Hunter began his musical career on the bass guitar. An early foray into music was as an entrant in a talent competition at one of Butlin's holiday camps, performing "Blue Moon" as part of a skiffle group with Colen York and Colin Broome.
Hunter memorialized how he left his family in a later song, "23A Swan Hill," the address of his teenage home in Shrewsbury above a police station where his father was the Station Sergeant. He notes in concert that "my Dad was real mean" and did not approve of his son's artistic direction, in contrast to his "grand dad", referenced in "Cleveland Rocks", as "he was a rocker and I am, too".
So Hunter took off for Butlin's and "never looked back". Bandmates York and Broome came from Northampton, and were in a band called The Apex, which Hunter soon joined to play rhythm guitar. In 1963, while living in Northampton, he formed his own band, Hurricane Henry and the Shriekers. With Tony Marriott and guitarist Julian Coulter, the Shriekers worked steadily in Northampton, and by 1965 had picked up Freddie 'Fingers' Lee as a pianist and frontman. In a 2004 DVD interview Hunter volunteers Lee and their gigs in Hamburg as a major turning point, when he first began to "actually think maybe I could do this instead of working in factories".
In 1966 Hunter moved to London, where he joined The Scenery with guitarist Miller Anderson, drummer Dave Dufort, and keyboard player Dante Smith. By 1967 Smith and Dufort had left the band while John Vernon Smith joined on drums. The Scenery recorded some material with Bill Farley at Regent Sound, which was released without the band's knowledge in France and Japan. In early 1968, The Scenery had run its course and Miller Anderson joined Dave Dufort in Paper Blitz Tissue.
Also in 1968 Hunter remained in the band to back up Freddie Lee in the At Last The 1958 Rock and Roll Show, along with drummer Pete Philips and guitarist Chris Mayfield. The group got a regular booking at The Angel in Edmonton, and drew interest from both Chrysalis and NEMS but the group was never signed by them. Mayfield was soon replaced by the ever traveling Miller Anderson, and the group released a single on CBS called "I Can't Drive." As the short-lived rock and roll revival began to wane, At Last the 1958 Rock and Roll Show changed its name to Charlie Woolfe and released a final single, "Dance, Dance, Dance".
Hunter played sporadically in various other bands throughout the 1960s, including The New Yardbirds, and backed Billy Fury, The Young Idea and David McWilliams. He also worked as a journalist and staff songwriter for the firm Francis, Day & Hunter (no relation). Other jobs he took during these years included road-digging for a local council, and reporting for a local newspaper.
By 1969 Hunter was married and had two children, but was still hoping for a return to making music full time. That year he auditioned for and joined yet another band, Silence. Silence soon renamed themselves after a novel by Willard Manus, published in 1966: Mott The Hoople. By this time Hunter had taken to wearing the sunglasses that have long since become his trademark (photos of him without his "shades" are rare). The band was a live smash in England although their early U.S. tours on the coasts were slow in building a following. Whilst a critical success and despite being renowned for being an excellent live act, Mott the Hoople did not achieve sustained commercial success. After a dreary 1972 concert in a "gas cylinder" in Switzerland, they announced their disbandment.
David Bowie, a longtime fan of the band, was upset and offered them a song he had just written. As Ian recalls in a 2004 DVD interview, "He offered us 'Suffragette City', which I didn't think was good enough. And then he sat down on the floor, Regent Street it was in a publisher's office and plays 'All The Young Dudes' on an acoustic guitar." It shot to No. 3 in the UK singles chart and Mott had new life.
Mott the Hoople then had considerable commercial success with the albums All the Young Dudes (1972, produced by Bowie); Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974). The band began to score financially with songs such as "Roll Away The Stone," "Golden Age Of Rock ´N´ Roll," "Honaloochie Boogie," "All The Way From Memphis," "Saturday Gigs," and especially "All The Young Dudes." When in 1973 original lead guitarist Mick Ralphs left to form Bad Company, Hunter began to play guitar until a replacement could be found but at the same time he was increasingly pressured to write hits for the band. Luther Grosvenor took over as lead guitarist, Grosvenor, aka Ariel Bender, was briefly replaced by Mick Ronson after the release of a live album following The Hoople. However, Hunter left the band in December 1974. The remaining members carried on under the names Mott and British Lions. Hunter has written a memoir, Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star, detailing a U.S. tour with Mott the Hoople.
In March 1975 Ian Hunter joined forces with Mick Ronson, formerly the leading member of David Bowie's backing band The Spiders from Mars and a member of Mott the Hoople for a brief time. Hunter's first single from his eponymous solo album was the UK Top 40 hit "Once Bitten Twice Shy". Hunter's best selling solo album was You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic. It was released in 1979 with Ronson and several members from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Two songs from You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic became successes for other artists. "Cleveland Rocks" was covered by the Presidents of the United States of America, whose version was used as the theme song for The Drew Carey Show. Also, "Ships" became a No. 9 pop hit in the USA in late 1979 for Barry Manilow.
During his solo career Hunter frequently worked with Ronson until the latter's death in 1993, but he has also had musical connections with many other artists, including Queen, Mick Jones (The Clash), Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Jaco Pastorius, Dennis Elliot (Foreigner), and David Bowie.
His album, Rant (2001), received wide critical acclaim and he won Classic Rock Magazine Songwriter's Award in October 2005.
In 2007 his latest album "Shrunken Heads" was released and it clearly shows that Ian Hunter is still very much alive.
ALL AMERICAN ALIEN BOY
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I don't believe in them dimmo drags
Don't want to vote for the left wing - don't want to vote for the right
I gotta have both-to make me fly
Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west
Got my little green card an' my bulletproof vest
Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best
Well I was born (on the line) an' I was raised (on the line)
I was schooled (on the line) an' I was fazed (on the line)
An' I was used (on the line) an' I was dazed (on the line)
Just had to split (off the line) 'cause I was crazed (off the line)
An' I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed
Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy
But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy
Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy
All American Alien Boy All American Alien Boy
Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium
Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians
Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug
Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...
And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other
An' this television's cheaper than the other
And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other
An' these pizzas cheaper than the other
And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy
An' they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut
They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester
You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx
Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy
I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts
My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts
My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts
My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut
An' I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy
And your women are always right (alright)
They always know so much more
'Cause the women came from heaven
An' the men came outta some store
An' they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for
I'm an All American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore
All American Alien Boy
Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear,
Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear
Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud,
Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle,
White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog,
hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat
Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go
Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull,
Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf
Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza an' Colorow
My mouth's exploding that's enough of this noise
I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.
The lyrics to Ian Hunter's "All American Alien Boy" discuss the experience of a British immigrant attempting to make a life in America. The first few lines describe his disillusionment with the state of things in his homeland, "in the land of rags," and his desire to forge a new path elsewhere. The singer expresses a desire to have a balanced political view, saying, "Don't want to vote for the left wing - don't want to vote for the right, I gotta have both-to make me fly." He sets his sights on the West Coast, heading to "old tube city - where the buzz is the best."
The lyrics continue to reveal the singer's feelings of displacement and discomfort as he navigates American culture. He talks about feeling caught between a desire to build a new life in America and a desire to hold onto his British identity. He also expresses confusion and frustration with American consumer culture, listing off items that are being sold to him as "cheaper than the other." He recognizes that his body is suffering from the effects of living in America; "I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts, my head's full of ulcers, I got lungs full of butts, my heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts, my logic won't open - my eyes won't shut."
In the final verses, Hunter's lyrics take a more abstract turn, referencing a long list of Native American names and ending on the line "I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys." The lyrics seem to suggest that all of us, regardless of our race, nationality, or background, are aliens in some sense, trying to find our place in a confusing and ever-changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
I packed my bags - in the land of rags
I left my home country, where everyone is poor and struggling.
'Cause I don't believe in them dimmo drags
Because I don't agree with the boring, conventional lifestyle that people there are living.
Don't want to vote for the left wing - don't want to vote for the right
I don't want to choose any political side, I have my own way of thinking and making decisions.
I gotta have both-to make me fly
I need to embrace both sides of the political spectrum to feel free and make progress.
Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west
I'm a white guy from England, heading to the United States, which is in the west of my home country.
Got my little green card an' my bulletproof vest
I have my legal documents to stay in the US, as well as my metaphorical shield to protect me from danger.
Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best
I'm going to New York City, where there's a lot of excitement and energy.
Well I was born (on the line) an' I was raised (on the line)
I was born and raised within the established social norms and rules of my home country.
I was schooled (on the line) an' I was fazed (on the line)
I went to school and was affected by the same social norms and rules as everyone else around me.
An' I was used (on the line) an' I was dazed (on the line)
I was part of the system and didn't question it, even though I was confused and unsure about it at times.
Just had to split (off the line) 'cause I was crazed (off the line)
I had to leave the country because the system was driving me crazy, and I needed to find my own way in life.
An' I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed
I look back fondly on the memories I shared with my friend Miller.
Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy
Miller and I used to drive around the motorway in a neon-colored car, having fun and being carefree.
But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy
I realize that things need to change in order for me to find fulfillment, and sometimes destroying the old ways is necessary to make room for the new.
Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy
I'm excited to follow in the footsteps of John Lennon, who also left England to find success in the US.
All American Alien Boy All American Alien Boy
I am an outsider in America, but I've adopted some of the country's ways as my own.
Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium
Stay grounded and don't get lost in the chaos of life in the US.
Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians
Be confident and show off who you are, even if it goes against the norms of others. Don't let vegetarians stop you from indulging in meat.
Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug
Be careful not to get physically harmed, robbed, or caught breaking the law, or you'll end up in jail.
Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...
The system will try to silence you, whether through drugs or other means, and then leave you behind.
And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other
People are always pushing products and telling you what to buy, even though the differences between them are indistinguishable.
An' this television's cheaper than the other
The same goes for electronics and other consumer goods.
And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other
Everything seems to be a competition for who can offer the lowest prices, even if it means sacrificing quality.
And these pizzas cheaper than the other
It's hard to know which deals to trust, as they seem to be undermined by an unending cycle of deals undercutting one another.
And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy
As an outsider, I'm not sure how to make sense of all the consumerism and competition around me.
An' they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut
Bad things happen in all parts of the US, not just certain areas.
They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester
Even affluent areas can be dangerous and prone to gun violence.
You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx
Guns are easy to acquire even in major cities with strict gun laws.
Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy
I still feel like an outsider and struggle to understand the violence that seems to be present everywhere in the country.
I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts
I'm probably eating processed foods that aren't good for me and are causing health problems.
My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts
I'm stressed all the time and probably smoking too much.
My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts
My emotional well-being is very fragile and I'm constantly searching for happiness and fulfillment.
My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut
I'm having trouble making sense of everything around me and struggling to escape the consumerism and competition I'm surrounded by.
An' I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy
Despite the challenges I'm facing, I'm starting to embrace my outsider status and find my own path in the US.
And your women are always right (alright)
Women in the US have a lot of power and influence, and it's important to respect and listen to them.
They always know so much more
Women are often more intelligent and insightful than men, and it's important to recognize that.
'Cause the women came from heaven
Women are something divine and should be treated with reverence and respect.
An' the men came outta some store
Men are often portrayed as being conformist and lacking the individuality and unique qualities that women possess.
An' they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for
Men in the US often struggle with their identity and purpose, and lack the confidence and insight that women possess.
I'm an All American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore
I'm still an outsider in the US, but I'm making progress and finding my own way. Mary Tyler Moore was a popular TV character who represented the independent spirit of the 70s.
Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear,
These are all Native American tribal leaders and chiefs, who I am referencing to show respect for their contributions to American history.
Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear
These are more Native American leaders, who I'm honoring with this mention.
Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud,
More Native American leaders who I'm listing as a sign of respect and admiration.
Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle,
I continue to honor native peoples and leaders.
White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog,
I'm also including Native American leaders who were either half white or had white nicknames given to them.
hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat
I need a moment to catch my breath or clear my throat.
Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go
I continue to honor Native American leaders and need a moment to remember some more names.
Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull,
I'm remembering even more great Native American leaders.
Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf
Still more names of Native Americans who led their people and made important contributions to history.
Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza an' Colorow
Even more names of Native American leaders who should be recognized and respected.
My mouth's exploding that's enough of this noise
I'm getting overwhelmed with all the different names and need to take a break from listing them all.
I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.
In some way or another, we are all outsiders in America, and need to find our own way to fit in and find fulfillment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robin Rawlinson
I joined Ian's band straight after this album replacing Jaco, Ian's manager played me this track as I was about to start rehearsals in New York - I nearly shit myself wondering how I was going to learn it.
BIGERNMcCrack
LOL, yeah musta been pretty daunting! Did you ever get the chance to meet Jaco?!
Tim Jones
Yikes. I hope you had spare undies. Your a lucky man to get involved with the band.
David Ferrara
nice
Mr Nelsonius
As a touring bassist that’s like my worst nightmare. In 1976 no one was playing like Jaco except Jaco. It’d be like me getting a gig and then I’m played a track I have to learn with some magic virtuoso that makes (insert greatest known bassist) seem basic by comparison haha. I imagine you practiced that descending pentatonic flurry in 5s a good bit ;) Jaco’s solo in this is amazing
Robin Rawlinson
No one plays like Jaco. He seems to have time to do the most ridicules licks and I have great respect for the man as I do bassists like Mingus and Ray Brown
GEOTIS
Ian is one of the greatest song writers of all time
Ron Swanson
The brass on this one is so very awesome. The whole song is just wonderful.
Mr. Thorthy
ORGASMIC. There is a reason Ian Hunter is such a working man's rocker.... Raw, emotive, honest. Like a train on an open track that is wide open. And Jaco -- bringing it home on the bass like no other... This is as intense as 801. What a time. Thank You Guys. I am proud to be a Hunter Head.
Alberto Olivieri
Probably the best short Bass solo on a Pop Rock record ever!!