Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter (born Ian Hunter Patterson on June 3, 1939 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England) was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution

Ian Hunter (born Ian Hunter Patterson on June 3, 1939 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England) was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution 1974. After the breakup of Mott The Hoople, Hunter embarked on a solo career, often in collaboration with guitarist Mick Ronson. Throughout his career, Hunter's lyrics have been acclaimed for their candid autobiographical nature and for their sharp social and political commentary. Hunter's songwriting ability was recognized in 2005, when he received Classic Rock Magazine's inaugural Songwriters Award.

Ian Hunter Patterson's initial entry into the music business came after a chance encounter with Colin York and Colin Broom at Butlin's Holiday Camp, where the trio won a talent competition performing "Blue Moon" on acoustic guitars. York and Broom were members of a Northampton-based band called The Apex Group, fronted by bass player and band leader Frank Short. Ian soon left his home in Shrewsbury, transferred his apprenticeship from Sentinel/Rolls Royce to British Timpkin in Northampton, and joined The Apex Group on rhythm guitar. Ian recalls jumping around like a lunatic on stage: "Music affected me so much. The rest of them just stood there. It was funny, I had kids who came just to watch me do this, and I can't imagine what it looked like."