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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'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'. ALSO READ: Guitarist to cycle from Sussex to Shropshire for album launch Afghan food and henna hand painting at event Don't let this church become another restaurant! 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:
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
British and Irish Lions: 'I found I was picked through Ceefax'
One of the biggest stories from the announcement of British and Irish Lions squad was the selection of 20-year-old Henry forward was one of four Northampton Saints players named in the 38-strong party for the tour of name and picture were greeted by loud cheers by the 2,000 fans inside Indigo, a venue within London's O2 Arena complex, in scenes very different from former Lions learned of their Ian Hunter, who was picked for the 1993 Lions tour to New Zealand, said he discovered his selection "on Ceefax... sitting on my own starring at the TV, waiting for page one to move to page two". Ceefax was a teletext service that allowed people to check the latest BBC news and sport via their 56, said he was not expecting his selection."Anyone who is there or thereabouts is always thinking 'What if?' but obviously when it came up it was an amazing experience," he Saints posted a video on social media of the players watching the Lions squad the technological changes since he played, Hunter said he knew the emotions they were going through."It's the same feeling. Being picked for the Lions is the pinnacle of anyone's career," he tour with the Lions was cut short, after he injured his shoulder in the first match, but he added: "Just putting the jersey on... was a 'pinch me' moment... definitely my proudest moment." 'A journalist phoned me up' Former Scotland forward Colin Deans was selected for the 1983 Lions tour to New 70-year-old, who coached at Northampton Saints and lives in Northamptonshire, said he found out from a journalist who called him."There was no announcement. I think I got a letter two days later from the Lions," he said."It was one of the press who phoned me up and said 'Congratulations.'"On Thursday's event, when the latest squad was announced, he said: "I think the Lions is becoming quite a successful financial animal; it was absolutely great." He did not play in 1983 but then was made captain for the proposed 1986 tour of South did not go ahead due to a boycott of sports tours in the country because of that, Deans was still at the captain's dinner on Wednesday evening and at the announcement event at the O2 the following said he was not surprised by Henry Pollock's selection."Pollock is one of those guys that rugby needs, he's brought this air of freshness... he's just unbelievable," he said. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
