At 30-plus, singer, guitarist and pianist Ian Hunter was already a veteran of the glam rock era. In the early 1970s, things were not going smoothly with his band
Mott The Hoople, until
David Bowie got involved, gifted the group the hit single All The Young Dudes and produced the
equal success album in 1972. After Mott The Hoople, Hunter remained successful as a solo artist, but would always be
… mentioned in the same breath as the band. By now he is an octogenarian, but Hunter shows on Defiance : Part 2 - Fiction that age has no hold over him. He still brims with primary (glam) rock songs with biting vocals - somewhere between Bowie and Dylan - that show that Mott The Hoople was an influence on punk at the time. An imposing list of guest musicians - from Johnny Depp to Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Brian May and Lucinda Williams - assist him. It makes Defiance : Part 2 - Fiction a solid rock album on which Hunter doesn't have to pretend to be younger. Every note sounds vital and heartfelt. (MR)more
