Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople in 1974 (left to right: Dale Griffin, Ariel Bender, Morgan Fisher (front), Overend Watts, Ian Hunter)
Background information
Also known as	Mott (1974–1976) British Lions (1976–1980)
Origin	Herefordshire, England
Genres	Glam rock, hard rock
Years active	1969–1980 (Reunions: 2009, 2013)
Labels	Island, Atlantic, CBS, Columbia
Associated acts	Queen, Bad Company, Widowmaker, David Bowie
Past members	Pete Overend Watts Dale "Buffin" Griffin Ian Hunter Mick Ralphs Verden Allen Morgan Fisher Ariel Bender Mick Ronson Ray Major Nigel Benjamin Steve Hyams John Fiddler

Mott the Hoople were an English rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid-1970s. They are best known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.

Mott the Hoople can be traced to two beat bands from Herefordshire in the early 1960s. The Soulents were from Ross-On-Wye, and boasted Pete Overend Watts on guitar, and Dale "Buffin" Griffin on drums. The Buddies were from Hereford, and featured Mick Ralphs on guitar and Stan Tippins on vocals. By 1966, Ralphs, Tippins, and Watts (the latter now on bass) had come together in a band called The Doc Thomas Group, and soon secured a residency at a club in a resort town in Italy. The group was offered a recording contract with the Italian label Dischi Interrecord, and released an eponymous album in January 1967. By 1968, drummer Dale Griffin and organist Verden Allen had joined the band.

Although the group toured and recorded in Italy as The Doc Thomas Group, their gigs in the UK were played under the names of The Shakedown Sound and later, as Silence. Silence recorded demos at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, which were shopped to EMI, Polydor, Immediate and Apple with no success. The group came to the attention of Guy Stevens at Island, who liked the group but not with Tippins as lead singer. Advertisements were placed ("Singer wanted, must be image-minded and hungry"), and Ian Hunter was selected as lead singer and piano player. Tippins assumed the role of road manager.