Ian Hunter (singer)
| Ian Hunter | |
|---|---|
Ian Hunter live in New York, 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ian Hunter Patterson |
| Born |
3 June 1939 Oswestry, Shropshire, England |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, glam rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, bass |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels |
Yep Roc Jerkin' Crocus Chrysalis Island CBS Columbia |
| Associated acts |
Mott the Hoople Mick Ronson Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band David Bowie |
| Website | http://www.ianhunter.com/ |
| Notable instruments | |
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Baldwin Piano Gibson Les Paul Gibson SG Mosrite Takamine Guitars |
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Ian Hunter Patterson (born 3 June 1939), known as Ian Hunter, is an English singer-songwriter who is best known as the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople, from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and at the time of its 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before joining Mott the Hoople, and continued in this vein after he left the band. He embarked on a solo career despite ill health and disillusionment with commercial success, and often worked in collaboration with Mick Ronson, David Bowie's sideman and arranger from the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars period.
Mott the Hoople achieved a certain level of commercial success, and attracted a small but devoted fan base. As a solo artist, Hunter charted with lesser-known but more wide-ranging works outside of the rock mainstream. His best-known solo records are "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", later covered by Great White, and "Cleveland Rocks", a cover version of which by The Presidents of the United States of America became the theme song for the American TV series The Drew Carey Show.
Hunter's entry into the music business came after a chance encounter with Colin York and Colin Broom at a Butlin's Holiday Camp, where the trio won a talent competition performing "Blue Moon" on acoustic guitars. York and Broom were members of a Northampton-based band called The Apex Group, fronted by bass player and band leader Frank Short. Hunter soon left his home in Shrewsbury, transferred his apprenticeship from Sentinel/Rolls Royce to British Timken in Northampton, and joined The Apex Group on rhythm guitar. Hunter recalls jumping around like a lunatic on stage: "Music affected me so much. The rest of them just stood there. It was funny, I had kids who came just to watch me do this, and I can't imagine what it looked like."
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