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.
Open My Eyes
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(transcribed by colin ford)
On the avenue of dead umbrellas
In a place where nothin' sleeps
No one's pickin' up the pieces - no one speaks
Snow falls down - God dusts funky town
Tell that to the people who live in the wind - they ain't so sure
In the middle of a violent night - in the glare of a naked light
In the middle of a nightmare
At the bottom of the deepest well - in the middle of a private hell
Shit scared - out there - nowhere
Then I open my eyes - ice on the window - the sun is tryin' to break through
Then I open my eyes - in the land of the livin' - and it's all right
Seen a man rattle in a battle that no one could win
I had to turn my soul away
Shit's gonna happen - whether you like it or not
S' just the way it is
Then I open my eyes - boats on the river - headin' down the east side
Then I open my eyes - and the trash(? ) slips away
Soft and supple - like some alibi
You been walkin in her sleep - there ain't no cure for the secrets you hide
In the middle of my wildest dream - in a place where nothin's what it seems
At the time of a great loss
From the hoods and the broken homes - this danger's got a smell of it's own
In the middle of see-see-chaos
In the valley of the shadow of death - the bellevue boys out kickin' ass
In the middle of fire
Inside the belly of the beast - in a place where wonders never cease
You go higher, higher, higher
Then I open my eyes - life in a nutshell - it's over 'fore you know it
Then I open my eyes
And the city wakes up - puts coffee in cups - when I open my eyes
And the kids go to school - imus rules - when I open my eyes
I love you n' you love me
N' it rains so I buy an umbrella from the guy on 23rd and second avenue
Ian Hunter's song Open My Eyes is a song that is heavy on imagery and uses it to comment on the world that he sees. The song begins by describing the Avenue of Dead Umbrellas, and Hunter paints a picture of emptiness and despair. He describes a place where nothing sleeps, where no one is picking up the pieces, and no one speaks. Snow falls down, but the people who live in the wind are not sure that this place is pure. The song then transitions into talking about violent nights, deep wells, and private hells, hinting at a personal struggle of some kind. But then he opens his eyes and sees the beauty of the world. He sees boats on the river and a city that is waking up, and he realizes that he is in the land of the living, and it's all right.
Line by Line Meaning
On the avenue of dead umbrellas
In a desolate and forgotten area.
In a place where nothin' sleeps
In a location that is always active and restless.
No one's pickin' up the pieces - no one speaks
No one is willing to take responsibility or communicate.
Snow falls down - God dusts funky town
The area is cleansed and renewed by the snowfall.
For once this place looks pure
The snowfall has made the area look clean and unspoiled.
Tell that to the people who live in the wind - they ain't so sure
The inhabitants of the area are unimpressed or skeptical about the change.
In the middle of a violent night - in the glare of a naked light
During a difficult and dangerous moment.
In the middle of a nightmare
In a horrifying and distressing situation.
At the bottom of the deepest well - in the middle of a private hell
In the worst imaginable circumstance, alone with one's thoughts.
Shit scared - out there - nowhere
Overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty.
Then I open my eyes - ice on the window - the sun is tryin' to break through
Becoming aware of the reality of the situation, and recognizing hints of hope.
Then I open my eyes - in the land of the livin' - and it's all right
Realizing that one is alive and can overcome the obstacles faced earlier.
Seen a man rattle in a battle that no one could win
Observed someone struggling in a fight that they stood no chance of winning.
I had to turn my soul away
Chose to remove oneself emotionally from the situation, as it was too distressing.
Shit's gonna happen - whether you like it or not
Unwelcome events will take place, regardless of one's feelings about it.
S' just the way it is
This is simply the reality of the situation and cannot be changed.
Then I open my eyes - boats on the river - headin' down the east side
Feeling hopeful while observing the sights of the city.
Then I open my eyes - and the trash(? ) slips away
The negative feelings and worries recede into the background.
Soft and supple - like some alibi
A new opportunity or a plausible explanation.
You been walkin in her sleep - there ain't no cure for the secrets you hide
Your companion has been keeping secrets from you, and there is no way to make them confess.
In the middle of my wildest dream - in a place where nothin's what it seems
Within a vivid dream where appearances are deceiving and nothing is as it seems.
At the time of a great loss
During a period of intense mourning and grief.
From the hoods and the broken homes - this danger's got a smell of it's own
Danger and violence are pervasive and have become a part of the local atmosphere.
In the middle of see-see-chaos
During a state of complete and total chaos.
In the valley of the shadow of death - the bellevue boys out kickin' ass
In a dangerous area where even law enforcement is struggling to maintain order.
In the middle of fire
During a situation that is intense, unpleasant, and out of control.
Inside the belly of the beast - in a place where wonders never cease
In a dangerous or chaotic situation, but one that is also full of surprises and uncertainty.
You go higher, higher, higher
The experience has a transformative effect, lifting one up and making them stronger.
Then I open my eyes - life in a nutshell - it's over 'fore you know it
The brevity of life and how quickly it can pass are recognized.
Then I open my eyes
Refocusing on the present and becoming aware of one's surroundings.
And the city wakes up - puts coffee in cups - when I open my eyes
The bustling, vibrant city around the singer springs into action.
And the kids go to school - imus rules - when I open my eyes
Life carries on with its daily routines despite the challenges faced by the artist.
I love you n' you love me
A simple and pure expression of love and mutual understanding.
N' it rains so I buy an umbrella from the guy on 23rd and second avenue
Even during the rain, one can find a solution to their problems and move forward.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind