IAN HUNTER – Defiance Part 2: Fiction [feat Joe Elliot, Brian May, Robin Zander] (2024) *HQ*

Former Mott The Hoople IAN HUNTER surprised us last 2023 with ‘Defiance Part 1’, his solo album featuring an array of stars collaborating ranging from Slash and Jeff Beck to Billy F Gibbons and Joe Elliott, just to name a few. However, never mind the guests, ‘Defiance Part 1’ was one of the best albums of the year because it’s an Ian Hunter record and he’s a genius.
Now Hunter is back with “Defiance Part 2: Fiction”, which is a very similar record, actually. Anyone who’s ever been anyone (and Brian May of Queen) joins him – which is fine, because who wouldn’t get some of the most famous people on the planet to join them if they could? – but again, this is an Ian Hunter album, and its wonderful solely because of that.
Opener “People” – Joe Elliott is on this one and Cheap Trick0s Rick Nielsen has a go at the guitar solo – spits and rages about PR and spin. This is a joyful tune – almost Hunter with Cheap Trick as back up band, ‘cos Tom Petersson play bass, and Robin Zander is on keyboards & background vocals.

The music is very glam rock, deliberately 70s, proper Mott stuff. Good. It should be.
The title track ”Fiction” is a beauty, ELO would be proud of it, but its one of the few with no guests beyond The Rant Band, the same cannot be said for “The 3rd Rail”. Jeff Beck playing the guitar gives it a frisson, Johnny Depp is here too. The older and more irascible he gets (on this one he talks about “650 reasons to hate” and maybe he means Westminster?) the more strong Hunter sounds.

This album’s shining gem, though is the visceral attack on modern music. “This Ain’t Rock N Roll” – on which Phil Collen plays some wonderful guitar – contains this line: “They’re coming all over from North and South – and some came out of the horses mouth”. So yeah, take that. And its rock n roll at its purest.
“Precious” not only has the aforementioned May, but also Taylor Hawkins, and a hell of a chorus, “Weed” doesn’t like the modern world much and what basically amounts to Stone Temple Pilots move into a bit of country (the slide guitar is utter class), while Hawkins and most of Cheap Trick are back for the bass heavy, oppressive brilliance of “Kettle Of Fish.”

“What Would I Do Without You” is special, because it’s the first duet of Hunter’s career, and because he’s Ian Hunter he’s roped in Lucinda Williams and she sounds incredible. As is Waddy Watchel’s guitar on “Everybody’s Crazy But Me” (from where the ‘ello ‘ello ‘ello… comes from). “Am I the last man standing, seriously?” he asks. And it feels like this level of authenticity might be unique to him at this point.
Amongst the guests on the last one are Williams, Billy Bob Thornton and Benmont Tench, and it means “Hope” is Premier League level Americana. But it does offer the light at the end of the tunnel, that even in 2024, things can get better.

Plus, as long as music this good is being made, then the world cannot be all bad. It can’t be. Rock n’ roll doesn’t need saving, whatever anyone says, but it does come to something when an man who is 85 has made, again, one of the best rock n’ roll album so far this year.
All the young dudes need to step up, frankly.
Highly Recommended

1. People
Dane Clark: Drums
Tom Petersson: Bass
Robin Zander: Keyboard, Background Vocals
Robin-Sailor, RTZ: Background Vocals
Rick Nielsen: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

2. Fiction
Dane Clark: Drums, China Cymbal
Steve Holley: Tambourine, Toms, Cymbal Swell
David Mansfield: Strings and String Arrangement
Morgan Fisher: Piano Solo and Organ
Andy York: Bass, 12-String, Baritone and Electric Guitar
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

3. The 3rd Rail
Dane Clark: Drums
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Jeff Beck – Lead Guitar
Johnny Depp: Acoustic and Electric Rhythm Guitar
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano
(Dedicated to Jeff)

4. This Ain’t Rock And Roll
Dane Clark: Drums
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Phil Collen: Background Vocals
Andy York: Slide and Electric Guitar
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

5. Precious
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Brian May: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Bass
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
James Mastro: Sax Abuse
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

6. Weed
Eric Kretz: Drums
Robert De Leo: Bass
Dean DeLeo: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Slide Guitar
Andy Burton: Organ
Dennis DiBrizzi: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

7. Kettle Of Fish
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Dane Clark: Drums and Snare Section
Tom Petersson: Bass
Robin Zander: Background Vocal
Rick Nielsen: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Steve Holley: Tambourine
Tommy Mandel: Organ
Andy York: Baritone Guitar, Background Vocal
Ian Hunter: Electric Guitar, Vocals

8. What Would I Do Without You
Dane Clark: Drums
Lucinda Williams: Lead and Background Vocals
Benmont Tench: Organ
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Andy Burton: Electric Piano
Andy York: Baritone Guitar
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

9. Everybody’s Crazy But Me
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Waddy Wachtel: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Benmont Tench: Organ
Steve Holley: Maracas, Tambourine
Paul Page: Bass
James Mastro: Electric Guitar
Dennis DiBrizzi, Andy York: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

10. Hope
Taylor Hawkins: Drums, Bass
Lucinda Williams: Harmony Vocal
Billy Bob Thornton: Background Vocals
Benmont Tench: Synth
Steve Holley: Maracas, Tambourine
J.D. Andrew: Electric Guitar
Andy York: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

11. Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible
Kevin Hupp: Drums, Percussion
Frank Gagliardi: Bass
Rick Tedesco: Electric Guitars, 12-String Acoustic, Background Vocals
John Liguori, Michael Tedesco: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals

12. Needle Park
Dane Clark: Drums
Rich Robinson: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Chris Robinson: Background Vocals, Harmonica
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar, Solo
Steve Holley: Shaker
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

13. How’d Ya Like To Meet Henry
Matt Cameron: Drums, Percussion
Mike McCready: Electric Guitar
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar
James Mastro: Resonator Guitar
Andy York: Bass
Ian Hunter: Vocals, Piano

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www.amazon.co.uk/Defiance-Part-Fiction-Ian-Hunter/dp/B0CVTNH45X