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.
Golden Opportunity
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're telling you now
But you're letting them down
Cause you just don't know how
And it's a golden opportunity
I'm spinning in space
I'm laughing away
I can just hear them say
It's like a golden opportunity
You better hear it
See hear it
It's a golden opportunity
You better hear it
Get near it
It's a golden opportunity
We reckon they're rats
Now see how they run
My house is so common
And we're dumb we're so dumb
And it's a golden opportunity
Scream all you suckers
Scream all you can
I'm losing my bluff
It's a scam its a scam
And it's a golden opportunity
You better hear it
You better hear it hear it
It's like a golden opportunity
You better hear it
You better hear it hear it
It's like a golden opportunity
Alright!
You better hear it hear it
Hear it hear it
It's a golden opportunity
Hear it
Hear it
It's a golden opportunity
You better hear it
You better hear it
It's a golden opportunity
You better hear it
You better hear it
It's a golden opportunity
The lyrics of Ian Hunter's song "Golden Opportunity" seem to reflect a disillusionment with the current state of things and a sense of betrayal by those in power. The opening lines declare the kids are alright, but they are being let down because those in charge just don't know how to help them. This sets up the theme of missed chances and lost potential, represented by the repeated reference to a "golden opportunity". The singer seems to be detached from it all, "spinning in space" and "laughing away". He or she views those who are failing as "pathetic" and knows others see the missed opportunities too, but nothing is changing.
As the song progresses, the tone becomes more angry and contemptuous. The line "we reckon they're rats, now see how they run" could be directed at those in power, who are finally being exposed for their shortcomings. But the singer acknowledges his own failings as well, lamenting "my house is so common, and we're dumb, we're so dumb". The repeated exhortation to "hear it" and "get near it" could be interpreted as a call to action, a demand to pay attention and take advantage of the "golden opportunity" before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
The kids are ok
The younger generation is doing fine
They're telling you now
They are alerting you to something
But you're letting them down
However, you are failing to fulfill their expectations
Cause you just don't know how
Because you lack the knowledge or skill to do so
And it's a golden opportunity
This is a chance to improve the situation
I'm spinning in space
I'm feeling lost or disoriented
I'm laughing away
I'm trying to brush off a situation humorously
Your so pathetic
You are incredibly pitiful
I can just hear them say
I can imagine what others are thinking and saying
It's like a golden opportunity
This could be a chance for things to change for the better
You better hear it
You need to pay attention to this
See hear it
Make sure you not only listen but also understand
Get near it
Become involved in this opportunity
We reckon they're rats
We think they are untrustworthy
Now see how they run
Watch them scatter when exposed
My house is so common
My situation is ordinary or average
And we're dumb we're so dumb
We are foolish and ignorant
Scream all you suckers
Express your frustration or anger towards those who failed you
Scream all you can
Let it all out
I'm losing my bluff
I am not able to maintain a facade anymore
It's a scam its a scam
This is a deceitful scheme
You better hear it hear it
It's important to pay attention and comprehend
Alright!
An exclamation indicating enthusiasm or affirmation
Hear it hear it
Listen and understand
You better hear it
You need to pay attention to this
It's a golden opportunity
This is a chance for things to change for the better
Hear it
Listen and take note
It's a golden opportunity
This is a chance for things to change for the better
You better hear it
You need to pay attention to this
You better hear it
You need to pay attention to this
It's a golden opportunity
This is a chance for things to change for the better
You better hear it
You need to pay attention to this
You better hear it
You need to pay attention to this
It's a golden opportunity
This is a chance for things to change for the better
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind