mottober 6th

Unfortunately when Mott The Hoople took to the stage for the fifth and last time, Mark and I were likely somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. Our flight was arranged prior to the announcement of the last two shows and we were flying home Tuesday. Mott The Hoople went on without us. I would have loved to have seen
Joe Elliott's Down N Outz. I hear they were great. If anyone reading this was there, please comment on what was great or different about this fifth and last show.

Mott the Hoople Reunion Concert No. 4

The Monday night show would be the last one for us. We had booked our flights before the 4th and 5th shows were announced and were flying home on Tuesday. Mott would have to go on without us. It felt strange to think there would be a show without us there. Since the set list is the same for all nights there is less and less to say about the show each time. I can say that they were just getting better and better and the last show for us would have us in our best seats right at the front. So this was the BIG show for us. I got some pretty good shots so I will match up the the pictures song for song.

Hymn For The Dudes

Rock & Roll Queen

Sweet Jane

One of the Boys

Sucker

The Moon Upstairs

Original Mixed Up kid

James Mastro from Ian Hunter's Rant Band helps Ian on with his acoustic guitar for the set of slow songs.

I Wish I was Your Mother 

Ready For Love

Born late '58

Ballad of Mott

Sweet Angeline 

Walkin With a Mountain

The Journey

Golden Age of Rock and Roll 

Honaloochie Boogie

All The Way From Memphis 

Roll Away the Stone

Ian and daughter Traci Hunter who does the female bit in Roll Away the Stone.

All the Young Dudes

Joe Elliott from Def leopard joins Mott to sing a verse of "Dudes" for the third time in four nights.

Anyone know who this guy is?

Keep a Knockin

Saturday Gigs

As Ian was singing "did you see the suits and the platform boots", Joe Elliott came out on stage parading around holding up a bright blue platform boot.

Ian directs the crowd in a chorus of "goodbye, goodbye" as the band leaves the stage.