Events

[ROCK] Fans of Bowie and Springsteen don’t need the introduction, but for the uninitiated, Ian Hunter’s contribution to the rock canon is larger than his vaguely familiar name would indicate. He worked with Jimmy Page in his pre-Zeppelin days and then formed Mott the Hoople. Despite a decent following, record sales were abysmal for the band, and by 1972 they announced their split. But Bowie loved them and offered two songs for them to record—”Suffragette City,” which they turned down (!!) and “All the Young Dudes,” which turned out to be a huge hit. Bowie stayed on as a producer, helping get the resuscitated band to a new level of fame. A couple more albums ensued before Hunter left to pursue a solo career, and in the interim, Mick Ronson joined the Motts—Bowie’s guitar lead in the “Spiders from Mars.” The pair would collaborate continually until Ronson’s death from liver cancer in 1993. Along the way, Hunter recorded an album backed by members of Springsteen’s E Street Band, You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, toured with Todd Rundgren as his lead guitarist, worked with the Clash’s Mick Jones, and performed with Bowie and Queen at Wembley in 1992’s historical Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. His song “Cleveland Rocks” earned him a Key to the City from one-time mayor Dennis Kucinich, and it remains an anthem for our Ohio neighbors, who sometimes play it at sporting events. It was also covered in 1997 by Presidents of the United States of America, whose version became the theme for The Drew Carey Show. Hunter has remained prolific, releasing new music and live albums regularly. His latest, Fingers Crossed, came out last month and brings the 77-year-old songwriter/musician to Town Ballroom this Saturday, October 15. It features a tribute to Bowie entitled “Dandy.”