Ian Hunter
Cleveland Rocks songwriter, singer, rock star

Ian Hunter is probably best known for his classic rock staple, Once Bitten Twice Shy, and the Mott The Hoople anthem All The Young Dudes, which Hunter still sings in concert, but was actually written by David Bowie. Hunter was also managed by Cleveland's Steve Popovich and released one of his top albums on Cleveland International records, You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic, generating classics like Ships, later turned into a radio sensation by Barry Manilow. That album also generated the hit Cleveland Rocks, which was later used as the theme for The Drew Carey Show, and became an anthem for our city and our region.

Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready spoke with Ian just before their gig in the basement of the Beachland Ballroom at the vintage vinyl and apparel shop This Way Out, (the CD shop Music Saves is next door), about the impetus behind Cleveland Rocks. It turns out that Cleveland, thanks to our stellar early 70's FM radio programming, was the first market in America to pick up on Mott The Hoople, causing Hunter to think highly of our taste in music, and inspiring him to write the ultimate rock 'n' roll homage.

They also talked about the socio-political nature of his last couple of albums, Rant, and Shrunken Heads, the lost opportunity of not being able to work with guitarist Mick Ronson after Hunter's brilliant solo debut, and what it feels like to get 3 1/2 stars from Rolling Stone for his new album at this stage in his career. http://www.IanHunter.com http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com

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