'MottFest' Mott the Hoople celebration coming to county
A weekend celebration of Mott the Hoople, one of the most influential bands of the 70s, and offshoots Mott and British Lions takes place in October in Herefordshire, the county that spawned the original band.
Featuring live music, film screenings and spoken word events, MottFest 2025 will trace the band's roots around original members Pete Overend Watts, Dale 'Buffin' Griffin, Mick Ralphs and Verden Allen.
The latter will take part along with musical director Morgan Fisher, who played keyboards in all three, Luther 'Ariel Bender' Grosvenor from Mott the Hoople's second incarnation and British Lions front man John Fiddler.
Music journalist Kris Needs will recall running Mott's fan club over 50 years ago and host panels also including members of Mott's worldwide family. Formed and playing their first gigs in Herefordshire, Mott the Hoople was created by legendary producer and Island Records A&R man Guy Stevens in 1969, who recruited singer-pianist Ian Hunter and helmed four albums before David Bowie rescued the floundering band with 'All the Young Dudes'.
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Hits followed including 'All the Way from Memphis', 'Roll Away the Stone' and 'The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll' along with global success before 1974's split resulted in Mott then the British Lions.
Throughout the fame, superstar pals and highs including playing Broadway in New YorkCity, Mott stayed true to their roots and extraordinarily loyal fans, some flying in from around the world for this last great event honouring the band.
'Mott the Hoople were never huge in terms of record sales and stadium tours, but they were massively influential and were the human face of rock music,' says Simon Rowberry, an event co-organiser working closely with Amanda Austin, Morgan Fisher, John Fiddler, Bob Griffin, Sue Jay, David Ellis and Kris Needs to celebrate the extended Hoople family.
'They were always approachable, even when starring on Top of the Pops — and have been ever since. The fans have had a great time following a band that has been the catalyst for numerous friendships across the globe, and at least one marriage. This is probably going to be our final get together so we want it to be epic, like everything else associated with the Mott family tree!'
'I'm honoured to be taking part,' says Kris Needs.
'Running the Mott the Hoople Seadivers fan club after first seeing the band in 1969 was an early life-changing highlight, along with dozens of gigs that followed. Members included the pre-Smiths Morrissey and Benazir Bhutto, who turned up on my doorstep! I'm looking forward to it immensely, especially interviewing Verden and maybe Morgan leading 'Rest in Peace'. There won't be a dry eye in the house!'
MottFest 2025 takes place at the Corn Exchange, Ross-on-Wye, from 6.30pm to 11pm on October 3 and 1pm to 11pm on October 4 with a special memorial event planned for the Sunday.
All profits will go to St Michael's Hospice, Bartestree, Hereford, and The Alzheimer's Society, charities chosen, respectively, by the families of Overend Watts and Dale Griffin, Mott's original Ross-on-Wye rock-steady rhythm section.
Tickets are available online at: buytickets.at/mottfest2025
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