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.
Cleveland Rocks
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back where it comes from
It's such a crude attitude
It's back where it belongs
All the little kids goin' up on the skits go
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Jumpin' Jane Jean, and moonin' James Dean go
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Momma knows, but she don't care,she's got her worries too
Seven kids, and a phony affair, and the rent is due
All the little chicks with the crimson lips go
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Livin' in sin with a safety pin goin'
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
I got some records from World War II
I play 'em just like me grand dad do
He was a rocker, and I am too
Now Cleveland rocks, Now Cleveland rocks
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks!
OHIO
The lyrics of the song 'Cleveland Rocks' by Ian Hunter shed light on the energy and attitude that the city of Cleveland possesses. The opening lines of the song, "All this energy callin' me, Back where it comes from, It's such a crude attitude, It's back where it belongs" suggest that the energy of the city calls out to the songwriter and it is where he belongs. Furthermore, the crude attitude of Cleveland is something that Hunter identifies with and suggests that it belongs to the city. The chorus of "Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!" reinforces this feeling of pride and illustrates how the little kids, jumpin' Jane Jean, moonin' James Dean all identify with the city's energy.
The second verse of the song suggests that life is not perfect in Cleveland, with the line "Momma knows, but she don't care, she's got her worries too, Seven kids, and a phony affair, and the rent is due." This line paints a picture of a city with its own set of problems but still possessing a pride that the people hold onto. The final verse of the song displays the singer's affinity for the city through his connection with his grandfather's rock and roll records. He identifies with his grandfather's interests, which bridge the generation gap and suggests that he is a product of the city's culture, which is a source of pride for him.
Line by Line Meaning
All this energy callin' me
I feel the pull of the city's energy and it's drawing me back.
Back where it comes from
I'm returning to the place of my origins and where this energy originates.
It's such a crude attitude
Some might think the attitude of this city is rough and unrefined.
It's back where it belongs
But for me, this attitude is home and where I truly belong.
All the little kids goin' up on the skits go
The kids are having fun and creating mischief in the streets and alleys of Cleveland.
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
They're celebrating the greatness of their city with this chant.
Jumpin' Jane Jean, and moonin' James Dean go
Even legends like Jane Jean and James Dean would be proud of Cleveland and join in on the fun.
All the little chicks with the crimson lips go
The young women of Cleveland are an important part of the city's energy and culture.
Livin' in sin with a safety pin goin'
They might have unconventional lifestyles or dress, but they are still proud of their city.
I got some records from World War II
I have a collection of old records that my granddad used to listen to during the war.
I play 'em just like me grand dad do
I treasure these records and continue to listen to them, just like my granddad did.
He was a rocker, and I am too
My granddad was a music lover and rocker, and so am I.
Now Cleveland rocks, Now Cleveland rocks
Through the music, the people, and the attitude, Cleveland rocks now and always will.
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
The chorus repeats to emphasize the greatness of the city one last time.
OHIO
The song ends with a shoutout to the state of Ohio, of which Cleveland is a proud part.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Forrest George
All this energy callin' me
Back where it comes from
It's such a crude attitude
It's back where it belongs
All the little kids goin' up on the skids go
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Jumpin' Jane Jean, and moonin' James Dean go
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Momma knows, but she don't care, she's got her worries too
Seven kids, and a phony affair, and the rent is due
All the little chicks with the crimson lips go
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Livin' in sin with a safety pin goin'
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
I got some records from World War II
I play 'em just like me grand dad do
He was a rocker, and I am too
Now Cleveland rocks, Now Cleveland rocks
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!
Cleveland rocks!
OHIO
lisalu910
Ian Hunter writes an homage to the city housing the R&R Hall of Fame and he's not in it? That is just wrong on so many levels. Let's honor Hunter while he's still here to accept it!
Mar
If you take the time to read through all the stuff, it does mention important icons. And it explain in a certain way that it’s all political so they may not be mentioned again. At least that was my take on it.
I tell people it takes a good 7-8 hour to go through the entire mud museum, and a ton of reading if you really want to grasp everything.
Mar
Absolutely!! Love this guy!! Word on the street is he coined the phrase “Rock-n-Roll!! And yes he is mentioned briefly in the Hall of Fame, but deserves more!!!
Jean Potter
I’m was born and raised in CLE. Lived there for 54yrs so I know what everyone is saying is true. We never thought it would be like it is today. One year in CLE another year in NY. It’s BS !!!! Yet and still we who come from Cleveland still know that CLEVELAND ROCKS !!!!
VinylObscura
The Rock n Roll HOF is totally irrelevant. I live in Cleveland.
Timothy Ducey
Move To Detroit. We will show you what “A Life Without Meaning” is. 🥳
lisalu910
Ian Hunter, one of the rare British singers who SOUNDS British when he's singing!
Mark C
Ray Davies. The Kinks are incredibly overlooked.
Kevin Graf
Robert Smith
btbrookie
One of the British-est singing I've heard is Cool for Cats by Squeeze