Category: MOTT (The Hoople)

Many of you have been asking for some old Rock Candy releases to complete collections, and here’s one quite hard to find – almost out of print, not listed anymore – the remastered & reloaded reissue of MOTT (The Hoople) “Drive On“, including a bonus track.
Having gone from a struggling club band to wider international success, it came as something of a shock when leader Ian Hunter pulled the band apart by quitting in late 1974, taking flamboyant guitarist Mick Ronson with him to peruse a solo career. For the other members of Mott The Hoople this could have spelt disaster but fortunately their resolve and determination overcame all obstacles resolving to carry on with a revised line up.
Enlisting new guitarist Ray Major and unknown vocalist Nigel Benjamin, the band reconvened, still signed to CBS, but under the new handle of ‘Mott’.
It was this line-up (also featuring former MTH stalwarts Pete Overend Watts, Dale Buffin Griffin and Morgan Fisher) that recorded ”Drive On”, one of the year’s most surprising and exciting albums. Although it exploring some of the more grandiose musical themes touched on by latter day MTH, the album is also a hot-bed of hard rocking, allowing the extraordinary vocals of Benjamin to take centre stage.
You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

There is no doubt that MOTT (The Hoople) were one of the most influential British rock bands of the ’70s. Just to name one, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott has a cover band honoring Mott and his other project Down ‘n’ Outz is inspired in Mott The Hoople’s sound.
Rock Candy Records has remastered a couple of MOTT albums, a great opportunity to re-discover this influential band. One of these is ”Shouting & Pointing”, one of our favorites.
When Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson quit Mott The Hoople in late 1974, many thought that the band would become just another fondly remembered and well respected entry in the history of rock. Few would have gambled on the remaining band members rising up, dusting themselves down and getting back in the ring ready to fight another day.
Re-tooled under the newly abbreviated moniker of ‘Mott’, the band recruited guitarist Ray Major and super talented yet unknown vocalist Nigel Benjamin…