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.
Roll Away the Stone
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow you most anywhere
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone.
And, in the darkest night,
I'll keep you safe and all right
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone
Why be cold and so alone?
Won't you roll away the stone
Don't you let it die
No matter if fools say we can't win
I know I'll fall in love again
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone
So sing, we still got a chance
Baby in love and sweet romance
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone
Won't you roll away the stone
Why be cold and so alone?
Won't you roll away the stone
Don't you let it lie
There's a rockabilly party on Saturday night
Are you gonna be there
(Well I got my invite)
Gonna bring your records
(Ohh, will do)
Made it!
Won't you roll away the stone
Why be cold and so alone?
Won't you roll away the stone
Don't you let it die
Come on roll
Come on roll, yeah
Come on roll
I want you to roll
Come on, yeah
Come on roll
The song "Roll Away the Stone" by Ian Hunter is a plea for the continuation of a romantic relationship that is in danger of dissipating. The singer implores his partner to express that she still cares for him and to roll away the figurative stone that is preventing the relationship from flourishing. The song includes lyrics that express a desire for the continuation of the relationship, despite what others may think. The singer promises to keep his partner safe and provides numerous invitations for her to "roll away the stone" that is keeping her from expressing her feelings and emotions.
The idea of "rolling away the stone" has several biblical connotations. It is reminiscent of the story of Jesus' resurrection, in which a stone was rolled away from his tomb to allow his resurrection. The singer also uses the imagery of darkness and danger, suggesting that he will protect his partner during difficult times. Overall, the song is a plea for continued love and connection between two people who are struggling to find their way back to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby if you just say you still care
If you simply express that you still have feelings for me
Follow you most anywhere
I'm willing to go wherever you go
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone.
Let's remove any obstacles in our relationship
And, in the darkest night,
Even in the most difficult of times
I'll keep you safe and all right
I'll make sure you're protected and okay
Won't you roll away the stone
Let's work together to overcome our problems
Why be cold and so alone?
Why be distant and lonely?
Don't you let it die
Let's not let our love fade away
No matter if fools say we can't win
Others may doubt us, but it doesn't matter
I know I'll fall in love again
I'm confident that love will come my way again
So sing, we still got a chance
Let's stay optimistic, we can make it work
Baby in love and sweet romance
When we're in love, everything is sweeter
There's a rockabilly party on Saturday night
We have a fun event to go to this weekend
Are you gonna be there
Will you join me?
(Well I got my invite)
(I already received my invitation)
Gonna bring your records
Let's bring our favorite music
(Ohh, will do)
(Sure, I'll do that)
Come on roll
Let's work together
Come on roll, yeah
Let's do this, yeah
I want you to roll
I need you to help me overcome these obstacles
Come on, yeah
Let's do this, together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ian Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nemesisnemesis9156
She belts the " oh will do " with authority . Good , very good .
@yesireallyam
looks like he was having fun. good on ya ian!!
@tiarra1963
arresimooooooo...........
@Ventro69
Any reqwes?
@Themanwhocameback2
Sad. Ian being pelted with brutish and stupid demands, and then he gives a rushed and perfunctory rendering of one of his best songs. Watch the TOTP video. Lip synched, but it conveys the joy.
@nemesisnemesis9156
Great Mott !
@loff66
Not cool to call your roadie a bitch.