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

Steve Holley
Superstar drummer

Steve Holley is remarkably relaxed and easy going for a drummer who's backed up the likes of McCartney, Elton, Joe Cocker and Chuck Berry. In Cleveland at the Beachland Ballroom behind Ian Hunter, Holley has performed with Billy Preston, Sean Lennon, Dave Stewart and Nelly Furtado. He performed on Paul McCartney's seminal Back To The Egg, and toured with Kiki Dee, who introduced him to Elton John, who asked him to play on his A Simple Man. His My Space page is like a who's who of rock royalty. Holley met with Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready just prior to going on stage. In fact, he gets called to the stage to kick off the gig at the end of the interview. Holley talks with Mulready about learning Hunter's songs directly from guitarist Mick Ronson, his childhood as a music prodigy, and his favorite gig as drummer for the house band at a Special Olympics benefit at the White House in 2001 when he got to play with Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, Macy Gray, B. B. King and others. http://www.myspace.com/steveholleydrummer http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com

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